I'll be down the road a piece by the time you read this post. Up at the deepest dawn and on the way to the Printer to Proof the Prints. Prolly won't have slept a wink, just too excited and nervous and freaked out from the events of Yesterday. I spent six hours by the phone waiting for someone to call me BACK after they left a "your son had a rough weekend and a major meltdown at work today, we need to TALK" message. I called everyone I could think of who might know what ACTUALLY went on. Got everybody's voice mail message. Went into that horrible downward spiral that begins with "OH MY GOD, now I'll never be able to...." before I caught myself. Wing stabilizer flaps and all that. Pull UP out of the dive, do NOT allow this to spin out of control. More waiting. I anagrammed my maiden name....
SHE KNIT A REBEL GUY
KNIT A BEER, HE'S UGLY
KNIT BAGEL?,HEY,SURE!
KNIT GAY BLUES HERE...
okay, giggle. That's better. Just for the record, there were 27 others. I was in a pretty steep spiral. Cleaned something obsessively. That ALWAYS helps. Got a bunch of really annoying paperwork out of the way. Halfway done with the Critter Knitters blankie. Mindless knitting, while pacing, and waiting.
Checked to see whether the phone actually had a dial tone.
Yep.
PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE call me back....
Nothing.
SO then I started to do the Analysis drill.
My cell phone and my email are working perfectly fine and there is not a single message
from the People Who Call when there is An Actual Emergency.
So, ergo, there must NOT be an actual emergency. My Mommy Radar Indicates No Actual Emergency.
This must have been a test of the emergency notification process.
That's it. Okay, but would it have been too much trouble for at least ONE of the people to call me back and let me know that everything was really OK?
You'd think after 20 years of this I'd be better at handling it.
NOPE.
Something happens (even if it is just a RUMOR) to one of my babies and I'm just USELESS.
The bathroom is spotless, and lots of laundry got done and blogs have been surfed.
That was Yesterday.
Today I'm On The Road Again,
back in the saddle.
Even Cowgirls get the blues, sometimes.
UPDATE: On Thursday, the Boy's Cable stopped working. On Friday, his VCR died. On Saturday he went to a dance and the techie guys came to fix the cable. He got a new VCR. Monday morning? Network crashed. Okey-dokey. I think I might have had a major meltdown myself. Add to all of this the yearly AUDIT was going down, and I guess everyone can be forgiven for not calling me back. Apology accepted for leaving that message. She just wanted to know if there was anything they could do if this ever happened again.
God Forbid. I said, "well, YES. Pray Hard. That's what I always do.....and KNIT."
Correction: you are not "USELESS." After reading about everything you did, I was shocked when I got to that line, especially since you were able to use logic that I'm not always able to even when there isn't a supposed crisis. So. I'm glad everything's OK ("if this had been a real test..."), but I have to admit that this made for pretty dynamic reading.
Posted by: Em/Michelle | April 20, 2004 at 07:47 AM
Oh sweetie. These folks who leave such messages--don't they realize the absolute panic that ensues? Audit or no, a return call would have been nice. Thank you for the update---however, prayers shall be continued.
I'm still smiling over "Knit a beer, he's ugly."
xxoo
Posted by: Kim | April 20, 2004 at 08:34 AM
Oh Greta, I am so glad everything turned out okay. That was not the right message to leave a mom. I think you handled yourself pretty well. And you certainly made yourself very useful. Hang in there.
And good luck today. :) I can't wait to see one of your paintings. Big hugs!
Posted by: Kathleen | April 20, 2004 at 09:04 AM
{{{{{Greta}}}}} Big hugs for you. I know the frantic feeling, it's awful. Glad things worked out fine in the end. Have a very safe trip today.
Posted by: Cathy | April 20, 2004 at 10:19 AM
Must be that pesky Mercury again, Sweetie. So glad life's smooth again for dear Boy Bird, and am waiting with bated breath for news from the press extrordinaire!
Posted by: maggi | April 20, 2004 at 10:43 AM
Extra prayers are being sent!!
Posted by: annie | April 20, 2004 at 11:20 AM
Sending special prayers to the Blessed Mother for Boy Bird and for your sanity.
"Knit gay blues here"
I don't know what that means but I like it.
Posted by: Christy | April 20, 2004 at 12:40 PM
I'd gladly strangle Mercury, if I could get my hands around his neck. He's been playing havoc with equipment and communications all week, the devil. Glad things are ok. Looking forward to hearing about the proofing adventure!
Posted by: Nathania | April 20, 2004 at 01:00 PM
I like "She knit a rebel guy," myself.
Deep breath. Okay. Onward.
Posted by: Ann | April 20, 2004 at 01:20 PM
Whew, what a stressor! I am glad you all are ok. Wh can't other people just learn to DEAL as we mothers do life would be so much easier. Thanks for the help the other week. I am looking at some horse back riding for my son to see if that will help with some of the sensory issues. ANy suggestions on places in VA. Glad everything is ok. I can totally understand.
Melissa
Posted by: Melissa | April 20, 2004 at 06:14 PM
Whew, what a stressor! I am glad you all are ok. Wh can't other people just learn to DEAL as we mothers do life would be so much easier. Thanks for the help the other week. I am looking at some horse back riding for my son to see if that will help with some of the sensory issues. ANy suggestions on places in VA. Glad everything is ok. I can totally understand.
Melissa
Posted by: Melissa | April 20, 2004 at 06:17 PM