Not Even Important Enough for a Pithy Title

Pre-Pubescent One now has the flu. But, not the same flu that Diminutive One and Husband had. That flu started with a brutal hacking cough and evolved into stuffy nose, chills, body aches, and high fever. Sort of a head cold on steroids.

This flu is puking. And puking. And more puking.

Frankly, I was not terribly sympathetic when he first told me he wasn't feeling well. He's a hypochondriac, and very dramatic to boot. Which means that every little ache and pain produces great moans, groans, sighs and desperate bids for attention.

For several hours after I picked him up from school Tuesday with a low-grade fever, he lay on the couch and moaned dramatically and punctually, timing his performances roughly 10 minutes apart.

It was getting on my last. nerve.

But then his fever soard to 104 and he began spewing things that looked like they might have come from much farther down the gastrointestinal tract than his stomach.

And then I had to concede that he was really sick.

He continued to spew things and so, I didn't sleep last night, but rather, lay wakeful in my bed listening for the latest eruption. He had a basin by his head, and other than providing that, there wasn't much I could do. But still...a kid wants his Mom when he's puking his ever loving guts out, even if the rest of the time, he is far too cool to admit he even has a Mom.

So I'm tired, and not really up to being deep or pithy today. Sorry.

There are a few random things I have to talk about, however.

First, someone emailed me for some advice about doulas, and I, somehow, deleted it. Please, please, please, please, please email me again. I would love to talk to you about it. Truly. I know you're sitting there thinking I'm a snooty bitch who doesn't answer her email, but really, I'm just a dolt who can't even work her email properly.

Second, this past weekend Husband and I watched a movie called Martian Child.

It wasn't a big blockbuster. I had never even heard of it. We don't get to go to many movies that don't aren't animated and/or feature digitally rendered mythical beings.

Simply put, this movie blew me away. Maybe, if you don't have a child that is a little eccentric, a little unusual; one who walks a different path, to the beat of a different drum...it won't be as meaningful to you.

But if you have one of those kids who just doesn't fit inside the very narrow definition of normal, then this is a movie you should see.

It makes me wonder if, instead of trying so hard to help our children fit into their world, we should focus on making their world more accepting of them. Maybe, we should embrace their uniqueness instead of trying to shove them into ill fitting boxes. Maybe we could all learn someting if we would look through their eyes.

Maybe, we should believe in their right to be different. Maybe, we should champion the fantastic.

John Cusack, whom I have loved since he played "Hoops" in that movie One Crazy Summer and later, Lloyd Dobler in Say Anything is all grown up now. And he gives a truly stunning performance.

I love discovering little gems like that.



Third, Prince of Tides...wow. If you haven't read it, do.

I loathe book reviews that give away the entire plot, so I will spare you that. But I will say that Pat Conroy is an amazing storyteller and his prose is absolutely remarkable. I found myself speaking phrases from the book because they were so beautiful, so interesting, or so evocative that I just needed to hear them said aloud.

His characters are wonderfully rich and complex. Even his villians are not so villainous when he has peeled back all the layers and exposed the core of their misery. It takes a real pro at character development to create a vulnerable, sympathetic nemesis.

Again I must thank whomever it was who recommended that I read him. I can't wait to crack open another of his brilliant stories.

Last but not least, I would like to leave you with this from my friend Nina. It is the first verse of a poem she wrote. You can read the rest of it here.

she cried uncle today,
life's expectations, self expectations
she dropped them at her feet.
She then stepped over them and walked away.

For some reason, that hits me right in the gut.

Afterthought: Seriously? I am OVER the pussy searches.