I took too much medicine last night & ended up throwing up lots. My poor son was still up when I threw up and he cried because he was frightened, even though I assured him afterwards. Then I couldn’t sleep, likely as a result of the meds and then too much strong coffee in the evening.
What’s worse than all that is I gave myself a really, really hard time about making these mistakes. I can’t always stop the mental negativity, the thoughts punish me and crowd me and yes, I know it’s terribly self-absorbed. The good news is I don’t do it as much or as often; and I am kinder to others very frequently, if I have not learned the art when it comes to my own self.
Tonight as Ralph, Emily, Phoenix and I drove to Olympia, my daughter identified weather on the horizon: “That’s a cumulonimbus cloud… we’re heading into a thunderstorm.” I said, “How can you tell?” (I mean I remember being forced to learn about clouds in school, and promply forgetting everything except for a few names.) She said, “The cloud has the classic anvil shape, and look at the color of the sky.” And then the holy shit of it all was she was right, as only an hour later we’d driven into what quickly became the most intense lightning storm I’ve ever been in, in my life in the Pacific Northwest. Huge drops of warm rain and a sky like a bruise and visible cloud-to-ground lightning accompanied with the loudest BOOMS and fire sirens and we drove past a tree that had been sheared.
It was thrilling. Thanks to the horrible nature documentaries my kids watch, I knew we were safe in the car. But I was still happy to get home and inside my little hidey-house.
In other news: Hutch had his first vet appointment. He’s down from 120 lbs. on June 27th to 111 lbs. today. I’m proud of getting him healthier and more comfortable. It’s been a lot of great fun, but a lot of work!
I love how Phoenix just talked about something that most people are forced to learn (but don’t care) about with the confidence and matter-of-factness of someone who actually wants to know it and teach others about it. That’s cool. Wasn’t it a beautiful storm? I love that kind of thing – we get them all the time in the summer in Michigan, so I love them and am not afraid of them. although I suppose I should be. I love a good thunderstorm. I understand that it’s not a common occurrence out here to have summer thunderstorms and that this was a freak thing. Still cool, though.
Isn’t that cool when that happens? I love seeing them apply what they know. And ah, yes, being harsh with oneself. I’m also much better than I used to be, but it also has creeped up on me this weekend.
@Jen
I was immediately struck by how Phoenix had synthesized & used useful information… I remember being required to learn the same stuff and it stuck in my head for about a week and I don’t remember finding it all that useful or interesting! Pretty cool wee unschooling moment.
And yes, it was a beautiful storm.
@MyFeminineMind
I hope it creeps back down. I know what you mean. I’m better than I used to be, but not immune!