Last week i told jim that since Christmas 1996 i've jump started my new years feeling like an unprepared water skier. That was the year when we adopted Cameron with three days notice, at the same time we were making decisions about where we'd move overseas to serve as missionaries - which we did only 5 months later!
Unprepared water skiier? Yes. This is how I've started the last 7 years: rushing from the campsite, where I didn't sleep well the night before, my life vest is fastened askew, I somehow have ahold of the bar, but I haven't got the skis on nor have I gotten myself centered and crouched over them. Before I know it, Someone else yells "HIT IT!!!" and I find myself getting dragged (flown) thru the year at high speed clutching the line for dear life wondering if I should keep hanging on, or give up and let go, and sink to the bottom of the river!
This year, 2004, it was wonderful, I was prepared! I had read up on waterskiing, worked out a bit before the trip, well suited life vest on, I got both of the skis on in the shallow water, I was carefully crouched, and I, KIMBERLY was the one who called out "HIT IT!"
I welcomed in a new year standing up, enjoying the rush of walking on water. I'm not afraid of falling (I know I will). Because I'm confident in the life vest, and secure in the strong line connected to the one who's powering the speed boat!
Jim's been reflective too. Ignoring the fact that there's a huge pile in the inbox...e-inbox mostly (I don't know how he juggles it all), but he's learning to take himself less seriously, and even "dropping the ball" here and there - something I've NEVER seen him do. But GOOD for him. He's the kind of capable person who manages to keep his ball in play while picking up others' dropped balls as well.
Since the 2nd, both kids are off to a new year at their "little" school across the street (little here is just under 1000 students). They are happy, healthy, still sweetly holding my hand as we walk to school together. Cameron, now in his 2nd year of Primary School is proud of knowing the ropes and come home each day with a report of how his new teacher thinks he's a good boy. Tyler with the rest of the 5th graders has been assigned a 1st grader to look after at recess time the first 2 weeks of school He's also signed up to help with the "buddy reading program" for slow younger readers afterschool.
For a few weeks Tyler (10) has been wanting to learn guitar. When I suggested that I teach him a few things before we commited him to a class, I got out the dusty guitar from under Jim's side of the bed, tuned it up, and played a simple Christmas carol to my stunned son. I relish these pre-pre-teen moments where he still thinks I'm the most excellent mom. He merely said, "You play the Guitar TOO?" (as if knowing C, D, and G chords means I "play"). It's been fun to teach him, see his enthusiasm, and feel that old sting on uncalloused fingertips. He just wants to know how long until he can play like Marty in BACK TO THE FUTURE.
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