Thursday, November 20, 2008

Like Common People



So people who live with me know that recently I have become obsessed with the song "Common People" by Pulp (and when I say "recently" I mean within the last few weeks, since I have gotten behind on my blogging again. Really, really behind yet again. I'm working on it, though). I decided to examine my life to see if I, indeed, live like common people. I seem common enough. So I have examine bits and pieces of my life over the last couple of weeks to see if I indeed live like "common people." So, let's examine this, shall we?

First thing in the morning I am greeted by sounds coming from the boys' bedroom. I open the door and the lamp is on and both boys are in the crib. Jude has grabbed a book from the dresser and is lying down on his stomach, telling me he is reading. Sully is laughing and trying to crawl on top of Jude. Mornings are always hectic, but at least they (sometimes) start with a smile.

Jeff helps me wrangle the boys as I shower and get dressed and then off to day care. Jude sings a song from the back seat. The whole song is "I like to burp. I like to burp. It is fun. I like to burp." He laughs and then interrupts himself to comment on the traffic on the road in front of us. Jude is most helpful in pointing out red lights and such and this particular morning, he was obsessed with a large pharmacy delivery truck in front of us. "Why is that truck there?" he asked. "It is in my way."

Sully walks away from me at daycare. He is walking now and it is wonderful to see his independence but there is always a slight sadness at this, knowing that he isn't a baby any longer. He toddles over to his favorite shelf of toys and ignores me as I kiss Jude goodbye and he, too, runs off to play.

I arrive at work. I learn something new at work every day. It is a busy, busy, busy (did I mention busy?) office, but as always I am overwhelmed to be in such a beautiful building. It has heating issues and creaky stairs, but the gorgeous hardwood floors more than make up for it. I learn something new every day. Today's lesson is: holy crap, there is another bathroom back by my office that I had never knew was there. And I have been here over a month! Of course the heat doesn't seem to flow into said bathroom (which I always thought was a closet!) but still. It is good to know the option is there if needed. I hope that I never grow accustomed to the beauty in this office. I know getting jaded is inevitable; I just want to postpone it for as long as possible.

After work, a quick jog to the post office. I try to go three or four days a week to take mail for work and mingle with other common people.

Home again, home again. I usually arrive home just before the bright smiling faces of Jeff and the boys. Jude runs into the house first with a loud "Mom!" He has been making Thanksgiving Day projects at daycare and when he brings one home, it is generally with a flourish. He will hide his hands behind his back and say "I don't have nothing." Usually, I don't believe him. Then he will show me the "nothing" and then finally I can have the hugs and kisses that I have been craving. Sully isn't quite as easy. You'd think he would be. He's smaller. Easier to catch. But now he fusses if I try to kiss and hug him when he wants to be down and walking and playing. I am an interruption to his schedule.

There are phone calls to return and if I am lucky, Jude won't notice I am on the phone. If he does, then it is harder making payment arrangements with the hospital or whatever I happen to be doing. This is what common people do, I think. Common people need to work and when they are out of work for a few months, things pile up. But common people cope as best they can, using whatever rudimentary talents they possess to increase cash flow. Or, maybe that is just me.

Dinner time is always fun. Sully will now eat whatever Jeff and I are eating. Jude still will not. He will, however, reluctantly eat one of the four dinners we have on rotation for him.

There is an inevitable post dinner clash with Jude over the television. We (Jeff and I, united) argue with him that he watches too much television. Then we stand firm on the issue, not giving in. Jude argues his points with all of the determination and skill a four-year-old can muster. He still loses.

After dinner there is play time. Generally this involves the boys trying to beat up on Jeff. One night, post-Jude-clash, I have an epiphany so profound that I don't think I will ever see Jude the same way again (more on this in my next, eventual post). Then off to bathe Sullivan. Sully had developed a charming habit of crying each time he had to take a bath. Somehow I managed to disarm him and trick him into playing and laughing instead. I will take credit for this, though it is also likely that Jude and his smiling face had something to do with it.

Sully's bath and bottle. Then off to bed. He shares a room with Jude. Do common people have a two bedroom house? Because we do.

Then it is Jude's bath, evening snack and story. Jude and Sully have an extensive little library, yet we seem to read the same 10 or so books over and over.

Once Jude is in bed, my mind starts focusing on all the things I need to do tomorrow. And thus the cycle begins again.

I still haven't decided whether we are common people, but I still really dig the song.