Yesterday, I was a little frustrated, because I haven’t gotten any work done in ages. Things are out of balance. I am haunted by the fear that opportunities are whizzing by and others are snatching them up.

Today, I’m having fun. Work shmerk. My kids are warm and cuddly and we are free and we’re driving all over the tri-state area to meet up with cool friends. When Steve came home last night, Ian and I told him about the playdate at Tamar’s. (Thanks, Tamar!) Ian said with the big dimpled smile that doesn’t leave his face these days, “Cats. Black and white. Jump on tree. Drums. Guitar. Sing and dance. ”

Jonah woke up at 6:00 so that he could talk to Steve before he left for work at 6:45. Still half conscious, I could hear him talking to Steve while he showered. Through the shower curtain, Jonah related his battles on Age of Empires. “And then I’m the Spanish and we are fighting the Huns and the Vikings and the Franks and my guys got the battering ram and then we crushed the Huns and we went to the town center and then we found the gold.”

In an hour, we will drive to Long Island for a visit to Margie and the girls who perch on chairs drawing pictures of lines and faces for hours on end. Jonah will join them, and Ian will run into the basement to find their train set. Margie and I will talk about our writing projects and life. We’ll sit on the kitchen table and quietly admire the four kids who are growing stronger every day.