I am not afraid of storms, for I am learning how to sail my ship. - Louisa May Alcott

Once upon a time, there was only one child in the House O'Quill and I was a stay-at-home writing mom. 

I had forgotten, in truth, what it felt like. 

Spousal Unit and  Cyclone have been in Tennessee for a few days, leaving Cartoon Ranger and me here... being an only child and a stay-at-home writing mom.  It's been...

Rather amazingly peaceful.  

I haven't fallen off the earth or gone on vacation. Instead, I've been writing, watching movies with CR, enjoying the latest upgrades on the kitchen (my fifth grade Sunday Schoolers are SO SICK of hearing about The Kitchen...and very relieved to get the final update yesterday), writing, playing with CR, going out with the little guy, hanging in with the little guy, and searching for The Lost Tooth.

CR has lost his first tooth.  We have been in preparation for this event for a long time. It finally happened...very unceremoniously. He made a face, waved his hand in the air, threw something...and...

It was his tooth.  I am still looking for it.  White tooth, white tile floor, Legos.....  Like looking for the proverbial needle.  I am not vacuuming until it shows up...but I have swept a great deal.

Fortunately, we're not tooth fairy people here, so there was no expectation of a monetary compensation for the lost dental equipment. 

___

I have seen my MindSay bookmark often as I have been writing.  But... I truly felt I had nothing worthwhile to say.  It's been a rather cloistered life, here.  A good one.  Just...quiet.

Taught Kinders yesterday at the 9:30 hour. Such was the census in the Kinder-department that I had about 12 kids and the class next door had 2. We combined and I did the lesson, while the other teachers from the other class did snack and craft.  I am still not a whiz-bang with Kinders, but it was fun to be Cartoon Ranger's teacher for the morning. I don't think he ever really understood that Mommy was also Teacher.  For him, the delight and "ooh" of it were new, yesterday.  "Hallo, Mrs. Mommy! Hallo, Teacher! Hallo, Mrs. Sandi!" he said, over and again during class. Each time, reminding himself that I was still Mommy.  Even while I entertained lots of kids his age with the story of Gold Frankenstein and Myrrh.  (Okay, not exactly, but by the time it got home, that's probably what it sounded like.)

It made MY day, I can tell you that.

_____

As the year draws to a close (she says in the inevitable Year's End Reflection Moment) I find myself in a quiet place.  Perhaps it is the "half my family is far away" quiet.  Perhaps it's the natural quiet of a natural hermit. Perhaps it is the peace of planned anticipation for a new year that could bring new changes and heretofore unexplored roads.

Perhaps it is merely the calm before the storm.

If I don't get back here within the next twelve hours, please accept my best wishes for a SAFE 2008. One of treasured moments, remembered lessons, memories and at least fifty-two gut-crunching hours of laughter.

And may 2008 bring peace. To your hearts, families and individual worlds.