Life Goes On

It’s another hot and humid day in Minnesota. We’re not as hot as we were earlier this week, but hot enough.

I got my haircut last night, and of course, my stylist did such a cute job with my fine, fly away, graying hair, that I went home and ruined the style by mowing the lawn, which caused me to drip sweat and my hair to look like it was just washed.

Heat and humidity usually don’t bother me too much, but while I was cutting the backyard grass, I found I was losing energy quickly. I went inside where the air conditioning was running and put a cool wet towel around my neck while drinking a quick eight ounces of water.

But I got the job done before it got dark. And without having heat stroke.

So I had time today to use the weed whacker to do some trimming and I weeded the gardens, except for the big garden, which I’ll do tomorrow.

The humidity brought in a couple of quick thunderstorms through, one in the morning and one in the afternoon. We might have some more tonight, and then a cold front slides in and it promises to be a beautiful warm day without heat and without humidity.

Bliss.

It was great being back at work this week for the two days. We’re trying to catch up and assess where we are to see if we can meet our September deadline.

I had to push my brain to remember my work day routine, so I kind a dragged around on Thursday morning, but I was ready when Joe came to pick me up.

Today was a typical Saturday. I got the house vacuumed, the laundry done, and the bills paid.

Both my grandsons’ baseball teams were playing in championship games this afternoon, so off I went. At the time, the humidity hadn’t built up, so it was great to sit in the stands in the sunshine and soak up the atmosphere of intense 10 year old boys playing in an important game.

Ashlin got a double and scored a run. He also drove in a run on a ground out. His team won and they got individual medals and a team trophy.

Meanwhile, across the park, Quincy’s team lost 2-0, and Quincy was in tears. He’s very competitive and hates losing, whereas Ashlin has a more laid back attitude.

And now that I’m a grandparent, I have no vested interest in winning or losing, I just enjoy watching them play a sport. Sports are way too organized and parents are way too over-involved these days, but it is enjoyable to watch kids play baseball on a warm summer afternoon.

I went through all that parent stuff when my son played football, baseball, wrestling, basketball, and track. Now I watch him as a parent and watch him deal with over-involved parents. Not much has changed. There are still some parents that think they’re kids are the stars.

I played with Audriana, Asher’s significant other’s baby girl, and I guess she’s an unofficial grandchild. She’s just over a year and still doesn’t walk. She recognizes me now and I always get a big smile when she sees me.

Ray would have loved her. He loved babies. When Ashlin and Quincy were babies and we took care of them, we would put them right between us in our big bed and surround them with our love while they were sleeping.

He would put me to shame diapering babies. He could always get that diaper on nice and snug, while my diapering ability was loose and crooked. And leaky.

Some people have a knack with children and Ray was one of them. What an awesome dude.

It’s nice to have a Saturday that is truly a Saturday, a weekend day, a day off from work. I’m glad my schedule is back to normal.