Friday went by in a blur, as many Fridays seem to. Along with all the usual work stuff, Erin and I had a ton of adulting going on. Lots of fun things like reviewing insurance policies and researching the correct light bulbs to use the new light fixtures we are having installed over the weekend. Wooo!
Being a grown up has definite pros on and cons. On the “con” side, we have to work, worry about money and review insurance policies. But on the “pro” side, we can have cereal for dinner anytime we want to. Even the sugary kind. Of course, I really never do that because, you know, carbs.
Anyway, after a day of dealing with that fun stuff, we spent a nice family evening in the backyard. We had dinner, and sat and had a conversation. Lately Amelia has taken to asking, much like Joan Rivers, “Can we talk?” And what she likes to talk about are a series of either/or questions. Like who do you like better, Scooby or Shaggy? So we all go around taking turns asking these kinds of questions.
I can at least say I’ve had a lot of practice in this area of conversation because my friends and I used to spend endless hours posing various “versus” scenarios, like who would win in a fight between Batman and Darth Vader? I always thought the toughest puzzler was Fonzie versus Bugs Bunny. I’m not sure we ever came to a satisfactory conclusion on that one.
From there, as things often do, it turned into playing superheroes in the backyard. Amelia had been waiting all day for that. In fact, there were several points in the day when I was working and she’d come up to me and say, “Flash! [NOTE: I am often Flash in these games.] We are getting a call from a villain!”
Once I heard her taking one of these calls, and she said, “We’ll never help you, Dick Dastardly!” and quickly followed that with an incredibly chipper, “OK, bye!”
Anyway, after a little chasing around in the backyard I was feeling pretty gassed. I decided to take a moment and actually lay down in the grass. It was super comfortable outside, and I honestly can’t remember the last time I laid down in the grass.
Let me tell you, it feels amazing. The way the grass feels against the skin, the breeze floating over…it is heavenly. It felt deeply relaxing. Maybe it’s the connection to the Earth, maybe it’s just something tactile, but I highly recommend it.
After asking me why I wasn’t chasing villains with them anymore, the kids joined me.
I think they got something out of it too. I certainly remember laying on the grass when I was little. I hope they remember this moment someday, too.
