step on a crack

Dear Stefan,

Perhaps I was overly optimistic in my last post about summer; these long days with everyone at home are lovely, but we’re certainly going through an adjustment period. Lots of bossing and “you need to put your dish in the sink” and “shouldn’t you be practicing right now?” None of it from me, but older siblings instructing the younger ones and vice versa. You know how it goes. Good thing you never did any of that. 😉

A game of Les Miserables in the backyard seemed picture perfect at first– shouting “Can You Hear the People Sing?” and building a barricade by the chicken coop– until someone (whom you can certainly guess) decided to make the game more authentic by killing off all the rebels.

Still, life at home is good and mostly happy. We especially enjoy the golden evenings watching bunny spring across the grass and dad tending to his sprinkler repair hobby.

So, my leg injury has revealed itself as a back injury. My first MRI last week was an adventure– I got to wear comfy hospital scrubs and take a twenty minute nap while listening to music in a plastic coffin– I don’t know how a claustrophobic could handle it? Big signs in the changing room politely reminded patients the scrubs were only for use during examinations– I guess lots of people were tempted like I was to simply wear them home.

My back is bad but not horrible. The first stage of treatment includes lots of goofy looking exercises and a very unfortunate drug called prednisone, more commonly referred to as grumpy pills. I’ve taken them before– nearly every runner goes through a dose at some point– and while they reduce irritation in the back or achilles or hamstring they make you incredibly irritable. Soothing the nerves while everything gets on your nerves.

Frankly, these pills terrify me. I try SO HARD to be nice. And the timing could scarcely be worse. But really, when is a good time to be mean?

On my doctor’s advice, I’ve warned everyone at home and I’ll be avoiding my friends for the rest of the week. I don’t want to say anything rude or thoughtless; I’m determined to remain calm and patient.

Ah, I failed to share my summer theme with you:

I think I’ll make a dozen different versions of this and hang them all over the house. For some silly reason, I sometimes think I have to be grumpy to get anyone to help me. I think it’s a common brain cramp for moms. But happiness works just as well and is much more fun.

We miss you. Xander was looking through our London photos the other day and got all sniffly over the many many photos of you in the center of everything making us laugh.

Hugs and kisses.

Love, mom

p.s. The Man of Steel opens on Friday! I haven’t been to a movie since Les Miserables, and just while I was puzzling over how to see this one, Mary received a birthday party invitation for Friday afternoon. Serendipity. Wish you could come with us; I do know your secret identity.