It has been so long since we last captured our activities to the written word due to unforeseen circumstances and challenges. Our lives, previously turned upside down, have begun to establish equilibrium once more, and peace is slowly settling upon us.
 
This past weekend flew by at light speed. The elder female, KK, migrated to Boston for dance studies, after a strenuous two days of packing. This usually entailed sifting through a gigantic pile of clothes on her floor to select the appropriate wear, and leaving the rest disheveled and lonely. After a strenuous journey to reach the flying machines, the benefactor accompanied her to the weaving line of rope where those manning the country’s defense scanned and searched belongings. Having special clearance from an organization known as TSA, KK gets the privilege of both keeping her shoes on and not having to endure excruciating lines. It both delights the benefactor that she received the advantage for no particular reason, and also irks the benefactor that she has been traveling for forty years with no such benefit. Regardless, the elder female will be missed greatly, as is her brother, who is thriving and enjoying the Windy City and all its entrapments.
 
The younger children enjoyed a sunshine filled Sunday afternoon traipsing through the railyard park, moving to electronic music and enjoying the balmy weather. This proposition was initially met with resistance as the younger children had made plans of their own without first consulting the benefactor. After heavy negotiations, and some breakdowns, an agreement was reached to enjoy the park and have a picnic provided the young children were furnished with Arnold Palmers and cupcakes. It was properly fun, and thoroughly exhausting enough for the young to feel worn and tired to sleep at a time that was conducive for the sanity of all.

The air felt pregnant with rain by evening, and the clouds gave the appearance of potential moisture diving to meet the earth. After a very stressful evening, the benefactor arrived home, and invited the elder female for walk to the local food stand, in order to procure dinner.
 
Small flashes of lightning turned on an off above, and a few meaty drops fell their way to the pavement. The short jaunt gave the benefactor and elder female, KK, the opportunity to air grievances and discuss some of the recent hardships each has been enduring. At the co-op, they selected their items, and KK attempted to barter away her goat cheese to convince the benefactor to buy her new earrings. The benefactor reminded her that jewelry cannot be ingested.
 
Returning home, the benefactor attempted to reach the elder male, for whom he had received communication earlier in the day that curfew has been overlooked, and that he was caught on another floor without the proper accompaniment. The only response was the elder male asking the benefactor to provide a package packed with green chile, much to the chagrin of the benefactor, as the elder male never apologized for his viciousness. He sent a typed communication stating that his apology did not reach its destination. Whether this is to believed, the benefactor has decided to move on in the spirit of forgiveness.
 
KK then resumed her cultural study of Manhattan teenagers, aka Gossip Girl, while the benefactor performed calisthenics to relieve the pressure and stress of what has been, at times, an overwhelming week.
 
This morning, the benefactor drove the elder female to her daily activities, slightly tardy due to KK’s languishing morning routine. When they arrived, KK’s master plan to arrive later, deduced by the benefactor, to avoid being greeted by the masses was thwarted by a throng of students and educators celebrating each new arrival with song and clapping. Or, as she eloquently whispered under her breath, “f*** my life.”
 
Hopefully the weekend brings good tidings, much rest, and less stress for all.

Yesterday was an excessively long day for the benefactor, a grueling 13 hours. When she arrived home, the elder female was doing a mountain of assignments. The benefactor inquired why she was working so belated, as she had finished her daily recreation six hours ago, and she remarked that she had indulged in a several hours long, midday nap. For weeks (years, really), the benefactor has been requesting that the elder female organize and tidy her personal living space, which could currently qualify as a Red Cross disaster zone. The benefactor was livid.
 
It only grew more tense between them when the canine relieved herself upstairs as the elder female had not given her access the outdoors. Much arguing over responsibility for the hound ensued. The conversation came to a jolting halt when the elder female elicited the benefactor’s fury when commenting on the demise of her previous nuptials. Doors were closed and communication ceased for the benefit and survival for everyone involved.
 
On a brighter note, the elder male and benefactor patched up their relationship via the talking box, after the benefactor reached out to affirm her affection for the elder child. He responded in kind with words of fondness and a blazing, blue heart, before again requesting monetary compensation.

