Making Friends and Neighbors

Ryan and I have long had a phrase that we use to describe those days when we feel like we're just a few seconds off everyone else's time -- "out of sync." And we have had a few of those this week. If I were just 20 seconds faster or slower, I wouldn't be stopping at every stoplight, there wouldn't be a crowd of people standing in front of every item I need at the grocery store, etc. Just now, we came home from swimming lessons to find two men in suits standing on our porch, clipboards in hand. Not wanting to deal with that right then, I drove on past, and we proceeded to circle the neighborhood for the next 15 minutes as the two men knocked on each of our neighbors' doors. I have found that you either have to increase your speed or be still for a few minutes while you wait for your life to sync up with those around you. :-) Silly, I know. But I hate awkwardness.

Ryley's school held a Book Fair at Barnes and Noble this week to raise money for the new wing they're building. I would have gladly not gone (just to avoid the awkward conversations), but Ryley's heart was set on it. "Mommy, we have to go so that they can raise enough money to build the 5th and 6th graders' new classrooms!" So we went. And stood awkwardly. But then, her teacher showed up. And four other little kindergarteners came with their parents, all of whom stood awkwardly. So we all delved into awkward conversations that, in the end, turned out really, really nice. Ryley has been concerned for awhile that we need to collect phone numbers from her friends so she can invite them to her birthday party in July. And that night, I had a nice, long talk with her friend's aunt...and we got a number! I had a nice conversation with her teacher, too. Sometimes it's good to force ourselves into those situations, I suppose. And I know there will be plenty more events like that in the future. ;-) It's just part of parenting.

We're making strides in the neighborliness arena as well. Ryley and I attended the fire spinners' BBQ a few weeks back, and then in the last two weeks, she has played nearly every day with the two little kids from next door. They hop back and forth over the fence into each others' yards. I am glad to see her making friends from all backgrounds. It does my heart good to see her little blonde head bobbing up and down on their jungle gym, and them, in turn, swinging on our swingset. It's very, very sweet. The only problem we have is when a friend from school calls, and Ryley has to come in and talk on the phone. "Life is hard," she says. "Sometimes there are two fun things, and you have to make a choice about which fun thing you're going to do!" If only that was the hardest thing about life. :-)

I went to the eye doctor this week for the first time since Ryley was a wee baby in Montana. That's pretty bad when you consider how bad my eyes are! But my eyes have been burning and watering uncontrollably, and I decided it was because my contacts are five years old (I've been stretching the wear in an attempt to save money). So I made an appointment with my childhood optometrist; I hadn't seen him since I was 18. Funny how his office was remarkably the same; and he is the same....just older. And now I have to wear my glasses for the next month and use lots and lots of eye drops in the hopes of reversing the damage I've done to my corneas. Yay.

Well, I have three hours before Ryan gets home, and I need to clean the house so we can start working on the yard and garden later on. Even though it's so expensive, I love strolling and browsing through our local nursery. Last week when we visited, Ryley announced so confidently, "I am into beautiful flowers."

And so am I. :-)