Every morning before breakfast, I write down my schedule for the day. In the gaps I make lists of things I need to do. Fold the laundry, call the bank, clean the bathroom, go to the store, etc. The boys and I have spent the past week at my Mom's house on Isle of Palms, S.C., and I thought I'd post our to-do list...
1. Survive a tire coming off of our car in the middle of the freeway on the way down.
2. Wake up before dawn to watch the sun rise over the ocean and search for sea turtle nests on the beach.
3. Spend ridiculous amounts of time in the outdoor shower.
4. Go for early morning runs on the bridge that crosses the marsh.
5. Get sunburn on my pregnant belly.
6. Coin a new mantra and repeat it feverishly to myself each time a hot young thing in a bikini walks by (about every five seconds): "One day she will be pregnant, have stretch marks, and look as ridiculous as I do right now in a bathing suit."
7. Gorge on PBS cartoons (since we don't have TV at home).
8. Arrive at the neighborhood pig pickin' in a golf cart.
9. Attend an opera.
10. Eat she-crab soup.
11. Watch the ships unload cargo in Charleston harbor.
12. Attempt to discern my preference between Odwalla and Cliff bars (the jury is still out).
13. Eat Turkish delight (My mom, while not a great cook, can always be counted on for such staples as imported truffle oil and obscure Middle Eastern candies that your kids have been begging to try ever since they read The Chronicles of Narnia).
14. Go to the aquarium and almost get locked in at closing time.
15. Shop at the Piggly Wiggly (where they have not only free cookies, kid-size shopping carts and a juice bar, but special parking spots for pregnant women- yeah!).
16. Hunt for whelks and jelly fish at low tide.
As you can see, we've been busy, but not with the normal activities of daily life- and that has been so refreshing. I do admit to abusing Dr. Pepper just a bit in order to keep up with everyone else. There is just something about the sun and the wind and the rythm of the tides, though, that pumps life back into me. Stay tuned for the next post, in which I'll expound on the joys of an outdoor shower...
Champion
5 months ago
