The best laid plans of mice and men gang aft agley. Or some such.
I did not arrive, as planned, on Saturday. Not even wee hours of the morning Sunday. Anna and I pulled in yesterday late afternoon about five.
When Anna first left for Oklahoma at the first of April, she had the 4Runner loaded down in every conceivable place. When she returned for Pascha, she left loaded down again. Clearly, she was not going to be able to return with all that stuff in our car. So we had to rent a trailer. Her mom runs a resale shop, so Anna also came back with some furniture. So, even though I picked up the trailer Friday afternoon, with the intention of loading it early Saturday morning and getting on the road by mid-morning, in fact, we spent all morning packing and arranging, and didn't actually leave town till after two on Saturday afternoon. We stayed over night at a nice little oasis in Sullivan, MO, and didn't get on the road till shortly after ten.
I didn't get the full "buffer day" I'd hoped for prior to starting work today (in about two and a quarter hours). But I did get everything unloaded last night. We somehow made the cramped space work with even more stuff in it. And most of all, we started again those little things that give my life meaning and substance: I gave the girls their bath just before bed time.
Yesterday was, of course, Father's Day. And if I'd've been able to rule the world for a day, I wouldn't have spent it driving a loaded down car and trailer another four or five hundred miles.
But . . .
When I walked into the convenience store to get some water, carrying Delaina in my arms, and a woman said to me "Happy Father's Day" . . .
When Anna secretly prompted Sofie to sing me the Father's Day song: "Happy birthday father to you!" . . .
When I bathed and dried my girls . . .
When Sofie and I said our prayers in our own home . . .
When I saw Sofie's excitement at this new adventure of having a new home and a new neighborhood, with new kitties and puppies to greet and to pet . . .
When I saw my wife go into full interior designer mode (even if she and I already don't see eye to eye on that design!) . . .
. . . Well, I just don't see how any Father's Day could have been better for me.
According to a survey done by Discover Financial Services, the number one item fathers want for Father's Day is a card. I got more than a card yesterday. I got my home back.
I cannot see how anything could be better.
Posted by Clifton at June 19, 2006 06:48 AM | TrackBackBeautiful...
Posted by: s-p at June 21, 2006 12:57 AM