So I'm A Year Older

I celebrated another year on this earth last week. When you get to a certain age, birthdays sometimes don't mean as much anymore. But then, I'm not really big on my own birthday. When I was a kid, sometimes I wished people would actually forget it was my birthday. But I would miss all the gifts and I'd forget about it.

Nothing special about this one. It's not a milestone birthday by any means, but it got me thinking. I've lived almost half my life outside my hometown and I feel I've been missing out a lot. Not just the place, but the people and the family and the friendships. I've spoken with my sister about it and she did bring up a good point that some people live their lives without leaving the place. I guess in my age, I start yearning for the things that could have been. The old adage "the grass is always greener on the other side of the fence" is really quite true.

Not that I'm complaining at all. I love my life. I feel so very lucky and so very blessed and I will not trade it in for anything.

What Can I Dream About, Mommy?

My daughter always asks us this question every time we put her to sleep.

We love giving her stuff to dream about. I often tell my kids made up stories and each time I ask them what they want to hear, my daughter almost always asks the same thing: The princess and the dragon and the King who saves her. Or, it could be about the princess in the forest and her talking animals. Again, it could be a princess and her flying horse. Always about the princess. Always will be my princess.

Tonight she told me she'll be dreaming about white flowers and blue skies. It makes her happy.

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I think it's important to keep imagination alive in our kids. Books and stories are some of the many ways we can do this. We read to them always, we tell them stories, we sing made up songs. It's always fun and, dare I say it, it keeps me young.

Winter Flu 2005

I was sort of expecting this but it's hit me hard today. The little girl got sick Sunday night, and was not well on Monday. My wife went to work and I decided to work from home to take care of her. My wife brought the little boy to day care and I was left alone with our sick girl.

Today, the virus jumped to me and I'm suffering the full effects of it. I've got a headache, blocked nose, aching joints, fever, the works! I'm spending my time just checking work email and trying to do as little as possible. Which is not a good idea considering that the little girl is still not fully well and she's staying home with me,

At any rate, I'm all medicated to the gills and hopefuly I can have a little strength to do my daughter's biddings.

It's going to be a long day....