My Thoughts Are In Boston

We are away on vacation this week so news didn't get to as quickly as it usually does. I had a post in my head ready to write but I will save it for another day because my thoughts are with the victims of yesterday's bombing in Boston. Somehow, writing about the silliness and laughter of yesterday's adventure seems inappropriate, although I will work hard to preserve and continue the joy we are having.

Just as images from the Newtown shooting have haunted me for the last few months, so will the face of Martin Richard, the 8 year-old who was waiting with his family for his father to finish the race. How does a family go on in the wake of such unspeakable, unbelievable, meaningless tragedy? The families of Newtown continue; I have watched and paid attention. Some are spurred on by their charge to make a difference in gun control and mental health services.

What missions will come from the bombings in Boston? I suppose that they will develop as we learn more about the motivation behind the bombings. In the meantime, I am left wondering about our safety in this country. After the 9/11 bombings, I felt an enormous sense of vulnerability and concern for the fact that I could not possibly lie my body across my four daughters to save them from the world's craziness. Today, I feel even more vulnerable.

I'm not sure that I will ever enjoy a crowded place again.

#Slice 2013- April Fools' Day

On Tuesdays, Ruth and Stacey host Slice of Life on their blog at twowritingteachers.wordpress.com. Feel free to write, link, and/or comment!

April Fools' Day is a major holiday in our house. All of us spend time on the internet looking for new pranks that we haven't seen before. Most years, I get sprayed by at least one of the sinks. (This year, I remembered to take the tape off before I got wet!) I have sat in Balmex (bad joke), found salt in toothpaste (okay joke), found my bed short-sheeted (funny joke as long as I've opted for an early bedtime) and have found my sweaters taped together (quite funny joke, actually)--you get the idea.

Yesterday, I had to pick up Julia from soccer practice. Julia doesn't like to wait and even though I try to always keep her schedule straight and to be there on time, I make mistakes. Meetings run over, someone else needs a ride, or I forget that the time changed. So yesterday, when I arrived at the fields five minutes early, I parked at the far side where she couldn't see me and waited for my phone to ring. It rang.

"Mom, are you here?" Julia asked.

"What are you talking about?" I responded. "Doesn't practice end at 7:30?"

"Mooom. I told you 7. 5:30-7..."

"I'm sorry, Julia." I try not to have the giggle come out in my voice. "I'll leave right now."

I hung up and texted her right away. April Fools. I'm here.

Julia was smiling when I pulled up next to her. "You got me, Mom," she said. "I wasn't going to fall for Cecily's carmel onions since that was too far from her norm but you were much more believable."

Hmmm. Should I feel good about that?

We both had a good laugh.