Some Enchanted Evening

We needed to get out of the house and have some adventure. I, personally, needed to stimulate the economy. The boys needed to get out of their pattern of disobedience. I felt like a day shopping would provide just what we needed. I engaged the services of one very capable Mimi and optimistically looked to the coming day on the town.

First, Mimi kept the boys while I dropped by a clothing party. My good feelings continued as I tried on a lovely pair of pants that were too big and the consultant said, "Uhm, you're gonna need a 6 in that." I looked at her with a mixture of mistrust and elation. Strange combination, I know. But part of me felt like I was on candid camera and waiting for the hidden lenses to be shown and the other part of me just wanted to hug her. Once I got the size 6 pair on and they actually fit, I said "You realize I MUST buy these now. I will buy them and leave the tag sticking out for all to see." Everyone thought I was hilarious and I wondered how much they would laugh when I saw them at church, pants on, tag out.

The good feeling were short lived because upon my return, I found a box of Poptarts that had been on the very top shelf of the pantry, behind the couch with one missing. Some Poptarts are okay for Will; these were not. My mother-in-law felt bad that it was on her watch, but she shouldn't. He's really good at being sneaky. I called his dad who said he was immediately pedaling home. He was angry and said he was glad he would get the physical exertion to quell his wrath. All I could think was the bicycle riding music in "The Wizard of Oz." That tune of approaching, imminent doom. Carter was forced to sit on the naught step during the entire interim. Mimi and Will played outside and tried to stay out of the way. Once Nathan was home, more Phase 1 and Phase 2. But a new phase. This time he had to write sentences over and over. Just like old fashion elementary school punishment. Carter said he thought it sounded kind of fun.

Once this was all settled and I told Carter, "I hoped that today would be different. That you wouldn't do anything to get into trouble." He said, as only he could, "Well, maybe the rest of the day will be different!"

And it was different. I stimulated the economy as much as I could. If the day had only been longer! Mimi is so good at keeping the boys wrangled. It helps to have experience herding cats and I think she's herded a few in her day. The boys were sometimes loud. But boys are loud. And sometimes they were a bit unruly. But why would a boy enjoy Macy's? There is no reason for him to. Now, Lowe's is more up their alley. Though they were tired, there was really not much whining and it was actually enjoyable.

We returned home with goodies spilling out the doors. Normally, I'm not a spender. I get horrible bouts of buyers remorse. Not yesterday. Everything was essential. Plus Mimi is a wonderful enabler. There's one phrase that gets me every time: "You can always return it." These purchases were necessary and long over due.

Since Will feel asleep, exhausted from our day, we quietly unloaded it and gingerly laid him down in a cool bed. I placed the new chair cushions in the patio furniture our neighbors no longer wanted (these are nnnnice and they are crazy to get rid of them!). The cushions fit just right. Ahhhh. The new pants fit just right. Ahhhh. Nathan's new clothes were going to be great. The wedding gift was going to be just right. Ahhh. I love the feeling of accomplishment.

Finally, as the sun was gone and its light was fading, I dragged Nathan outside to sit in the new chairs. The heat from the day had disapated and the boys sweetly crawled up into the loveseat, cuddled up right next to me. The soft smell of honeysuckle floated around us. It was truly lovely. Then, I saw them. Lightning bugs began to rise, flickering their green tails. Carter and I leapt up and tried to catch them. There's some more over there and over there. I told him that when you see the first fireflies, that means summer is almost here. I retrieved a Mason jar from the kitchen to contain the ones we could catch.

I was transported back; I was only 5, running around, jumping, and grabbing at the air. We were all barefoot and it was almost completely night. Carter commented on how they were so hard to catch because it was so dark. I marveled at how I caught so many as a child. The night crept over and the street lights were all we had to see by. We kept our eyes peeled for rising fireflies. Once a group was spotted, we would run in attack. This went on for a long while, until it was well past time for bed. It was an enchanted twilight.