I know what you are thinking. How can garbage day be filled with so much joy? Isn't it about just getting rid of the stuff that you think is useless, that no one in his/her right mind would actually want? Last night's meat loaf to the broken light bulb find a resting place in our garbage can. But the act of picking up the garbage was met with pure joy in the Watson household. We watch YouTube videos of garbage cans being emptied over and over and over...that is how much that act is loved in our house.
It begins with the rolling of the trash can to the curb. The sight of the big black monstrosity sitting at the curb bought out ecstasy in Jax, and subsequently Maisie. Could this be the day I have been anticipating for the last three days (when we used to get our trash taken twice per week)? Jax would stand at the front window, chewing on the window sill, trying to contain his excitement. Some lucky days, he would get to stand at the storm door. Really special days meant that we got to wait outside while the garbage man came down our street. "Mommy, look. It's the dump diaper truck." That is his special name for garbage truck because it came by to pick up his diapers. The squeal of delights would ensue.
But the crowning jewel was the actual garbage man. We were on a first-name basis with him. KB was one of the sweetest men I have met here in Lawton, and he was just great with Jax. It's not like we would invite him in for coffee. Twice per week, this steward of trash would drive by our house and look for Jax. He would look towards our window or door and see if he could see two little eyes peering over the window sill. And he would wave. Not just a flippant gesture with a meaning of "I hope you go away soon." It was a sincere signal encouraging a little boy to wonder about the things and people in his life. My little boy loved our garbage man, and in his own sweet way, I think the garbage man loved my son.
Also, he cared about us. He would stop when we were sitting outside to remind us of an upcoming holiday and that our trash day would be pushed back one day. Or to tell us about the bulk trash pick up that was just around the corner. He wanted to make sure that we did not mis out on something that we might have needed in reference to our trash. He was not curing cancer or developing a method to purify water for third world, but Jax thought the world of him.
When our government housing was privatized, they switched companies. KB would have had to take a $10 per hour pay cut to continue on his particular route. So he wished us luck and said that he enjoyed seeing our family twice per week for the last two and a half years. We hoped for the best.
Nine months later, I have yet to elicit a word from my new trash man. This morning, as I sprinted to drag the can to the curb in time, the trash man looked upset that I made it in time. I said, "Good morning." Nothing. "Have a great day!" Nothing again. Not even a polite nod to acknowledge that I was standing five feet from him. Jax does not care if he sees that trash man at all. There is no more joy in watching the "dump diaper truck" that drives down our street. I know that kids have to grow up, but I do not think they should be pushed into it. At least there is still YouTube and all the people who have taken what might seem like a useless video but to us, they bring joy back to one little boy.
Monday, June 15, 2009
Thursday, January 8, 2009
16 Random Things, Facts, Habits or Goals about Me
A few of my friends on Facebook wrote about this topic to share with their friends. It was intriguing to read about their lives and the hidden talents or habits will someday emerge because of these lists. While I tend to despise the questionnaires that I receive in emails (although I usually respond to them), I like the idea of it being totally creative, not some manufactured "get to know you." I'll leave out the obvious, like I am incredibly sarcastic, or the mundane like I love peas, and really try to give you some insight into my life.
1. Up until the second week of college, I wanted to be an architect. I was enrolled in an architecture program for the first week and they used the dreaded words, "There is no right answer." To my logical mind with a love of mathematics, I could not stand to hear that. If there is no right answer, then how can you tell me my answer is wrong? I hightailed it to a counselor and switched my major to math education. If I had it to do all over again, I might have considered a different major.
2. I have had some major change every three to four years of my life. The change could have been starting a new school in a different district, (ages 3, 5, 12, 14, 18) or the death of a family member (ages 8, 12, 12.9, 26) or a move to another region of the country/world (18, 22, 25, 28). And I get so distraught when some major upheaval comes in my life. I am such a worry wart as if I am going to be graded on how well I handle things. I wish that I was more laid back when things like this happen.
3. I am not a random hugger. I have trouble giving someone a hug that I feel does not deserve it or warrant it. I will hug my friends to no end, but I do not like to hug an acquaintance. It stems from this guy I knew in college, whom I ran into outside the art museum. We were friendly, not close friends. When we saw each other, he leaned in for a hug, but not the warm kind. It was more the shoulder-touching hug while the butt is pushed way out. I remember thinking that I was uncomfortable, because I was not the one who leaned in, yet I felt he did not want to hug me. So, I decided that I would not give a hug unless it was someone for whom I cared.
4. I have a stepbrother I have never met and two stepbrothers whom I have not seen in 14 years. None of my stepbrothers attended the wedding of my mother and stepfather. One, I think his name is Mike, was living in Germany while in the Army. (This is the one I have not met.) The oldest, Brian and the youngest Kevin decided not to attend the occasion. It does not bother me that I do not know them. I feel sad for their dad, my stepfather, and that he is missing out on their lives and their children's lives.--A side note, I have a biological brother named Kevin as well and they are a few months apart in age.
