Birthdays and such

You know when you buy a kid a much needed computer
(because her’s died a week before Christmas and
we bought her Computer stuff for Christmas)

and you tell her then that this is also a birthday gift…
Yeah, it sucks when the birthday rolls around
and that is what you have/had for her.

So we did buy her something cool at Ikea, and
I’ll go today and find something small and a card.
She just wants a family dinner, my fettuccine to be
exact. Brandon is taking her out on Saturday
which is actually her birth date. The 9th.
Her best girl friends are doing something for her
on Sunday. I guess I can quit worrying, sounds like
a lot once you write it down.

Evidently they had a tornado pass over the school yesterday.
They had an actual “take cover” moment. I knew nothing about
it until I met Hilary at the doctors office yesterday afternoon.
(just a check up, she’s not sick) Yet another case of needing
to watch the dumb local news. The school wouldn’t call for anything.
I can not wait until this is over. Come on June!

So, Yes, Hilary is about to be 18 years old.
I cant even go into what that feels like.

The phones were all screwed up yesterday. We have no
home phone and the cell towers were all tangled. Jan tried to
call me and was told she wasn’t a Cricket customer! Not hardly.
We are very fortunate to live in a valley, our home sits low
on the hill we are on. Protected from most things that would
harm us or it.

I named it Haven Hill 16 years ago when it was just the kids and
I and they were going through the divorce. They needed to know
that nothing would change here. That we would be the Burke Tribe.
The four of us strong and unchanging. We could do anything at
Haven Hill. As long as we were together. The house would protect us.
It has and we have loved it back. The little sign I painted for the
front door all those years ago, says just that.

Yesterday after the doctor visit I turned off the frustrating phone
and slept. I didn’t even see Jan last night. I slept the entire evening
and until 8 am. I realized while we waited two hours at the doctor’s
office that when I sat still I fell asleep. Must mean something.
So I took the day to sleep. Wasted? Probably, but my head and
heart needed it. Ambien is a good thing.

Tomorrow our friend L is coming to have me help her with a
table she wants to mosaic. She will also do our taxes.
More than an even trade, poor woman.
I may hurl. I hate tax time. Hate it with all I am.

Off to buy things to celebrate my baby being 18.
I could just cry, damn it.

The happy couple at work.