This and That

I heart packages in a big way.

Today, my heart skipped a beat when the FedEx man knocked on my door and I heard a thump.

Like a child at Christmas, I ran to my door. I knew what was coming. My beyond-fabulous sister Julia had let slip a few days earlier that something marvelous was coming my way.

I tore the package open and found it filled with goodies. One in particular that my husband is looking to share in, but I fear will be gone before he comes home from his boys-night-out. Half of the cashew turtles (better known as starkles in my home) already met their demise within 40 minutes of opening the Tupperware.


Julia is one of those women.

You know, the women you occasionally meet who always seem to have it together, looking fabulous and with the qualities you envy to the point of forest green?

I recently met scores more of these women.

Three women at my church -- ones who always look fabulous, whose children look fabulous, and (much to my chagrin) have the fabulous looking home -- did the unthinkably fabulous gesture of throwing me a baby shower.

Due to the fact that I am new to this area and never expected a shower for my second child, I was a little shell-shocked, but agreed to all their kindness.

It was a Cinco de Mayo inspired party, held on May 5, of course.

The airhead pregnant woman forgot her camera, but it was an evening filled with games, food and more women of the aforementioned type.

I wish I had pictures. We smelled candy bars melted into diapers and gorged ourselves on taquitos and dulce leche cake, all while a pinata danced above our heads.


Early in the day -- before the generosity of casual acquaintances, friends and family helped build my son's material possessions of this world -- I unwittingly taught my daughter a diabolical word.

This.

Everything is "this" now. It comes with the complete package of head tilt and finger point.

All day I hear it in the form of a question or sweet entreaty as she looks for me to give her her heart's desire. Occasionally it comes in the form of a demand.

Her daddy buckled to new "this" pressure today and let her up to play with his precious computers.

It's my fault.

I should have used the correct noun for objects instead of offering her grunts with various "this"es.

Here's to hoping I get it right the second time around.