Wednesday, April 14, 2010

Baby-Sitters Club Diaries and Other Adventures

I woke up this morning with my sweaty, whiny daughter plastered to my side. This has occurred for the last three nights in a row -- she cries, whines, sweats, and kicks... and will only do it right next to me.
I don't know why.
Be that as it may, we woke up together. And the first thing she said after "You awake, Mommy?" was "Remember when I was a tiny baby and my Granny would love to hold me so much?" I answered that I do remember that, very well. So off my mind went as I laid there in bed, thinking about our Granny-Friend. I miss her and think of her every single day. I was thinking about the time she came up to my family proclamation class at BYU to be on a panel of parents and grandparents. She was so nervous, because all of the other panelists had their doctorates and were professors and all that junk, and she never graduated from high school. But she was adorable. She looked so beautiful and talked about her family and her experiences as a mother and grandmother and reminded all the other panelists that they needed to remember to be grateful. I was really proud of her. She kept calling me "Jill" because she was so nervous (Jill is my Mom's name), and for the rest of the semester the professor called me Jill, too. I just answered, though, because dangit -- at least I had a name in the masses. The next week my professor emailed me with a note for my Granny. I wish so bad I had printed it out! I just thought I'd save it forever, but somehow it got misplaced. But I remember him saying something along the lines of "Sister Bailey, you may not have graduated from high school, but you can always tell your grandchildren that you have taught at BYU." That tickled her, let me tell you!!
Lots of happy memories.

I taught the lesson on Sunday and it was on journals. In preparation, I read the Double B many entries from my Baby-Sitters Club diary from the 3rd-5th grades. I think it goes without saying that I was mocked by my beloved in a most grievous manner. But seriously -- it was hilarious. I'm pretty sure my husband was wondering how in the heck he ended up with a spazmo like me. It is a wealth of information, let me tell you. In it I proclaim my eternal love for at least seven different young men, my adventures with a secret admirer, when I got my first bra, and even "the class." I even covered my life plan, which you will be happy to know involved a husband and children, possibly a novel or five, grandchildren and even up to dying peacefully in my sleep one gentle night. (This is true.) I laughed so hard I cried. The Double B was afraid. Very, very afraid. But then he made me keep reading! So really, I think he was just falling more deeply in love and didn't want to admit it.

I now have a green kitchen wall. It is pretty groovy, at least to us. And quite frankly, since we are the ones that have to look at it, it is a good thing we like it. Our other walls are in the process of being painted a creamy yellow. This is adventurous of us, let me tell you. As my friend Shawna pointed out with a mock-tear in her eye, we are growing up! A new car, a third child, color on our walls, and even cell phones. Sniff, sniff. It seems like a lot to take in all at once! My, how the years have flown.

One last little experience to share: I was at physical therapy last week, floating in the swim pool with weights on my feet, as an older gentlemen did his walking exercises in front of me. Suddenly, I felt a very uncomfortable warmth against my feet. In all honesty, I thought I was being peed upon. I was rather unsure about what to do, so as casually as I could, I paddled a little further down the pool. Happily, I felt uncomfortable warmth again! Just the pool heaters. Phew! When I told my therapist about it at my next session, he laughed his head off and said "That's nothing. Just imagine being me when my elderly patients come in here and tell me they've been having trouble with incontinence lately!"

And with that happy thought, I bid you adieu.

6 comments:

Tina Williams said...

Thanks for bringing a smile to my face this morning.

Love it when you blog!

When will the computer be replaced at your abode -- I need more posts please.

Granny - a true model of class.

Olivia - your own personal chief in charge of keeping things in perspective.

Please post pictures of the wall colors and such. I'm scared of paint.

Cell phones - a modern blessing and a curse.

Have a wonderful day!

*rOcKiN rIcHiNs* said...

I love you 3rd-5th grade self.I wish desperately that I knew you then. Can you imagine our dramatic friendship?

I love colored walls...yes, please post pics as soon as possible.

Ducksoup said...

you have a cell phone? are you verizon? can i have your phone number? maybe you can e-mail it to me. you are sooooo cute. i bet your journal is awesome. i think i need a copy of it. isn't lovely sleeping with children? i wonder if he'll ever sleep in his own bed. this morning ryan left and i moved to his side. awe, the room was nice. and you are painting - - that is lots of work to say the least. wow - - go you guys. loved your post. i think you need to post daily, not weekly. love you!

Ducksoup said...

and thanks for sharing your granny story. i remember that but hadn't thought of it lately so it was a great reminder of her greatness and classiness and cuteness. i love that lady!

Tink said...

You are growing up! It's about time! ;) I miss Granny. I wish she could come and visit. I'm sitting all alone and I laughed out loud at the PT story! :-)

Cuz Pablo said...

FGC - as you know I do not blog often, but I was in the mood to read today, your blog is just what I needed. I have also been thinking of Granny, how, if and when I ever get married, she would just have loved to be there, her teaching at BYU, loved it!