The holiday of selective independence was both chaotic and peaceful. The younger children maintained their manners at the benefactor’s place of employment, but managed to take over the small work space, gradually spreading their molded building blocks across the floor in tableaus and inventive creations. Other than one episode where  they bickered over choosing what to watch on the media box that erupted into tears, they otherwise displayed the good sense the benefactor has tried to impart.
 
Interacting with the elder children was a different tale. The elder male reached out to the benefactor for funding, but grew irate and confrontational when she offered to parcel out his capital over a designated period of time, and ended their conversation with cross statements. The benefactor was having none of his outrage. They have no spoken since. Similar, the elder female became vexed when the benefactor could not act as her chauffeur and whisk her away for a holiday celebration. Unlike her twin, after her initial disappointment, the elder female made different plans and found a new celebration to attend without relying on the benefactor. She did however, arrive home much later than anticipated, and was appropriately chastised.
 
Whence arriving home, the benefactor finally received forty minutes of bliss lounging in the outdoor hammock, despite three interruptions regarding sustenance. The elder female assisted by providing nourishment to the younger ones. To beat the dog day sun, the benefactor took the younger children to a delightful moving picture show about talking cars. It was refreshing and jolly fun.
 
Today, the benefactor regains her sense of peaceful space, although it feels empty and silent without the laughter and play of the youngest. 'Tis the bittersweet nature of both loving others, and finding solitude necessary to life.

Yesterday the youngest male and female accompanied the benefactor to her place of employment. Despite some internal struggles, they managed to survive the eight-hour day without catastrophe or violence, which felt like a miracle.
 
The youngest female asked the benefactor if she could get a piece of art needled pricked into her skin whence she turns 19. The benefactor is both terrified and impressed with her ambition to plan the future. Hopefully, however, she will outgrow the notion of getting the names of her parents as said body art.
 
Last night the youngest female also demonstrated for the benefactor how she plans to kiss one of her future boyfriends using a Styrofoam cylinder. His name was Paul, and the benefactor was sure to remind her that this projection was at least ten, preferably twelve years into the time ahead. She also suggested loosening her grip so she doesn’t inhibit the breath of her future love interest and face possible charges of strangulation.
 
On this celebration of the nation’s independence, the benefactor and younger children find themselves again at the benefactor’s house of labor, whittling the day away watching pirates and building structures out of molded bricks. Optimistically, the time will pass like sand through the hour glass, and everyone will survive, once more.
 

What an adventurous two-day span! Saturday saw the benefactor and the eldest female in verbal combat again for most of the day, communicating via finger messages in furious tones. A good night’s sleep and personal space did wonders to allow the relationship to breathe and heal for a fresh start. The benefactor also received contact from Chicago regarding the elder male missing his curfew and not responding to multiple methods of communication, which caused much hand wringing and angst until he confirmed his presence was safe. He received an ear beating via the talking, hand-held square device.
 
Yesterday was the nascent celebration of the elder male and elder female. He telephoned the benefactor to thank her for his life, and to share that he would be attending a production of Aladdin in the city. The elder female made plans with her companions for the afternoon, so the benefactor treated her and her younger siblings to brunch. Initially, plans were solidified to go to the wondrous Tea House, until the younger siblings demonstrated an inability to listen and retain good sense, almost cancelling the event. Instead, the elder female picked a more suitable space for all where poor manners might be easily forgiven.
 
This morning came too quickly, but surprisingly, everyone rose in a timely manner without ridicule or whippings. Both the younger male and female prepared activities unprompted, as they are accompanying the benefactor to her place of profession for the day. However, preparing to leave, the benefactor caught them shooting a tube device filled with water, whence they had claimed they were watering the garden. As if that was not enough to incite ire, the younger male kept intentionally inquiring, “but why?” to every statement made by the benefactor, after which he peeled with laughter. He knows not how narrowly he retained his life this morning, and how lucky he will be should he find himself extant by end of day.
 
Still, despite these struggles, there is nary a spec of cloud in the ocean of blue sky, and it is a tremendous morning to be in existence.