Today {Listography 2011}.

Each Wednesday, Danielle, @ Elleinad Spir, Emily, @ Notorious MLE, and myself are working our way through the lists of Listography 2011.

Yesterday, we helped Jacob with an assignment, in which he had to type and format several poems that he'd written into a notebook.  It was a big project, and since he had to attend a boy scout meeting until 9PM, we were all up much later than our temperaments could handle.  This past Friday, we dropped him off [in the rain] for a weekend camp-out, so he had barely any time to work on the heavy load of homework due this week.                                                     
...camping in the rain, Einstein-level math assignments, a constitutional convention speech (the dreaded public speaking assignments), not-to-mention a Rufus King costume which he has to wear- that we had to assemble (thank God my mom saves every single item of clothing, costume, or otherwise... can always count on her in these situations)- for the speech (& btw- who the hell is Rufus King??), a poetry reading... A lot of stress & too little sleep.

Not many happy moments happening in our household this week.

Yet, reading his poems gave me a chance to look past the frustration- the seemingly unappreciative teenager.  To get out of his brain [and beyond the HORMONES], and step into his heart- which isn't always easy- or possible these days.

Here is one of his poems- written about his grandfather.

Standing by you

Building a snowman as tall as a mountain

Seeing you make huge snowballs for me

To only find them punch you softly in the stomach.

Eating next to you

Just an ordinary breakfast

With mountains of pancakes on my plate

Never knowing that it would be the last we have together.

 {We visited Ryan's father in February, a trip in which I wasn't aware that Jacob carried such vivid memories.  In fact, he has never seen this photo- until last night- after we read his poem.}

{He died in November of that same year, at only 48 years of age.  He slipped and fell off of a ladder while hanging Christmas lights.  It was sudden and completely unexpected.}

                  

So when I attempt to write out this week's list- "List what issues are foremost on your mind"- somehow it's not quite as easy as I originally thought it would be (always being one to carry "current/foremost issues" in the forefront of the mind).  All of the "I need to do a-b-c-d-e-f-g-h-i.......l-m-n-o-p.......x-y-&-z" worries that ENDLESSLY PLAGUE MY SOUL are sorta put into perspective... where they belong.

                           

What's really been keeping me up at night?  

The daily grind is taking it's toll on our household- M-F- day after day- week after week.  Knowing that I let frustration get the best of me ...that criticism took precedence over kindness ...that the unhappy outweighed the happy.  And while "tomorrow is in fact another day," and although the "weekend is just around the corner," why wait until then??

[the link is at Danielle's this week]