Woken well before dawn by hard kicks in my belly. A stumbling journey to the bathroom. Hollering from the girl’s room.
Mama! Mama, let’s go downstairs.
No, baby, it’s still early.
But it’s light outside, Mama.
Persuaded to cuddle, she curls like a comma into me on the big bed. She sleeps; I toss and turn.
The eight-o’clock hour arrives, murky sun hidden by clouds over the big field behind us. I stand, abruptly sit, made unsteady by a head and nose full of cotton.
Dry mouth, throbbing temples, wheezing lungs. Throat on fire. Is it strep? Visit to the doctor replaces much-needed work, eats up valuable and soon-to-be rare babysitter time.
Frustration.
Use the last of the coffee beans, sit and read. Newsman declares shark tragedy in California. Heavy eyes rest on blurry scene of attempted rescue.
Hiss and spit from behind me, malfunctioning grind-n-brew coffeemaker spews last precious grounds on the floor and counter.
Cursing, cleaning, hunting for hidden bag of beans. Find prepackaged grinds and make coffee.
Again.
Clock ticks, showering – an overwhelming task – required soon.
Sick, so sick. So sick of being sick. At least the girl, she sleeps.
Can I start again, rewind, do this Monday morn over?
{ 16 comments… read them below or add one }
thank heaven she’s sleeping, at least.
hope it’s allergies, not strep, friend.
sigh.
thinking of you.
I wish you could…sending get well vibes your way!
Oh man- I hope that it gets better as the day goes on.
UGH! Sucky. Hey, have a bowl of ice cream, maybe that will brighten your day. A bowl of ice cream and a new pair of shoes–there you go.
How about fast-forwarding to a better Tuesday instead?
wishing i could send you both a do over and a 6 pack of your favorite east coast bagels!
hang in there buddy!
I love the vision of the “comma.” Perfect imagery.
And losing the last coffee ground to coffee explosion is only the worst thing in the world. Once, I actually scraped the ground off the countertop and tried to re-insert them in. I was that desperate for coffee.
Call me an addict. I would free-bade coffee.
Obviously have not drank enough of the stuff today.
I meant free baSe. And groundS. And groundS again.
Hmmmm…seems to be a S problem. Maybe that’s where I spilled coffee on my keyboard last week, eh?
no just let monday morning GOOOOO
Crappy weather and client emergencies make for a bad Monday here too! I hope you feel better; eat ice cream, watch bad t.v. and get some cofee in your system!
I often wish for do overs!
Mondays suck. Watch a movie. Feel better soon.
Your post reminded me of this morning in our house – I crept into the children’s room and was busy opening clothes drawers when the 4 year old woke up – “is it morning Daddy?” (we have blackout curtains)
Stupid Monday morning. Feel better my favorite Chicken.
I’m jealous that you get comma-time. Did you have the tv on? Or did she just snuggle with you and sleep?
E is like a drill sargeant when she wakes up: “Get up, get up, get up. Let’s go downstairs. I want breakfast now. I want applesauce and strawberries at the same time. Get up get up get up. The sun is awake!”
She wakes up at 5:30 or 6 every day. On weekends we let her watch cartoons in bed with us while we snooze.
Tuesday must be better for both of us, dammit. Okay? World, please turn the right way for Mrs. Chicken and all of her nice readers. Thank you.
Hope Tuesday was better…