We are in yosemite now. Flyguy is doing the cable route up half dome today. It’s a 12 hour roundtrip hike with the last 475 feet holding on to cables because the rock face is so steep. It’s a charity climb. He started at 3:30 this morning. I’m proud of him. We hiked a few trails as a family yesterday. LL and I will explore yosemite while flyguy is conquring the rock.

A few days ago we were in San francisco. I spent time with an old friend. She’s the keeper of my secrets from way back when. She met LL for the first time and it completed something for me. It was hard to say goodbye, so we said “see you soon.” Sometimes, when the past and present collide, the future seems bigger with the addition of Past. Twice this summer I’ve gotten to see and hug two dear friends from the past. We live too far away to meet for coffee, but I take them with me where ever I go.

Lately, FlyGuy as been more appreciative of my wife and mothering efforts. This praise culminated with him calling me the Mother of the Year and the Wife of the Year when he saw me make Little Lassie sunshine toast. I’m not really used to all this positive attention, but it has really been nice to feel so appreciated. Part of me wants to ask him why he is buttering me up. Is there a bomb about to be dropped or is he finagling funds for a new costly, useless hobby?

I think he is noticing this past month I have been making a point to cook and clean like a professional since I gave up my career when I became a mother a year ago. In my mind, I like to think I traded one profession, teaching, for another, mothering. I have a long way to go before I work the kinks out of my mothering style, but I’m enjoying the process. Even though motherhood is not exactly a profession, all the responsibility and accountability that go along with it makes it feel like a full time job. My bonuses don’t come in monetary form, but when Little Lassie sings, “Hi Mommy” when I greet her in the mornings, I feel like the most important woman in the world.

Background info:
FlyGuy is a chemical engineer who graduated from M*I*T, a rather prestigious school for engineers. He is smarter than most people I know and travels out of town at least a few days each week.

Today’s phone call:
This afternoon, an excited FlyGuy called to tell me he just bought an outfit at TJ*Maxx, one of my favorite stores. This is strange, because he hates shopping. I mean, HATES shopping. When I asked why he bought an outfit, he said, “because when I packed for this trip, I forgot to put my clothes in the bag.” He basically took an empty suitcase with him. Not sure how he missed the fact that the suitcase was strangely light. Its not like the bag was full of work related items, those are all in his briefcase. As much as I want to give him the benefit of the doubt, the reality is, he forgot to pack clothing for his business trip. clothing.

Now, I’m off to change my 2 year old’s diaper and call my husband to remind him to have dinner tonight.