Waiting

L.B. and I returned home almost two weeks ago. Sometimes we are not the best at finishing our documentation projects, but we promise you that the remainder of our vacation was delightful.

            We are now embarking on the second adventure of this summer: 

The One With E.'s Mother-Dentist Extracting Her (E's) Wisdom Teeth 

           

            L.B. has it easy this time. He doesn’t even have to open his mouth. (Which he can’t, by the way.) Though he has graciously (ha) agreed to join me for the After Party. Of course. We’re planning to forage for smoothies and watch movies.

           

            But the After Party must wait until after The Present Procedure. Minor oral surgery is not horrible compared to some procedures, but everyone has their own cross to bear, and for the next twenty-four hours, this one is mine.

I feel so afraid tonight.

The night before is always agonizing.

Granted, I’m not paralyzed by fear. Today I cooked up two batches of pureed vegetable soups for my recovery time. I reorganized the living room. I accidentally broke a lamp. I taught my violin student this morning. I even recited several positive affirmations about having my wisdom teeth removed. (I am my mother’s daughter.)

But I still feel afraid, even though everyone tells me not to feel afraid. I think it is that kind of fear that you cannot reason or positive-think away. Perhaps because it is a very real and natural response to the knowledge that you are about to undergo something that will inevitably cause you some pain. I can’t avoid it. General anesthesia is not an option for me, so I will have to consciously experience the procedure, though thankfully with the use of a local anesthetic.  

I have never had my wisdom teeth removed before, and the unknown is terrifying at times.  Especially when the unknown is dappled with little bits of known. Little memories of past experiences involving pain.

…Perhaps this anxiety is similar to how one feels before giving birth for the first time? …I wouldn’t know.

This will be a new experience!

…

Little Bear is little, and I am little, too.

Little Bear wears trousers, and I wear trousers, too.

Little Bear is filled with fluff, but I am filled with flesh and bone and blood.

We do not feel like equals tonight.

But Jesus was of flesh and bone and blood, 

(Or He…still is?)

And His flesh was pierced and He bled.

…And in a very small way, my flesh will be pierced and I will bleed, too.

Maybe this is what it means to share in Christ’s agony and suffering.

Oh, I know, it’s not the exact same thing. Hopefully I won’t feel the cutting…But I must still wait for the operation tomorrow, and I still feel some dread and fear.  A bit of fear. And a bit of hope. Perhaps enough to make me courageous. 

Oh well.

I’m excited for the After Party.

And Little Bear and my sister will be waiting for me.

But until then, tonight brings waves of A Bit of Agony.

Until tomorrow.

Days 2-4*, or Of Strawberries and Lake Water* or Simple Pleasures* etc.

*L.B. and I are on better Title-ing Terms...He agreed to stop being so persnickety if I agreed to work on my Title Composing Skills. Deal. 


L.B. and I have been having a marvelous time on our holiday here in Minnesota. I wish you all could share in the lovely delights I have experienced during my stay. Lovely quiet delights. I couldn't have imagined a better way to spend a vacation.

My friend took me Strawberry Picking in her backyard garden, and we picked enough berries to make a Strawberry Rhubarb Crumble for dessert that evening.

L.B. came along, too. 

Strawberry Trousers!

We spent our afternoons swimming in Lake Minnetonka...

And in the evenings, we ate cobbler and sat on the porch overlooking the beautiful stretch of backyard. (How nice! They have a true "stretch" of yard. I think our California house has a small plot of yard, though it is better than no yard.)

...
Splendid, no?

Day 1! or Arrived! or Lakes and Ponds! or Gas Is So Cheap Here!*

*All unsatisfactory titles, at least according to L.B. (Who is now named The Peanut Gallery, at least in my book. At least at least at least. Why don't you come up with them yourself, eh?)
**UPDATE: L.B. finally gave me a suggestion:


LAKfjalsdkabsofsteelaLSKFJALks


((And then he fell asleep before he could tell me the translation. Curse you, Bear! Who washes your trousers? ME! That's who!)) 
...
Titles aside, we are here and we are happy.

L.B. and I braved four hours in the metal tube and enjoyed looking out the window at the world below. (The clouds are so beautiful!)

We have already seen many lakes and ponds, (the boggy greenish kind that you rarely see in Southern California), and this morning I saw my very first Oriole bird.

The trees are all new to me. I feel like I am learning a new language... Birch Trees and Willow Trees and Cottonwoods...Where are my Sycamores, Bottle Brush, and Eucalyptus?
                  We are in a new land, L.B.

Yesterday we went exploring and saw the Mississippi River. L.B. was amused by the Minnesotans tanning on the grassy lawns, but I thought they were very clever to choose a grassy lawn over a sandy beach. Too much sand. (L.B. agreed.)

Everything we have seen thus far has been down-to-earth and delightful.

Tomorrow promises a visit to another lake. I am excited.

"The L.B. Chronicles"

Otherwise known as "An Unsatisfactory Title", according to Little Bear. Picky picky.

We are up late (me: sleepy!) ((L.B.: "laksjdflkafjdldsAS!" translated: Your Fault For Not Starting Earlier.)) packing for our trip to the Midwest (exciting!), but I promised L.B. to chronicle our adventures on H.H.&C., so here is the first installment.

For some reason, both L.B. and I have been having a difficult time thinking and communicating in complete coherent sentences. Maybe we are just sleepy and excited and slightly anxious about being squished into a giant metal tube with 150ish other human beings. Don't think about it too much, L.B. At least you can fit in my pocket.

Our current dialogue (or lack thereof) runs something like this:

L.B.: LAKsdfjklajsdklajrkdfa. (translated: TROUSERS.)

Me: Clean out bag. Granola bar?

L.B.: lka3tljeLRGOI#$TAERFDJLK. (translated: WASH. TROUSERS.)

Me: Heavy Eyelids. Passport?

L.B.: laierlkjlkjalSDKFAbasofsteellaksdfjlk (translated: HAVE NO EYELIDS.)

Me: Pity.

...

Mostly L.B. is upset because I haven't had time to wash and mend his trousers. Sorry, Friend. Does he ever sleep? How do animals without eyelids sleep?

Off to finish packing. The Pa-Shuttle arrives at 4 tomorrow morning. Isn't Pa the best?


-E.