Sunday, January 6, 2013

Two


Oftentimes, I don't write because I think my life is too boring. The mundane, the Congressional politics, the regulations, the endless writing of healthcare specs -- then home, dinner and drink, two grumpy cats, what's on Hulu tonight? Tomorrow let's do it all again. Then I wake and say to myself as I stumble to the bathroom, "when is it going to be too much?" But I shower, make a pot of tea in the kettle of one green tea bag and one english breakfast, put the bagel in the toaster, feed the meowy cat, listening to NPR on my phone the whole time. I wonder when I got so old---NPR and green tea? Really?

I work all day and my TV is on cspan which I watch out of the corner of my eye. The interns run around, laughing, and I remember when I was one of them. I wonder if they know that sometimes I still feel 22? I'm asked important questions and sometimes don't know the answer. Find myself deferring, googling, fast talking, backward stepping.

I took a break for almost two weeks when I went to Kentucky for Christmas. All in all, it was a great trip. I wish I were the type to blog every day -I wish I could update all the time on my thoughts, so I could have that and look back. Instead, I see a blur of baby boys dancing to U2 and doing the cha-cha slide -- I see a five year old girl niece crying to me on the phone because I'm not there to sleep with her that night. I suggested she sleep with her sister instead and she sobbed back "But she doesn't smell the same as you, Aunt Steph."

I see the many glasses of milk I drank. The many, many, many arms of family members I hugged. The conversations held in the dark of night -it is so interesting to hear so many of my family's perspectives on my life. Some think I'm doing some awesome, amazing, thing by being here and others think I'm simply biding my time until I come home and buy a farm.

I have absolutely no idea what I want, almost all of the time. I do know that right now, I don't want to overthink it. I pop the bagel in the toaster, heat the tea, and put one foot in front another.

New Years Eve, I drove back to DC to avoid a winter storm. I drove, ahead of the snow, and thought about how I moved into my apartment on New Years Eve three years ago. I am home. I have another home, two states away.

Growing up, I had another home, two counties away.

I will always be torn. It will always be bittersweet.

To quote the immortal genius of Led Zeppelin...."because you know some times, words have two meanings."

Seems like all of my words do. All my thoughts -all my deepest desires.

Thanks for being here. On to 2013 -on we grow. (Thank you Mel, for this video)





5 comments:

liv said...

Melancholy and intimate, that's what that post was. I love the way you wrote it.

It was so beautifully done, it read like the first chapter of a good book. Thanks for making the effort, it really touched me and I am so glad to be with you here as well in 2013.

I do one green and one Earl Grey - simpatico.

Ms. Moon said...

I believe you are right when you advise yourself not to over think it. Just toast the bagel, eat it, get on with it.
I mean...as I said yesterday...this IS life.
Speaking of which, I need to get to the hospital.
We go on.

SJ said...

Liv -you're always so, so kind to me. Please stick around with me...I need your comments!

MM -Yes, it's just what we do. Messes and all.

Angie Muresan said...

NPR and green tea mean you're old? No, no. They just mean you know what you want out of life: wisdom and health. Love to you, sweet friend. Hope 2013 is fantastic to you!

Mel said...

Two homes. I like that. It's nice to know you have two paths you can go by :)

I smiled to know you mix your black and green teas - I always use two bags, one for flavor, one for antioxidants. Or maybe I'm just major league indecisive about the little things.

Glad you had a nice visit and you are so loved and nice smelling that someone could cry about it :)

I'm glad you liked that video, I lost count, but I've listened to it more than 10 times. It took a while to find the right speakers so I could really hear the choir. The production on this arrangement plus all the talent just blows me away. It captures a mood and a feeling just right, doesn't it?

Welcome home. And your life is not boring, by the way! Hope 2013 is really good to you.