Solitude

Monday, as I scrambled fretfully to achieve a halfway decent-looking appearance and rush off to work, I was graced with the magic of 15 minutes of solitude.

ANYONE who is a parent, has a significant other, or just lives with anyone else likely understands just how precious this is. And it's more than being the only one awake, or the only one in the room. It's being the only one in the WHOLE HOUSE.

Generally, I'm charged with taking M to Yah Yah's, however, on this particular day, K volunteered to take her on his way to take his truck in for repairs. Which allowed me to slow down (slightly...I was still running late) and assess my appearance/clothing/makeup/mental attitude before flying out the door. AND, it allowed me to be in my house. Alone. For 15 whole minutes.

These minutes I can break down for you, minute by minute.

1: OH! It's so quiet! Is that a pimple?

2. Maybe I should brew coffee to take with me on the way in. Nah, it won't brew in time.
3. It might brew in time.

4. Nope, coffee will never make it. How did I miss that eyebrow hair when I plucked?

5. Is that a blonde hair in the sink? No one in THIS house has blonde hair that long! What the hell? Oh, wait, that's gray, and it's mine.

6. Man I need to dye my hair.

7. I think this sweater makes my lumps look lumpier. I need to change.

8. Doesn't match, doesn't match, doesn't match. (Sorting through shirts)

9. Ah! Voila! That will do.

10. A little perfume, shirt tucked in, looking good...crap, I have to pee.

11 through 14, bathroom break.

15. Crap, I should have left for work 15 minutes ago. Where's my keys? Did I remember to put on deodorant?


And typically, this is an every morning affair, plus the added bonus of getting M ready to go to Yah Yah's.

I have absolutely no idea how I function at all in the morning, and I can tell you one of my New Year's resolutions was to be more on time in the mornings; I have yet to meet that goal even once. I am blessed to have a job that does not require me to clock in, or even be there at a specific time. I usually get there anywhere between 8:30 and 9am. I would prefer to get there right at 8am, but for some reason, I can't drag my rear out of bed any earlier than 7:30. I'm open to suggestions, by the way, on how to make that happen.


As I sit now, I look forward to my next moments of solitude, where maybe,  I can use them a little more productively. Like dying my gray hair.

~CSM