What I Want To Say

I feel like a stranger here.  It's just been so long.

I want to fill you all in on all the stories you've missed in the last year... all those times I said to myself, "this needs to be documented!", but wound up watching a movie with the man instead.

I want to tell you about the (not so) new job.

I want to tell you every single delicious new recipe I've tried.

I want to give you a full analysis of our family dynamic since Banjo has left home, complete with the count of how many times we've said, "he broke our hearts" after smelling something foul that reminded us of his stinky self.

I want to tell you about how we can hardly contain our excitement as we see spring burst in the trees and blooms outside... (and how our white legs have burst out of our tights!)

I want to talk about every book I've obsessed over in the last few months.

I want to tell you about Fiona's adventures in school.  Like the time she...

1. Had opinions about being white, in regards to MLK Day:

an explanatory note about something she drew from her wonderful teacher.

"I mean, if I get in trouble for not cleaning my room, then..."

2. Apologized for being too sick to go to a friend's birthday party:

"Please PLYS forgive me for ruining your party by not being there!?"

3.  S-P-E-L-L-E-D it out for her derelict mother:

"It was nice doing business with you, daughter."

4.  Played Langston Hughes in a class presentation of African American Heroes:

For weeks she thought Langston Hughes was a young girl.

She was a good sport when she found out that she would be playing the part of a mustached man instead.  (She still  talks about the Harlem Renaissance too!)

I want to tell you about how much Neve likes her school (after months of crying at drop-off), and how she calls her Chinese teacher Ms. Yang and Ms. Yang's assistant Ms. Dang (not her name), and how she lied to her sister at the beginning of the year telling her that the giant paw painted on the outside of the school was there to represent the Open Puppy Policy they have, and that her class has 10 (count 'em- 10!) puppies in her class, so as to make her sister jealous, which worked, and now Neve struggles daily to maintain this ridiculous lie.  

I want to tell you about how we are going to Disney World next week, and how (in spite of the fact that it's already peak waiting-in-line season, it's already 93º in Orlando right now, and that 2 days there costs as much as 1 mortgage payment here) excited we are!  It'll be so worth it just to see their little faces light up.  I've got my fanny pack, white sneakers, and mouse-eared visor ready!  

In case it's another month (or more) before I write again, you can find me on insta.gram.  Buddy Erin from swonderland convinced me to give it a whirl, and now I'm addicted.

Hope everyone is happy and healthy!  xoxo, Dera