Running Red Momma

I was born with uncoordinated stamped on my butt. I couldn't jump rope until I was in sixth grade. Whenever we had relays of any kind, I would brace myself for the inevitable sighs when I was placed on a team. Volleyball made me sick to my stomach. My prayer was "please go over the net, please." Ms. Compton, the caustic gym teacher, would keep asking my brother to practice with me. Jumping jacks still sort of elude me. This all combined to give me a distrust of my body. I loathed relay games or anything involving a ball. Yet, I had this dream of being a ballet dancer. I would turn on music, close my eyes and dance to my own imagination. With my eyes closed, I could be as graceful as I hoped. Although music is consider a universal medium, dance seems to be the real communicator. Clearly it uses music to guide the experience. As I watched my daughter's ballet recital. I was awed by the beauty of this powerful art form. Music is generally experienced by ...

My husband is leaving for France on a business trip. He is going to be gone for two weeks. Not only do I expect a fancy French outfit, I expect I will be mopey and sad. I really don't want to be in THAT place. So, I am debating a great road trip. America is in love with a great trip. Isn't that where one finds their soul and purpose in life? However, I will be doing this alone with four kids ranging in age from 9 to 6-months. I'm not sure the nursing baby is going to make it. I thought we would visit where I grew up and go see some friends. It is a slow meandering course which almost goes two weeks. My thoughts so far: Pros: I can't wait for life to happen. It is now and can't wait for everything to be just right. If I keep waiting for all the kids to be a perfect age or for my husband to travel less, I might still be typing away thinking thoughts. I want to focus on my kids and spend significant time with them. I'm too good at being a lazy mom. It wo...