Run With The Fishes

Yesterday, as I was leaving the store, I noticed a girl maybe a little older than Zoey. She was young and pretty and had obviously just gotten a new hair cut. It was super short, and looked sassy and amazing on her. If this were someone I knew, I would not have given a second thought to go up to her and tell her how great I thought her hair looked. Instead, I hesitated. I was afraid I would come across as a crazy creepy stranger.

Girls (and boys) are self-conscious and compliments can make a huge difference in self-esteem. We as a society do not give out compliments to strangers very often, therefore, we do not really know how to accept them when received.

I have not been able to stop thinking about it since yesterday afternoon. I tried to put myself in the girl’s place. When I was younger, random people complimented my on my eyes. I was slightly embarrassed, but flattered. That was many, many years ago, so I’m not sure if it is still relatable (a side note, why does spell check not think relatable is a word?).

Instead I put myself in the mother’s place. How would I have felt if some random stranger came up to any of my children and gave them a compliment? I think it would have depended on the random stranger’s presentation. Were they sincere and genuine, or crazy looking, or both? Leary and proud is what I came up with.

Here is what I wish I would have done. Gone up to the girl and her mother and said, “Excuse me, but I couldn’t help noticing how great your hair looks!”. Then maybe asked who her stylist was. I’m not searching for a new one, but I think that would have been a good way to give the compliment without seeming crazy. Instead I got into my car, drove away, and regretted not giving a compliment.

I’m curious, what would you have done?

We went through our share of chickens when they were still chicks. Some escaped because even though we thought they were big enough, they were able to squeeze through their fencing. Some were taken by a cat because we hadn’t secured them enough, one was pulled through the fencing by a wild animal and one mysteriously vanished during daylight hours leaving behind only feathers in a circle. I’m pretty sure I know who the culprit of that one was.

Then there were 4. Three hens and a rooster. Three hens as it turns out are plenty. Almost 3 eggs a day, every day. A rooster wasn’t really in the plans. When we bought our chicks they were all supposed to be girls, but it wasn’t that big of a deal. It was fun to listen to him learn to crow and we knew that with a rooster, eventually we could let one of the hens hatch some eggs.

Today, after some deliberation, we gave away the rooster. He has been getting more and more aggressive. He has been running up to people and fluffing his feathers. Alli claims that he drop kicked her once and all of the kids her size are a little intimidated and frightened by him (in a scary movie thrilled/scared kind of way). Heck, even I am a little intimidated by him lately. When he runs up to me, I stand poised ready to kick him back if he thinks about it. We just didn’t really trust him around Alli and her friends.

Alli has been sad. So sad that she told us she was in misery. She is crying herself to sleep. It’s sweet, overly dramatic, and also hilarious. She’s building up how much she loved that chicken more and more. Trying to work out her feelings and get her to rationalize, we had this conversation.

Alli: “He was my best friend”.
Me: “Really? Even better than your friends at school?”
Alli: “Well no, but my best animal friend”
Me: “Even better than our dogs?”
Alli: “Starlight does jump on me. But the rooster drop kicked me. LT is just big. No, I guess not. But I’m still sad and am going to really miss him. We had some good times.”

She calms down so I leave the room. A few minutes pass and we and hear her doing her rooster impression. A tribute to a lost friend.

On their way through from Kentucky to Dallas for the Thanksgiving holiday, our friends Buddy, Helen, and their children made a detour to our house. Even though we stay in touch through the world wide internet, we haven’t seen them in almost 5 years. Their oldest, I’m sure, did not remember us and we had never met their toddler and new baby. It was wonderful to see them again. I love when you can just pick back up with good friends like it hasn’t been years and years since you last saw them.

So, most of the rest of these daily reflection questions are lame and do not require a full post. I’ve put off making posts just because I didn’t want to have to finish them. Instead, I’ll knock some of them out now and leave the rest unfinished. If there is something you think I should answer, let me know and I will consider it.

Day 06 → Something you hope you never have to do.
The same as every parent, my answer is that I hope I never have to bury a child. I don’t even want to imagine having to do this.

Day 07 → Someone who has made your life worth living for.
Cheese. My husband, my children, my parents, my friends. This list could go on and on. Everyone in my life has made it worth living.

Day 08 → Someone who made your life hell, or treated you like crap.
Stupid. No one. Nameless people. I can’t think of anyone for this.

Day 09 → Someone you didn’t want to let go, but just drifted.
Friends from college, friends from middle and high school, cousins, the standard people you just grow apart from after a while as life takes you down different paths.

Day 10 → Someone you need to let go, or wish you didn’t know.
Some of these (I guess mostly the negative ones) are what I have trouble with and annoy me. There isn’t anyone I wish I didn’t know and as far as I know, no one I need to let go of in my life. Fill your life with the people you want to be around.

Day 11 → Something people seem to compliment you the most on. My children. It seems strange because I know there are things we don’t get right, but Greg and I get many compliments on how we parent our kids.

Day 12 → Something you never get compliments on. This could be anything. There isn’t anything that I wish I got compliments on but do not, so I guess I’m good.

Day 13 → A band or artist that has gotten you through some tough ass days. (write a letter.) No thanks.

Day 14 → A hero that has let you down. (letter) Again, no thanks. I mean really why dwell on negativity?

Day 15 → Something or someone you couldn’t live without, because you’ve tried living without it. Lame

Day 16 → Someone or something you definitely could live without. Haha, this challenge thing.

Day 17 → A book you’ve read that changed your views on something. Still Alice by Lisa Genova I don’t know that it changed my views, but it did make me think, and still does. Since reading this book I constantly compare this person’s symptoms with my regular activities.

Day 18 → Your views on gay marriage. I am for it or at least for some form of legal civil union. Who are we to condemn love between two consenting adults just because of their gender?

With that I am done. I don’t think I can do many more of these questions the justice they fully deserve *sarcasm*.

Day 19 → What do you think of religion? Or what do you think of politics?
Day 20 → Your views on drugs and alcohol.
Day 21 → (scenario) Your best friend is in a car accident and you two got into a fight an hour before. What do you do?
Day 22 → Something you wish you hadn’t done in your life.
Day 23 → Something you wish you had done in your life.
Day 24 → Make a playlist to someone, and explain why you chose all the songs. (Just post the titles and artists and letter)
Day 25 → The reason you believe you’re still alive today.
Day 26 → Have you ever thought about giving up on life? If so, when and why?
Day 27 → What’s the best thing going for you right now?
Day 28 → What if you were pregnant or got someone pregnant, what would you do?
Day 29 → Something you hope to change about yourself. And why.
Day 30 → A letter to yourself, tell yourself EVERYTHING you love about yourself