A Bat Omen

"Mommy, there is a loud cricket in my room and I can't sleep." Oh the sweet voice of Ms. I waking me up. Annoyed? Yesss!! I like my sleep! I make room for her and go investigate.
Sure enough, there IS a loud cricket in her room. It is the loudest cricket I have ever heard (not to mention it sounds like a sick, loud cricket). I hear it chirping from the radiator and know I won't be able to get to it there. Besides the cats have gathered around it--they'll get it--eventually.
I return to my room, shut the door, and go back to sleep. Sometime later another little creature crawls into my bed. Ms. G. But she leaves the door open and I can still hear that cricket in their room. I try to sleep but it is so loud! Then I hear the cats bolt out of their room and the chirping is now outside of the kids' room.
Still not being able to sleep, though the chirping has subsided for a moment, I get out of bed to use the loo. I poke my head down the stairs--to see if I can see anything. Nope, the cats must have gone downstairs. I then head toward the bathroom.
The first thing I notice: The cats are in the bathroom.
"Great!" I think. "The loud cricket is now in the bathroom." I turn on the light and look at the ground. No cricket. I look at the cats. They are looking up. Why would they be looking up?
What is that on the blind? A cloth? Why would someone put a cloth on the blinds? IT MOVED! A moth? No, look carefully. It's a...BAT. ~Chirp~...only it isn't a sick cricket chirping...it's a bat, screeching. ~screech~ My heart starts racing but I slowly shut the door.
I fight with an internal struggle--wondering if I should wake up Poppy. I think if Nana comes in the bathroom in the middle of the night--she might have a heart attack. I creep into their room and gently shake Poppy's shoulder. He startles awake.
"Um," I say. "There is a bat in the bathroom."
"Seriously?"
"Mm-hm." He gets up and takes a look in the bathroom. Things are very quiet. He exits and informs me the cats are having a bit of fun with it. He goes downstairs to get a bowl and goes back into the bathroom.
The screeches intensify and I swear I hear flapping wings! Poppy calls my name and I panic! What if he wants me to help catch it? I don't know if I can go in there. "Could you open the door?" He asks. Phew! He has already caught it.
He then releases it outside. But, his wing has been broken. Poor bat. I thank Poppy for being my hero and we go to bed. Boy, when I told Ms. I that it wasn't a cricket she about flipped out. It was quite an adventure!



Did you know? Bats are the ONLY flying mammal!

Great Grandpa

Most Likely To...

Everyone who has ever been to high school remembers a section in the yearbook that headlines: Most Likely To... Commonly we see most likely to be rich, most likely to become famous, most likely to run for president, most likely to fall asleep in class, most likely to work at a 7/11, class clowns, prettiest eyes , prettiest smile, best looking, etc., etc., etc.

These past few days I have been thinking about a few labels I have not seen in any year book one is: most likely to live the longest. A year or so ago my grandpa went to grandma's sixty-second class reunion. There were only a handful of people there. I don’t know about you, but I think this is something worth being celebrated.

If the section most likely to live the longest was in my grandpa’s senior yearbook do you think he would have been chosen? Probably not. Why, do I surmise this? My grandpa had a heart attack at 47. The doctor said he had possibly a year to live. That is the worst words to hear from a doctor. My grandpa, being the stubborn man that he is, has definitely proven that doctor wrong. Last night, over 33 years past his expected death date, my grandfather passed away.

Though it was not unexpected it still breaks my heart. He is the best grandpa. We frequently spent the night at “the woods” (as we called Grandma and Grandpa’s house) and I remember one time waking up to grandpa placing a baby deer in my bed. My grandma and grandpa are deer farmers, you see. In the summer they live in Ohio—at their deer farm. In winter they live in Florida—right on the Gulf coast. I have fond memories of both places and both are very special to me.

I love you, Grandpa. I will see you again.

Most Likely To: Be Married the Longest. My grandpa and grandma have been married 61years. This is an award they deserve. Rare, is it, to find a relationship like my grandma and grandpas. One filled with fidelity, commitment, and selflessness. My heart goes out to my grandma who will no longer wake up to the man she has been married to these long years.

I love you too, Grandma.

Umm..sorry?

Today Mr. L spilt his bottle of water. I chuckled and with a smile on my face said: "You better get a towel to clean that up!" He looked at me smiling warily and I smiled in return--wondering at his strange reaction--and walked over to get a towel. As I was passing him the towel he stated: "Mommy, you weren't mean." ~shame~

I will be the first to admit I have been a "mean" mommy lately. Stressing about school loans,psychology internships, and personal book goals have created a short temper in me. I know that I have not been the best mother lately but Mr. L brought the shame to the surface. In reply: "Yes, Mr. L, today I did not get upset at you. I have not been very kind when you spill, huh?" Then I proceeded to help him clean up his water mess.

The truth is--he caught me in a good mood. If I had been in a brooding mood on the issues that cause such feelings I am sure I would have reacted in an impatient and inappropriate way. Rest assured, friends, that I am working on it.