I broke my tailbone when I was about to start grad school; one stupid choice that will in ways influence the rest of my life. The fall didn't cripple me, luckily, but I have to be mindful, remembering that I can easily hurt my back again, throw the muscles into spasms I've likened to "having birth contractions of the spine, instead of the lady bits," to Bestie L (the mother of 3 girls, so you know I wasn't being dramatic). Cautious and mindful are not my strong suits, and so I threw my back out this weekend.
I spent Sunday-Tuesday in bed, with fat, pathetic tears forming in the corners of my eyes every time I moved, unable to get out of bed in less than 5 minutes time, unable to do anything more than lay and wince. I dramatically imagined myself in the event of a fire, rolling from side to side, unable to get up to save myself. So, I did what I do best, I read. And read. And read. I forgot the pain and enjoyed laying still, feeling the weight of my body and the heaviness of the book dangling over me as I couldn't absorb things fast enough. I became the me of age 8, voraciously cramming, cramming, as though time would run out and I wouldn't have learned it all.
The time too meant being "looked after;" getting calls and texts from the 5 ladies I work with at Sticks Library; deliveries of surprise care packages that included M&Ms; suggested remedies from patrons who overheard the calls. And though I lay about, sloth-like, stressing out at times about all the work I had to do, that I should be further along in the hiring process of our Youth Services Librarian, and then I just let it go. I did. I came back to work today to mounds of paperwork, a bajillion emails and voicemails, a meeting, and lots of questions, and yet, I came back lighter. Goofily giddy to be doing something again, to be able to walk and stand straight, no longer the hunched species connecting the Neanderthals and modern man. I came back feeling rested and looked-after and there is something calming in that.
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| Can't you just hear the kids getting smarter? |
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| This might be my favorite! |
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| Or this one! |
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| How cool is this!!? Umm, is that Ariel's Dad? ;) |
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| The older kiddos' Tree of Knowledge all done! |
I was also excited to see the progress in our murals, though a little sad that I missed the subtle changes. It is beautiful, no?
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