Sometimes I look at my life and wonder where I am. Seriously, I feel like I’m wandering in a strange land full of strange things and strange people. It’s true I live in a house full of my own children and one super cute grand child, but they can be very strange at times. It would be wrong of me to complain about them too much, seeing as I am the maker and shaper of who they are to some extent. But as a parent, how much ‘credit’ are we really required to take for these spawned life forms? I love to take credit when my daughters play the piano, sing, or do something creative. I love to take credit when my boys do something amazingly smart or clever. I don’t like taking credit when I hear a child cuss, make a mess, or do something really stupid. Those are the times I’d like to melt into the background or blame them on their dad. Is that really fair tho? He can’t really defend himself at this point in the game…

My daughter (oldest) and I went for a mani/pedi date on Monday. It took stinkin ForEver to get them done! You’d think the technicians were hand carving new nails for both our hands and feet from pure ivory elephant tusks for the time it took them. I’m not REALLY complaining because I did get the foot rub, with hot rocks, that I have been really wanting, but it took up a whole day!

While we were sitting there, being pampered, three different middle aged men came in for pedicures. I’m not gonna to get all sexist and say it’s weird for guys to do girl things, but I have never seen that many men in a nail salon in my life. Maybe it was because it was New Year’s Eve. Maybe they were hoping to get that prized Midnight kiss and didn’t want their girl looking at their nails and saying, “heck no, no kiss for YOU dirty nail guy!” I mean, it could happen….In fact, in one chapter in my upcoming book, there is a ‘situation’ with a guy with dirty finger nails. So there you go. Guys take note.

One of the guys struck up a conversation with us all while he was having his feet rubbed. (have I mentioned I love foot rubs?!) He said nice things to me about not believing I was old enough to be my daughter’s mother, let alone a ‘grandma.’ Yeah, I love hearing that. We talked about kids and their ages and such and I mentioned to him how Brad and I had ‘planned’ our kids so that by the time he and I were 50 they would all be old enough to be out on their own.

It made me think about where my kids are right now. Of course, I’m No Where Near 50 YET, but….its on the horizon and my kids are getting older. Do I think they could possibly all be out on their own by the time that milestone hits for me? I don’t know…..Possibly….Do I think they will be functioning adults by that time? Less likely for some of them. Am I going to be ready to be alone and kid free by that time? That I really don’t know.

I can tell you one thing. If by some miracle my kids all find their nitch in life and a path to pursue it, thereby leaving me a lone woman in this dreary world….you can bet I will be writing a lot more and maybe even taking a trip to Italy. Just for the art….and gelato…..cause I said so.

Photo credit: http://www.google.com/imgres?q=images+of+dirty+fingernails&hl=en&client=safari&sa=X&tbo=d&rls=en&biw=1366&bih=595&tbm=isch&tbnid=AufJfz7cljdicM:&imgrefurl=http://accokeekfoundation.org/dirty-fingernails-reflections-of-a-farm-apprentice/&docid=b5mb-d1tzfXl-M&imgurl=http://accokeekfoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/dirty_fingernails.jpg&w=500&h=256&ei=FTflUMqgC-KbjAKFg4HwDA&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=4&vpy=220&dur=909&hovh=160&hovw=314&tx=149&ty=51&sig=113066672481944259300&page=2&tbnh=139&tbnw=255&start=21&ndsp=28&ved=1t:429,r:42,s:0,i:222