5. I love to skydive, but not for the rush. It is one of the few times in my life that I do not have to take care of someone else...it is a true selfish moment for me. It is all about me and only me. I think that is why I would rather freefly than do relative work. Relative work means that I have to be concerned about other people during the jump, more than just avoiding them in freefall or under canopy.
6. I would like to get my Master's Degree in Mathematics. While I could go the easier route and get it in Education, my passion is math. I do not mean to say that an Education degree is easier than a math degree; I mean that I get an Education Master's from the comfort of my home. And I am not passionate about educational theory and policy. Since I will probably not live near a major university that actually offers a math degree, it is the harder option. And I want a Master's Degree so that I can teach at a community college. I love the age of students, from recent high school graduates to experienced adults going back to enrich their lives. Mostly, I would love not to have to deal with parents.
7. I love "Made for Cheesy" movies. It is a guilty pleasure of mine. During the course of the movie, I mercilessly pick apart the movie, and yet I tune to the channel to get my fix.
8. I pick at things on my body constantly. A scab, my nails, and my lips are just a few things that my fingers try to locate to do some damage. It is a nervous habit, one that I find myself doing subconsciously. I do not know where this habit comes from, but I do see Jax following in my picking footsteps.
9. While I love for my environment to be loud and busy, I still sneak off for some quiet time to unwind. About an hour a day, I like to have no one around me, some light music playing in the background, and a good book to read. It helps me to deal with the chaos in my life (stay-at-home mom with two active kids).
10. I hate not knowing. I try to find information about any topic that may come across my path. I read to increase vocabulary, to stimulate my brain, and to learn something new. I do not like to be in conversations with no knowledge of the topic. I keep up with current events, not necessarily because I care, but because I do not want to sound stupid when talking about the events.
11. My mind is like a steel trap for useless information. I can remember some of the weirdest things, making me really good at Trivial Pursuit. Most of the time, I only have to see something once and I will have some memory of it. Of course, after two pregnancies, my memory is starting to fail me which scares me since I depend on it so much.
12. My mom and stepdad still live in the house that I grew up in. My mom and my dad moved in the day I was born, and my mom has not moved in 31.5 years. All of my memories from childhood are contained in one house. Since leaving for college at 18, I have lived in three states, another country, and a multitude of dorm rooms/apartments/townhomes/duplexes/houses. And my kids will not have the same experience I did, since we are in the military and have the possibility of moving every three to four years.
13. For 10 years, I thought I was responsible for my father's death. Long story short, I was supposed to be with him at the restaurant where he choked. I went to therapy when I became a teacher, because I wanted to closure.
14. I am frugal. While I like to buy nice things, I do not like to buy them unless I get them on sale. I do not skimp on quality, because I find that the good stuff lasts longer making it a better deal in the long run. But, I have issue with buying things that are not on sale or that I do not have a coupon or that I know that I can get cheaper online. I have always been a saver, just ask my brothers; they tried to go the "Bank of Jill" to make withdrawals constantly when we were younger.
15. I love to cook, but not all the time. I go through cycles. Some days I feel like making these glorious meals, the kind of spreads that you see in magazine-style parties. Other days, I feel like making dinner the way we said my father would...making reservations.
16. I did not grow up wanting to be a mom. In fact, if you ask anyone in my family, I was never going to get married or have kids. When I played with my dolls, I was always their coach or teacher, never their mom. I think my lack of commitment stems from a year in my life when my mom's father died, one brother went to boarding school, my father died, the other brother went to college 1000 miles away, and my mom was sad from it all. I guess I did not want to deal with loss, and the easiest way to avoid it is to not have people in your life. Now, I can't imagine my life without my husband or my adorable children.
I hope that gives you a little insight into my crazy ways. And yes, I will always be sarcastic, even if most of the posts are not. I tried to keep that out of this post; otherwise, it would have looked like I was not taking this seriously, which I did. I mean, it took me two weeks to come up with these.
1. Up until the second week of college, I wanted to be an architect. I was enrolled in an architecture program for the first week and they used the dreaded words, "There is no right answer." To my logical mind with a love of mathematics, I could not stand to hear that. If there is no right answer, then how can you tell me my answer is wrong? I hightailed it to a counselor and switched my major to math education. If I had it to do all over again, I might have considered a different major.
2. I have had some major change every three to four years of my life. The change could have been starting a new school in a different district, (ages 3, 5, 12, 14, 18) or the death of a family member (ages 8, 12, 12.9, 26) or a move to another region of the country/world (18, 22, 25, 28). And I get so distraught when some major upheaval comes in my life. I am such a worry wart as if I am going to be graded on how well I handle things. I wish that I was more laid back when things like this happen.
