I keep thinking that only a week ago, my life was very different! I had my beloved UltraSon here and various other UltraChildren and everyone was making a big todo about MY birthday. We ate homemade pizza, venison steak & mashed potatoes and gravy (UB’s particular “must-have” comfort food) and birthday cake. We played games and laughed. . It sometimes seems to me like I’m living in ” black and white” until I’m with my kids and it then it feels like the Wizard of Oz when Dorothy reaches the Emerald City; suddenly everything is in living color!
Unfortunately, all too soon it seems, it was time for Cinderella to leave the “ball” and go back to Kansas. I gotta say this week has been a bit of a let-down. Real life is back; I actually had to work every day this week! I think that both UltraDad and I were feeling a little bereft this week I called the Stateside kids and left messages on their various cell phones; a few moments later I heard UD doing the very same thing! He actually connected with the daughter and we got a small dose of the medicine that ailed us. We talked to Johnny later and learned that Jim is on a fire near McCall north of Boise. I’m sure he’s glad to be making some extra money.
To speak of more cheerful subjects, this weekend is the big Atomic Days Celebration in Arco. We celebrate the fact that Arco was the first city in the world to be lit (albeit briefly) by nuclear power. There are class reunions (UB is missing his 10th), a rodeo, baseball and basketball tournaments, a parade, little carnival, vendors in the park and…..my favorite……the Fun Run! Actually I only do the Fun Walk part of it. You can run 10 or 5 K or walk 5 K. One year, when we had very few walking women participants, I won a medal for 2nd place! And maybe after that, Udad and I will go do something fun…………I’ll let you know.
Yikes, better get some sleep.
Later,
UltraMom
Color me happy. Color me emotional. Color me SURPRISED.
Last week I was the victim of a coverup of international proportions. EVERYONE knew about this but me. I don’t even know how to begin……………unless I just begin at the BEGINNING……………
My faithful blog readers will know that I have been anticipating celebrating a landmark birthday (yes, I’m 30 now…..OKAY its really 50 if you want to know!) and was feeling a little blue about it; a little introspective; a little SORRY for myself. I knew that Johnny and Jim both had to work on my birthday (a Sunday), and hoped I could at least get the ultradaughter Heather to come see me, though she was noncommital about it.
Every Wednesday, I stay in Arco (the town where I work, about 30 miles away) after work for Weightwatchers. I am a leader, and have been leading alone for the past few weeks while my co-leader has been pursuing other pursuits (like vacationing, the lucky dog). We had a particulary long meeting last Wednesday: a new member and some paper work to finish up. I was glad I had purchased 2 chicken breasts at the grocery store so UltraDad and I could have a quick no-cook dinner. I gave Udad a quick call before I headed home since I was so late. I know, I know, you’re thinking, “This is all just too exciting.” Well, its about to get even better!
I arrived home, wrestling my various bags into the house and saw that there were 3 packages of hamburger meat thawing on the kitchen counter. “John”, I yelled. Why did you get all of this meat out? I brought you home some chicken.” Then I noticed that the house had been sort of straightened up. Then I saw………….Johnny!
“Johnny,” I brilliantly quipped, “What are you doing home?”
Then it happened…(Jaws music) the WBO!
Another voice, a voice from the past said “Hi Mom.”
“Hi Bob. Hi Bob? BOB!” whereupon I screamed, cried, laughed and finally launched myself at him, thwarting his attempts to catch my hysterics on video.
But in this case, though you may argue the point, WBO does not stand for Weird Bug Occurence. No, this was a WONDERFUL BOB OCCURRENCE!
In case you have been living on the moon, Bob is your very own “UltraBob” who is normally to be found in Japan, but last week was in my very own house in Idaho!
My next thought was this “I don’t have any time off work.”
“Yes you do,” said Johnny.
“No I don’t” said I.
“Yes you do,” said Johnny
“No I don’t,” said I.
I don’t know how long we would have continued on in this brilliant fashion, if Johnny hadn’t finally decided to elaborate. “I called your boss and arranged it. Remember the other day when someone called and asked for Dallin? You asked who was calling, and the person said, uh, uh, uh. That was me, disguising my voice, and I wasn’t prepared for you to a)answer the phone, and/or b) ask me who I was. I almost hung up before you gave Dallin the phone.” Oh, I remembered all right. I remember thinking “What a jerk!” (Johnny was also the one to thoughtfully get out all the meat so I could make hamburgers for all the hungry guys)
So EVERYONE in the world, probably including all of you, knew about this except me, and you all did a terrific job of keeping a secret!
There was one surprise yet to come…………a bit later, I heard the cat scratching at the door. When I opened the door to let him in, JIM was standing there! He and Johnny had each taken the next day off. (Heather wasn’t able to come that day, but did come later on my actual birthday)
Well, its late and I’m feeling kind of sad cause the WBO is over and on his way back to the land of the flag with a large red dot on it, and noone is telling me happy birthday and how I don’t look NEARLY as old as 50.
I have been thinking a lot about this, and the predominant feeling is gratitude and thankfulness for the LOVE. My children must really love me to go to all this trouble to give me such a wonderful surprise. I can still feel it surrounding me and wrapping me in a warm glow. I hope that some day my children can have the awesome expereince of having kids as wonderful as mine, but I’m afraid it is impossible. It just doesn’t get any better than this.
Half a Century old, and don’t mind it a bit————ULTRAMOM
