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Monday, June 23, 2008

Manic Monday AND Menu Plan Monday

Today is a double, you lucky readers, you!

For my regular readers,
keep on going after this one
for a post on Kate's 13th birthday party-
a Luau pool party!-
complete with pictures.

New readers-- Welcome!!
_____________________

The Manic Monday word is Night.

When I think of night,
my thoughts reflect my age and experiences of any given time.
As a child, night was bedtime,
stories, goodnight kisses,
my Vickie doll and the occasional "boogie man" dream.

In college,
night was drunken parties at frat houses
or sorority formals,
long neck bottles, smoky bars
and sneaking boyfriends into dorms.

My favorite night memories
are of the period when my children were infants.
Tiny babes in arms, waking several times through the night
for the comfort of my arms
and the warm milk from my breast.

I would sit in the rocking chair
with the warm weight of my babe in my arms,
rocking with the rhythmic tugging of their mouths
and the swallowing, contented squeaks.

I would gaze out the window
and imagine women around the world,
literally on all corners of our globe,
gazing at the same sky
and feeding their babes.

I felt connected to all women
in the most primal of ways
and at times I would weep gentle tears
pver the immense responsibilities
and my fears of doing right by my children.

Now, as I am nearing (at!) 40
and all my children sleep soundly in their own beds,
night means my quiet time.
Time to read emails and blogs,
catch up on a book.
Often these days, night means insomnia.

I may find myself looking out through the window
as I did years before,
but now my thoughts are turned toward
college savings and retirement funds
and how damn tired I will be if I don't fall asleep NOW!

I know that in years to come,
Night will continue to change its meaning
as my journey takes its twists and turns.

I only hope where it leads me
is as good as where I've been.

_____________________________

Menu Plan Monday

The kids are going to their grandparents' house this week
from Tuesday to Saturday,
so it will be a very easy week!

Rob and I plan to go to a crabhouse one night
and I also plan to go to see Sex and the City
and out to dinner with a friend.

Dinners:

roasted chicken, smashed potatoes, fresh green beans.

angel hair with homemade spaghetti sauce.

whole grain breaded tilapia, corn on the cob, fresh fruit.

For more menu ideas, see Laura at orgjunkie.com.

Make it a great week!

4 comments:

Maria's Space said...

Leeann, We are on the same wave length with night and I love how beautifully you put into words what I was thinking. I especially agree with the feeling connected to women part. I would sit nursing my children, holding them, listening to the birds start singing as the sun came up on yet another horrific night of 3 hours of broken sleep, cry a bit but love every single moment that I was holding them knowing that it would eventually change. They are still not sleeping soundly and I know I will miss these nights when they wake 2-3 times to hold me. It is what gets me through.

Unknown said...

Happy MM! Remarkable insights into the changing meaning of 'night' as we go thru the various phases of our life...

I used my MM entry this week to honor one of America's greatest poets, Langston Hughes. I hope that your blog readers will check out my MM post if they have time or inclination.

peace, Villager

Jennifer said...

Your menu sounds yummy!
Have a blessed week!♥

Faithful Froggers said...

What a neat post about how our nights change over the years . . . so true. This will make me enjoy the occasional night that Allie wakes up. :)

Happy Belated Birthday to Kate! Looks like a fun party!