3. I am not a random hugger. I have trouble giving someone a hug that I feel does not deserve it or warrant it. I will hug my friends to no end, but I do not like to hug an acquaintance. It stems from this guy I knew in college, whom I ran into outside the art museum. We were friendly, not close friends. When we saw each other, he leaned in for a hug, but not the warm kind. It was more the shoulder-touching hug while the butt is pushed way out. I remember thinking that I was uncomfortable, because I was not the one who leaned in, yet I felt he did not want to hug me. So, I decided that I would not give a hug unless it was someone for whom I cared.
4. I have a stepbrother I have never met and two stepbrothers whom I have not seen in 14 years. None of my stepbrothers attended the wedding of my mother and stepfather. One, I think his name is Mike, was living in Germany while in the Army. (This is the one I have not met.) The oldest, Brian and the youngest Kevin decided not to attend the occasion. It does not bother me that I do not know them. I feel sad for their dad, my stepfather, and that he is missing out on their lives and their children's lives.--A side note, I have a biological brother named Kevin as well and they are a few months apart in age.
5. I love to skydive, but not for the rush. It is one of the few times in my life that I do not have to take care of someone else...it is a true selfish moment for me. It is all about me and only me. I think that is why I would rather freefly than do relative work. Relative work means that I have to be concerned about other people during the jump, more than just avoiding them in freefall or under canopy.
6. I would like to get my Master's Degree in Mathematics. While I could go the easier route and get it in Education, my passion is math. I do not mean to say that an Education degree is easier than a math degree; I mean that I get an Education Master's from the comfort of my home. And I am not passionate about educational theory and policy. Since I will probably not live near a major university that actually offers a math degree, it is the harder option. And I want a Master's Degree so that I can teach at a community college. I love the age of students, from recent high school graduates to experienced adults going back to enrich their lives. Mostly, I would love not to have to deal with parents.
7. I love "Made for Cheesy" movies. It is a guilty pleasure of mine. During the course of the movie, I mercilessly pick apart the movie, and yet I tune to the channel to get my fix.
8. I pick at things on my body constantly. A scab, my nails, and my lips are just a few things that my fingers try to locate to do some damage. It is a nervous habit, one that I find myself doing subconsciously. I do not know where this habit comes from, but I do see Jax following in my picking footsteps.
9. While I love for my environment to be loud and busy, I still sneak off for some quiet time to unwind. About an hour a day, I like to have no one around me, some light music playing in the background, and a good book to read. It helps me to deal with the chaos in my life (stay-at-home mom with two active kids).
10. I hate not knowing. I try to find information about any topic that may come across my path. I read to increase vocabulary, to stimulate my brain, and to learn something new. I do not like to be in conversations with no knowledge of the topic. I keep up with current events, not necessarily because I care, but because I do not want to sound stupid when talking about the events.
11. My mind is like a steel trap for useless information. I can remember some of the weirdest things, making me really good at Trivial Pursuit. Most of the time, I only have to see something once and I will have some memory of it. Of course, after two pregnancies, my memory is starting to fail me which scares me since I depend on it so much.
12. My mom and stepdad still live in the house that I grew up in. My mom and my dad moved in the day I was born, and my mom has not moved in 31.5 years. All of my memories from childhood are contained in one house. Since leaving for college at 18, I have lived in three states, another country, and a multitude of dorm rooms/apartments/townhomes/duplexes/houses. And my kids will not have the same experience I did, since we are in the military and have the possibility of moving every three to four years.
13. For 10 years, I thought I was responsible for my father's death. Long story short, I was supposed to be with him at the restaurant where he choked. I went to therapy when I became a teacher, because I wanted to closure.
14. I am frugal. While I like to buy nice things, I do not like to buy them unless I get them on sale. I do not skimp on quality, because I find that the good stuff lasts longer making it a better deal in the long run. But, I have issue with buying things that are not on sale or that I do not have a coupon or that I know that I can get cheaper online. I have always been a saver, just ask my brothers; they tried to go the "Bank of Jill" to make withdrawals constantly when we were younger.
15. I love to cook, but not all the time. I go through cycles. Some days I feel like making these glorious meals, the kind of spreads that you see in magazine-style parties. Other days, I feel like making dinner the way we said my father would...making reservations.
16. I did not grow up wanting to be a mom. In fact, if you ask anyone in my family, I was never going to get married or have kids. When I played with my dolls, I was always their coach or teacher, never their mom. I think my lack of commitment stems from a year in my life when my mom's father died, one brother went to boarding school, my father died, the other brother went to college 1000 miles away, and my mom was sad from it all. I guess I did not want to deal with loss, and the easiest way to avoid it is to not have people in your life. Now, I can't imagine my life without my husband or my adorable children.
I hope that gives you a little insight into my crazy ways. And yes, I will always be sarcastic, even if most of the posts are not. I tried to keep that out of this post; otherwise, it would have looked like I was not taking this seriously, which I did. I mean, it took me two weeks to come up with these.
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