I Put On My Big Girl Pants

My son had orientation for college at eight-thirty yesterday morning. I know I’ve told you more times than I can count—I am NOT a morning person, hence when my alarm went off at six, I hit the snooze. My husband did come in and tell me Honey, it’s time to get up. Yet I gave him my normal early morning bitchy response, I KNOW! Even though I KNEW, I still didn’t get up.

It shouldn’t have been a surprise when I finally did get up at seven and find the house empty of one husband and son and the drive-way void of one Jeep, because my husband told me years ago that he won’t wait for me if I won’t get out of bed on time. However I called my husband anyway and asked, “Where are you?”

 “On our way to the school.”

“Why did you leave without me?” I’m sure he could hear the snippiness in my voice.

“Because I tried to get you up and you didn’t get up,” He told me just as snippily.

“Seriously, you LEFT me!” Like it mattered at that point. Knowing my husband, he wasn’t turning around to come back to get me.

 “Pam we’ve been through this before. You get one chance.” His tone was calm, telling ME HE meant business.

“Fine. I’m a big girl. I’ll see you there.” I hung up the phone, let the dogs out and fed them, because even though there were rules in our house as to time and leaving, the dogs sure as hell didn’t give a damn—THEY were hungry and needed to pee! And they didn’t care who did it just as long as someone in this crazy household did the job!

I finished all I had to do at home in less than an hour, hopped in my Jeep, got gas, cash from the ATM and, of course, a Latte from Starbucks, then hit the turnpike. Even though I HATE the turnpike, it wasn’t a bad trip, and I made it in the one hour and twenty minutes my GPS said I would.

 Upon arriving at the college, I texted my husband and said I was there and asked where I should park. He called me and asked where I was. When I told him, he said he was right near me and that I should just park, temporarily, at the sidewalk so that he could take me to our son and that he would park my Jeep and then he would join us. I thought THAT was a pretty good deal!

 Actually the whole thing was a damn good deal. I got to sleep in an hour later, get escorted to my son AND have my Jeep valet parked! I just might sleep in more often!

Seriously though, I need to try to get up when that damn alarm goes off, or get a couple more clocks. I have a hell of a time getting up, which is why I don’t have a job that requires me to be there early in the morning—I’d be so fired.

Needless to say, I’m freaken exhausted—between the driving, walking, standing, sitting, I long for my youth when none of that EVER bothered me. My husband on the other hand is relieved that I’m no longer young and stupid and no longer blame HIM for over-sleeping and abandoning me. He did tell me I get one chance and if I don’t pay attention to the rules, who am I to blame?

 The younger me would’ve blamed him. I guess there is something to be said for growing older and wiser even if we do have to give up some of our vitality.