Summertime

Mickey Mecca
The kids and I went to Disney World for nine days right after school finished for the year. Soon-to-be-ex husband was supposed to go with us, of course, but didn’t. We had a very good time. Mostly it was just nice to be away from the current stresses at home. And we did well together. I was anxious about being the sole adult (and I use the term loosely), but I discovered that the kids weren’t nervous about that at all – they had confidence in me. I was mom. It was an epiphany. That gave me more freedom to just enjoy the trip. Though I didn’t do nearly as much shopping as I would have had I had another adult to help carry the bags.


Comparative Literature
I read two books the weekend we returned, and they seemed, to me at least, to have similar stories. Into the Wild, by Jon Krakauer, describes the real-life events leading up to a young man’s death in Alaska. Chris McCandless wanted to get away from civilization, test himself and prove something (perhaps to his father). Unfortunately, he died of starvation in the Alaskan wilderness. Similarly, in From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler, two children from Connecticut run away to the Metropolitan Museum of Art (in Manhattan) because the older sibling (Claudia) was frustrated with her parents and wanted to prove something. This book is a teen’s book and no one dies and Claudia and her brother get home safely. And, about halfway through the book, the author changes Claudia’s mission a bit … instead of her wanting to rebel against her parents, she starts to want to know whether a new statue at the museum was carved by Michael Angelo. I was a bit disappointed that the author didn’t continue with the idea that Claudia was angry and had something to prove. I’m probably not doing the comparative literature idea justice here (tired brain), but they do tell similar stories. Really.

Assignments
I’m very serious. Some of you other folks better start posting. I need inspiration.
TAPKAE, why the heck did you take down your Memorial Day post? You and my friend the acupuncturist must start a dialogue for me. You are a progressive Christian. He is a Buddhist and interfaith minister. Talk to me. What do you think of the happenings in the Middle East? Real Deal, you have nothing to say? WTF?

I’m also going to ask my very best friend from junior high and high school to join us. We’ve sort of found one another after 20 years and though she’s somewhere in Indiana and I’m somewhere on Long Island, I’m very, very glad she’s back in my life.