There’s a cool humidity in the air, like the stuffy indoor pool at the YMCA that’s been without patrons for several hours. The breeze is refreshing, and the sounds of crickets, cicadas, and locusts set the tone for this pitch-black night. I’m out here late, writing—11pm, a time that usually sends me into a panic. But tonight, I’ve got the “I got this, nothing to see here” kind of vibe.
Today was a six-session day, which perfectly balanced eating lunch and dinner with my family and squeezing in a park date with Evelyn and her friend Emma. Evelyn’s the hardest worker at the park, as evidenced by her beet-red face and sweaty head (which I’ll usually sit next to her to blow cool). This evening, Evelyn accidentally called me Emma, then quickly apologized, saying, “It’s just that I want you to be her. I love her so much.” I get it. She’s found a closeness with her friend that I had at her age. But still, moments where her focus is entirely on me are becoming fewer. It’s tolerable, but I sure loved the endless attention when she was younger.
Earlier today, I saw a Facebook post from a nearby community in Lizella, where a campground owner is offering free shelter to displaced Florida residents. The news is predicting one of the most devastating hurricanes in recent history. At the park, a woman who grew up in Florida shared her hurricane survival story. She talked about standing in a room made of concrete, only to find the entire side of her house gone in an instant. She had closed her eyes and expected death—that’s just the nature of a hurricane, she said. One area is utterly destroyed while another comes out unscathed.
As we sat on the park bench, we saw three military cargo planes fly overhead. The woman mentioned the type of plane, guessing that they were likely filled with aid for the hurricane victims. Most of the women in the homeschool playdate group are military wives, with an Air Force base nearby, so this kind of thing hits close to home for them.
On the home front, the pool is about a third of the way complete, the landscaping still needs bushes and plants, and the mammoth sectional couch for the living room arrives next week. All in all, we’re close but still not without workers around.
Alright, time for beddy by. I’ll see you here tomorrow. Take care. Love, Jaclynn
Going On 40 