nada en particular, pumkin

Last night went to see a play,  Fragments, with my older son P.  He really really enjoyed it and I was so happy to have gone.  All week I had been ambivalent... Why had I let myself be talked into buying that ticket?  I should have known that I wouldn't be in the mood - wouldn't have the energy - wouldn't have the time during the semester.

Now I'm glad.

I thought I would have some weeks off in December, but it's beginning to look a little like my winter session course won't be canceled.  Ha ha.  I said yes to the course and then got another job.  Decided not to cancel the winter session course because it always gets cancelled anyway and I looked at the dates and realized that I could make it work.

So, I may have to make it work.  Oh well, I do like the class - I just need a break to get caught up.

MENTAL image which I want to save:  L was getting ready to vacuum the basement today.  He was getting the cat out (she had hidden in a corner because the vacuum freaks her out).  I told L to just leave her there because he didn't have to go anywhere near that corner with the vacuum.  It's in the farthest corner of the back room - L vacuums the front room. 

But I guess the cat started venturing out and so L decided to get her to move upstairs.  She kind of furtively crept into the front room - finding a path that would keep her from being caught/picked up.  Then, when she got ahead of L... instead of running up the stairs and away from the vacuum (sitting in the middle of the room), she throws herself on her back and rolls over to present her belly which is the gesture she uses to get our attention.  Who can resist the soft white belly of a cat... she gets a lot of belly rubs, but this one was special.  L started saying, "Awww, pumkin.  My little pumkin" as he bent to pet her.

With me these days he isn't tender often, so it is so special to watch him display that side of himself.  Sigh...

When family came this Thanksgiving, however, he excelled at giving hugs - long hugs, short hugs, hugs for uncle, hugs for aunt and cousins... This morning it was hugs for mydaughter's friend Sh (she had to call for help, because L. just kind of hugged and hugged... didn't look like he was planning on letting go).  When V stepped in to help her friend, L started hugging her instead...  She walked into the kitchen, where I was, and they were very cute.  She started dancing to his music and he was still hugging.  So I said maybe this was how she could teach him to dance...  The way she got him to let go was to suggest that I change his music.  God forbid - so that worked.