Long time, no blog

You know how if you don't do something for awhile and keep putting it off and putting it off, and even though it's no big deal just the fact that it's sitting out there waiting to be done makes it feel like a big deal, so you put it off some more? That's how it's been with me and blogging lately.

I have composed many, many posts in my head. If only you knew how entertaining I am mentally, you would really be impressed.

The people who make a point to blog on a regular schedule have the right idea, I think. Similarly, the people who exercise and only eat healthy foods also have the right idea. I could learn from these hypothetical people. Let's see if I do.

Since I last blogged, two of my kids had birthdays making them just one year older but making me much, much older than that. Jack is now 14 and Maria is 17 and I am 103. I could tell you about the cakes and the presents and the teenagers who filled the house with their laughing and loud music, but I'll just give you the highlight instead: one of Jack's gifts was a gas mask. Why a gas mask, you ask? I do not know, except that he thought it would be cool to have one. He looks like a large insect when he puts it on. Also, the filter is good for eight hours. I just thought you'd like to know that.

Upcoming events for the McQuestions--the whole family is going to New York later in the month for an extended weekend. Yes, like the Muppets, we will take Manhattan.

The last time Greg and I went to New York, he bought a baseball cap from a really charming con artist on the street. The guy came up to us and said he was selling these hats for a children's charity, but since he wasn't completely sure of the name of the organization, I suspect it was a scam. But he was very funny and charming, like I said, and the hats were only ten dollars and Greg needed a hat, so he bought one. Now it's his favorite. He's had it for two years but just recently he started losing it.

The other morning he couldn't find his NY cap anywhere and had to leave for work without it. I joked that we really should go to New York so he could buy another. Later I got an email from him (subject heading: hat) that said: I found my hat. Can we still go to New York?

I emailed back: I suppose. If we must.

This past Sunday we ate dinner at Panera Bread, which is where we go when we want to see our daughter doing work. She was cleaning the bathrooms when we arrived. When she came over later to say hello, Jack said, "Maria, you look so cute with your apron and those plastic gloves," and she said, "Shut up, Jack."

Anyway, we had a fine meal at Panera. Greg and Jack partook of the sandwich offerings, while I enjoyed what all women my age eat at Panera--a salad.

Later at home, Maria came waltzing in the door with a food bag and something else in hand--Greg's New York City baseball cap. "You sir," she said, "need to keep track of your things." One of the other employees found it in our booth and was going to throw it in the Lost and Found when she spotted it and realized it was her dad's. Greg hadn't even realized he'd left it behind.

So I'm not the only one getting older. My husband is clearly losing it as well. Sadly he was the sharper of the two of us. I was counting on him to pick up the slack in our elder years. Now we'll be at the mercy of our kids. Luckily they like us okay.