This Reminds Me

Rachel, Lois and Hannah are each having one or two friends over to spend the night, celebrating the end of the school year.  I fear there won’t be a kernel of popcorn left in the house by morning.

Julia and I bought several containers of bubbles today.  Most of them are fruit scented, so, that’s some extra olfactory fun for all these giggling sacks of hormones.

“Why bathe?  We’re already covered in soap.”  Rachel and Julia took turns with the Tigger blower.  Yes, Lois is dressed all in black.  She wanted to be ”emo” at school today.  Don’t ask.

That’s pronounced “baa-bell.”  Julie got her hair trimmed today – very pretty!  She didn’t fuss.

So, I’m thinking tonight is Julia’s first slumber party.  Even though she doesn’t have a “friend” of her own over, she’s surrounded by people that love her and their friends, all of whom are including her in whatever they’re doing.  I hear her counting “one-a, two-a, three-a” now as Rachel’s friend Cat pushes her in the stroller…wait a minute, they’re inside!  Take it out to the cul-de-sac, ladies.

Hannah will break out the Monopoly game soon, I’m sure.  I will not pass “Go.”  I will not collect $200.  I will have to shepherd younger hands cleaning up their messes in the morning.  I will discover popcorn, Chex Mix and fruit snack residue in the cracks of the furniture for weeks.

But these times are like bubbles – shiny, fun and short-lived.  You can’t hold them.  They change with the wind.

It’s best to smile as they blow by.