Divas Command

Well the birthday week is (almost) officially over. While it wasn't as I expected it was still a good week. The weekend was extra long - 5 days. I was off for fall break the 20th & 21st and I took the actual day of my birth, the 24th, off. Thursday was a day of rest and relaxation. I had a deep conversation with the man I love which has had major ripple effects since (a later post maybe... maybe), so I didn't start the weekend off in the greatest of moods. Friday I continued the rest and relaxation but added a workout with my personal trainer.

Saturday I went to my "nephew's" junior league football game. It was sooooo boring! He is 13 and the league has a mercy rule. Once a team is up by four or more touchdowns, they have to play defense until the other team scores. Or the game ends. Or the game is called. My nephew's team scored their fourth touchdown at the beginning of the 2nd quarter. So there we sit/stand for two quarters waiting for the other team to score. By the end of the 2nd quarter we had put in our 3rd string defense. And the opposing team still couldn't score. For two quarters they couldn't - even - move - the - ball. The biggest yard gain they made was when our defense was penalized for roughing the passer. But they were quickly moved back to the original line of scrimmage.

By the time the referees called the game (our coaches even had the players not in the game strip out of their pads on the sidelines and put on their conference championship t-shirts by then) we had intercepted three or four passes, sacked the quarterback who knows how many times, and recovered four fumbles, only to have to give the ball back and stay on defense. Needless to say by the time it was called - we were waaaaayyyyy ready to go.

We left the field and went to a friend's parent's house. When we walked in the door her mother said, "Let's get this party started!" and the drinks were flowing. One o'clock in the afternoon we're drinking Jaguar Juice. I switched to margaritas because the Jaguar Juice was not tasty enough for me. Around 6pm we moved to a local bar continuing the party and drinking and adding men to the mix. By 11pm I was on my 50-11th margarita and a friend was threatening to buy me tequila shots. (Luckily he was so drunk he forgot what he went to the bar for and didn't get the shots.)

Sunday was church, of course, which we left a little early to go see a musical. The musical was "Ain't Misbehaving" and starred my sista-friend. Six of us attended to show our support and we applauded and hollered to let her know we were there. (It was a dinner playhouse, not the real theater. Although we've hooted and hollered in those places too for her.) After the matinee show, five of us (including her and another cast member) went to dinner at a nearby Italian restaurant - mmm, tiramisu - and back to the cast member's hotel room for more drinks - wine coolers, it was Sunday after all - prior to their evening performance.

Monday I slept in, did some work around the apartment, worked out with my trainer, then went to my sista-friend's (the one from the play) house for a birthday dinner. We had more pasta and birthday cake. And of course, more margaritas! Viva la tequila! It was just some of the sistahood and the kids until her husband came home around 10pm. I got to see and hold my new "nephew" - two weeks old - for the first time. We laughed, talked and had a great time. And I was in bed by 1 am. Yeah, all in all it was a good [few] day[s].

I have a recurring dream. It doesn't come often, maybe every six months or so but it's always the same. It really isn't even a full dream; more of a dream short. You know those quick 2-3 minute snippets you have just as you're coming out of REM sleep. The ones that don't fade as you reach full consciousness; the ones you can actually remember.

In this dream I am both present and omniscient. In this dream I'm always sleep. I both feel myself and see myself lying in bed on my side asleep. It's morning, the sunlight from outside is illuminating the bedroom. The bedroom is a nice size. Big enough for a queen size bed, dresser, chest, armoire, bedside tables, and a chaise and still there's plenty of room to dance around. There are French doors that lead to a balcony. It even has a fireplace. It could be spring, summer, winter or fall - all I know is the room is comfortable and I am under a down comforter.

As I feel and watch myself wake up I recognize I am happy. I'm not in a rush to get up for work, church or anything. I'm just leisurely waking up. Wherever I have to be this morning, I've got plenty of time to get there. I'm slowly becoming conscious and aware of my surroundings. I feel/see myself start to do that lazy stretch, you know the one, where your body and mind are well rested and ready to get active again. Just as I come out of my stretch I feel him lying behind me.

For a moment I seemed to have forgotten about him; surprised he is there. Then I remember, he's my husband. (But I don't ever see his face.) His right arm wraps around me as he presses against my back. I feel the warmth of his breath on my nape just before the touch of his lips. But before I can get excited about that I get my second surprise. His right hand is resting on my abdomen. My distended abdomen which moves beneath his touch. Then I remember that too; we're having a baby.