Earlier this week, a 26-year-old coworker asked a student about his mother's age.
He replied, "She's 36. How old are you?"
My coworker responded, "How old do you think I am?"
The student looked at her for a moment and then said, "Forty."
My young coworker's eyes widened in horror.
"Actually," the student said, "You couldn't be 40 because that's so old you'd be dead already."
Saturday, December 14, 2013
Friday, December 6, 2013
Uh Oh
Flu season arrived. It hit school hard. Youngsters lined the hallways and crammed into the nurse's office. Medicine, toilets, trashcans, and medical personnel seemed in short supply!
This morning, I heard a splatter from across the cafeteria followed by a chorus of "ewwwwwws."
I walked the first sick child to the office.
I returned in cafeteria. A few minutes later, I heard another splatter from the opposite direction.
I walked the second sick child to the office. She asked me to hold her hand. Feel her forehead. Get her hair off her neck.
She then remarked, "It's good I'm going home because I forgot to take my ringworm medicine."
Looks like I'll be first in line for the nurse tomorrow.
This morning, I heard a splatter from across the cafeteria followed by a chorus of "ewwwwwws."
I walked the first sick child to the office.
I returned in cafeteria. A few minutes later, I heard another splatter from the opposite direction.
I walked the second sick child to the office. She asked me to hold her hand. Feel her forehead. Get her hair off her neck.
She then remarked, "It's good I'm going home because I forgot to take my ringworm medicine."
Looks like I'll be first in line for the nurse tomorrow.
Sunday, December 1, 2013
Hard Work
Ben and my dad really like recognition when they've worked, when they've physically done something. Energy exerted! Muscles flexed!
Maybe they took out the trash or got the mail or mowed the yard or washed the dishes or bent over to pick up something on the floor.
It doesn't matter whether the task was big or small. They did it.
They moan and groan. They breathe heavy. They arch backs and unbutton shirts to emphasize how hard they labored.
On Wednesday night, Ben and I set up 15 Dickens Village houses to decorate for Christmas. We worked until 1am, both tired from the long day. I unwrapped and handed each house to Ben, who used a step stool to place it on top of the mantle and kitchen cabinets (which I offered to do).
Ben sighed every time he climbed the step stool. He grunted every time he took a house from my hand. He deeply exhaled every time he set down a house. Every so often, he stretched his back and rubbed his neck.
I cannot imagine the calories burned.
I constantly complimented and encouraged him to keep going. You're the best! Look at that spacing! You're a Dickens machine!
The next morning, I woke up two hours earlier than Ben. I snuck out of our bedroom and quietly shut the door.
I carried the empty Dickens boxes upstairs. I vacuumed tiny pieces of Styrofoam strewn around the house. I brewed Ben a fresh pot of coffee, fed the cats, cleaned their litter box, packed our stuff to go home for Thanksgiving, wiped down the entire kitchen, watered the plants, took out the recycling, and emptied the trash.
I did all of that... without a deep breath, flexed muscle, or audience.
Maybe they took out the trash or got the mail or mowed the yard or washed the dishes or bent over to pick up something on the floor.
It doesn't matter whether the task was big or small. They did it.
They moan and groan. They breathe heavy. They arch backs and unbutton shirts to emphasize how hard they labored.
On Wednesday night, Ben and I set up 15 Dickens Village houses to decorate for Christmas. We worked until 1am, both tired from the long day. I unwrapped and handed each house to Ben, who used a step stool to place it on top of the mantle and kitchen cabinets (which I offered to do).
Ben sighed every time he climbed the step stool. He grunted every time he took a house from my hand. He deeply exhaled every time he set down a house. Every so often, he stretched his back and rubbed his neck.
I cannot imagine the calories burned.
I constantly complimented and encouraged him to keep going. You're the best! Look at that spacing! You're a Dickens machine!
The next morning, I woke up two hours earlier than Ben. I snuck out of our bedroom and quietly shut the door.
I carried the empty Dickens boxes upstairs. I vacuumed tiny pieces of Styrofoam strewn around the house. I brewed Ben a fresh pot of coffee, fed the cats, cleaned their litter box, packed our stuff to go home for Thanksgiving, wiped down the entire kitchen, watered the plants, took out the recycling, and emptied the trash.
I did all of that... without a deep breath, flexed muscle, or audience.
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