Not My Time to Write

Last night was supposed to be my night. Nothing much was going on. My husband would be watching Monday Night Football and Kevin would be locked in his room doing homework. My plan was to retire upstairs to work on that novel/short story that's banging around in my head trying to get out. Instead I did homework.

My older son, Paul, called home from college. "Mom, I need to interview you for my paper. It's due tomorrow."

"Ok, but I have a commitment at church from 6 to 7. Then I'll have to walk the dog. You'll have to catch me after that," I said.

He didn't have much time either. He had a meeting at 5:30 and then he had a radio show to host from 9:30 to 11. We agreed that he would email his questions. The assignment was to interview a micro entrepreneur. Despite having not heard the term before, I fit the description.

Answering his questions about how I got started and why made me realize that I have had a good run. Last night I wrote, but I didn't work on that novel. The main reason I started my own business twenty years ago was to have more time for my kids. I'm still making time for them. After answering his questions I could not pull myself away from his internet radio show. Between songs that I've never heard before, he banters with his co-host. My husband and I were glued to our computer screen waiting for the next sound of his voice.

Finally the show was over. No more writing for me--I went to bed. My son was the one who did the writing that night. Probably an all-nighter.

The Difference Between Boys and Girls

My daughter Claire is sharing an apartment with three other girls this semester. Last night they shared a rare night together at home. To celebrate they worked out together to some goofy dance aerobic tape (her words).

My son Paul is sharing an apartment with two other guys. His school is probably ten hours away from Claire's. This morning Claire saw her brother's roommate on her campus. Matt is in town for a medical school interview. Claire calls Paul to inform him that she has seen Matt from a distance. Paul's response, "Yeah. I knew he was going out of town. I didn't know it was this weekend."