Well, I finally did it. After being invited to the relations’ homes for dinner repeatedly over the last several months, UltraMom finally reciprocated. For them, it always seems so effortless. UltraDad’s brother Bill and wife Patty just throw together a dinner on a whim. It takes UltraMom ALL day!
Mostly this is because the house is always so cluttered. I think I somewhat inherited this tendency from my mother, though sister UltraUbi doesn’t have it. I tend to save everything because you never know when you may need it some day. The problem is that when that day comes, I can’t find it. Ever. And I don’t save things in logical places. If I want to find something, the first place to look is through the piles of paper on the dining room table. Then on to the stacks on the piano and by the computer. Maybe I put them in the box in the cat room from the last time I cleared off the table. Finally I conclude that, although I still have that year old cell phone bill and the sheet showing the exact dimensions of a regulation horse-shoe pit and the announcement to that wedding that took place last June, that I must have thrown away the title to my car or the American Express Gift Cheque that my brother mailed us for Christmas. You get the drift. Weekly editions of the local paper, The Arco Advertiser abound, as well as copies of The Thrifty Nickel (a free publication full of stuff for sale from farm implements to used treadmills and pianos.) Once in a while I go on a binge and throw this stuff away, at which point UDad is CERTAIN to desparately need a certain edition that contains that thing he wanted to check out.
So: I cleaned the bathrooms (somewhat), vacuumed (a few prominent rooms), cleared off the table ( a MAJOR undertaking) and nagged UDad into mowing the lawn ( not too difficult since we have a riding mower). I cooked the easiest meal I could think of: roast beef with potatoes and carmelized onions & carrots, corn on the cob (from brother Chuck’s garden) and a green salad. I was glad that all 8 people I invited showed up, and everything went fine. They are all very nice people and very appreciative.
But why does entertaining come so easily to some people, but not to others? Generally, I think, I prefer to be the guest! I’ll even bring some of the food. NOW I need another day off to rest up:)
Happy Labor Day,
UltraMom
Bet you thought I’d gone for a Sabbatical, or Walkabout, Vacation or Slump, didn’t you? Okay, maybe “slump” isn’t too far off the mark, but I’m back now.
I was reading a few selections from my “Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff, and it’s All Small Stuff” book today, and this entry really made me sit up and take notice: Instead of focusing on what you want, focus instead on what you have. We all know people who are caught up in the endless mind game of wanting something more. Don’t get me wrong; there’s nothing wrong with setting goals, but if you’re always yearning and focusing on what you wish, its pretty hard to live life in the moment. And what happens if you get what you were yearning for? Well, you will soon be yearning for another pie-in-the sky something else. We may be wishing for a bigger house, a better job, a more fun-loving mate, a trip to Hawaii! Now, some of those things may be attainable (I have my doubts about changing the spouse), but I will be much happier if I can focus day to day on what I already have. And chances are, if I appreciate and live where I am, some of those wished-for things may come about anyway. Or not. Anway, that is a paraphrase according to UltraMom, but I thought it was worth repeating.
UltraDad and I spent the weekend in Emmett with UltraUbi (new moniker for my sister). UltraDad still hasn’t found a job and is at VERY loose ends, so it wasn’t too hard to get him to agree to come with me. Best part for me? He met me in Arco after work, and did ALL the driving to Emmett while I did a little snoozing. I LOVE to nap in the car. Anyway, on Saturday, the sister and I met some friends in Boise and went to the Western Idaho State Fair. UltraDad wisely didn’t come. Very wisely. He hates heat; he hates crowds; he hates milling about. We experienced all of those things in abundance. I enjoyed the navajo taco and the funnel cake with strawberries, but mostly was reminded me of why I don’t usually even attend the EASTERN Idaho State Fair, which takes place closer to home. One attraction at the Fair was a Sea Lion show. We checked it out in between performances and found a large portable tank in which one sea lion was “working”. This involved posing for pictures with paying customers, and pretending to kiss higher paying customers. It really made the kids giggle to have that whiskery nose brush against their hair.
The next performance was at 5 o’clock, so we arrived at 4:20 to find all available seating already taken. Rather than wait standing, we left and came back about a quarter til. Now, not only was all the seating gone, but also any prime or semi-prime standing room. I’m 5’4” tall, about average height for a woman, but I could only catch glimpses of the aquatic mammals when they perfomed on the stage and on their stools. I kept standing on my toes and weaving about to catch an opening in the crowd. I was hot, tired of standing, and grumpy. I glanced back behind me and was amazed to see a woman, at least 3 inches shorter than me smiling happily, eyes aglow. She was holding a video camcorderr as high over her head as she could, alternating with a man with a cast on one arm, presumably her husband. As I watched, she spoke to a person near me. “Tell him he can see better if he moves over here”. She was pointing to an tiny, elderly man, lost in the back of the crowd. The message was conveyed, and the man moved. I hope his view was improved. Anyway, it made me a little ashamed of myself and I found myself more content to enjoy the part of the show I could see and able to find joy in the contentment of others.
So, my children, that is the lesson for today. Listen to the wise words of
UltraMom
REMEMBER: Focus on what You HAVE, instead of on what you WANT
