Is it even possible to have ordinary days when you know your son is walking around with a tumor in his head ?
Yes, apparently, it is possible. While there was a surreal quality at times, this past week was mostly solid, peaceful, even joyful.
We celebrated Sid’s birthday last Sunday, when we brought Sidney home from the hospital. Dear friends came by with supper and pecan pie.
.
For me, the week developed a strange weightlessness.
Nothing was important.
Everything was important.
Sidney’s car not working and where college money would come from — Not important.
Bubbles – important.
.
.
Mom came over and ate supper. She came bearing her birthday card, dependable as ever.
Important.
.
Half-finished interior painting? Not important.
Lazy music. Very important.
.
Memorial Day with friends –Yes! Important!
.
Crazy girl – important.
.
Goofy boy – important.
.
Boy home from hospital – important.
.
Sid killed a snake in the basement. This is a conundrum.
Not Important? Important?
Imaginary Brave Tina shrugs nonchalantly and says cooly, “Sooooo not important.”
Real life Tina squealed and shuddered. Repeatedly. Her heart pounded out “Important. Important. Important. Are there MORE snakes in the basement? This is important, need-to-know information!”
My girls stared at me in bemusement, “Calm down, Mom. It’s just a snake.”
Rachel diligently researched the internet and we all argued about whether it was a copperhead. It had fangs. I shuddered as I typed that. Rachel finally declared it a black rat snake. That’s better than a copperhead. But y’all . . .fangs !#!
On a less snaky note, there were interesting conversations around the house:
“That is the 10th time I’ve sneezed in 2 years!” -Prairie
“If I could run as fast as I sneeze, that would be awesome! Because I heard how fast sneezing is . . . like 100 . . . miles or something.” -Prairie
“Let me use this knife to cut my peach with my double vision. I see 2 peaches.” –Sidney
“Well, cutting it should be easy since you have 20 fingers.” –Sid
“Dad, do you enjoy the long division of polynomials?” — Sidney
Paying attention to our words — definitely important.
Prairie Sings 
The only good snake is a dead snake! Did you run screaming out of the basement?
When I was about 8 years old, my mom found a snake in the house. She ran out of the house down the street screaming. In her panic, she left something very important behind in the house: ME! She really does not like snakes. Luckily it was just a garden snake and I had enough sense to follow her.