Social Networking

Photo courtesy of the fabulous Sherrie Flick.

This is what it used to look like.  Also, that man?  On the far left?  With the swanky jacket?  Yeah.  He's going to murder me for putting him on the internet.

I was in Clarion this past Tuesday to see faculty/friends and Sherrie Flick.  It was a really great afternoon and evening, but so bitter cold and a long drive home.  What usually takes about an hour and fifteen minutes took me a little over two hours.  It was some crapola.

I am so thankful to my stepmother for watching the girls until Mike got home from work, and to his mama for helping him with bathtime and bedtime.  With twins, I savor any time away from the house, particularly that which involves conversation with adults who enjoy words as much as, and in the same way that, I do.  I think one of the healthiest things twin parents can do for themselves and for their entire family is to develop a network of people who are willing to step in and take care of the chitlins so that they can go and do something unnecessary, and entirely selfish.  Grocery shopping does not count.  In fact, if it qualifies as an errand it is not allowed.  If necessary, bribe these people with food.  Cookies seem to work best.  But meet them.  Woo them.  And take advantage of them.  They are irreplaceable 

I cannot imagine what I would do without family who support me (or, perhaps, just pity my husband).  I can't explain why I need to be around these people.  But I think it's that we're all crazy in the same way, and we need to be around our own kind.  Probably not such a big deal for them, because they get to be around each other all the time.  Like it or not.  But I'm stranded far away and am just beginning to discover the mad writing people here where I am.  Not that the discovery of a local writing community could keep me from descending on Clarion intermittently throughout the year.  I don't know.  So much changed for the better in my life around the time I wandered over to the English Department.  I suppose I just associate the two.

Oh, and the gal in the blue jacket?  Her son is exactly ten days older than my ladies!  Neato!