State of Obvious

My husband and I decided we need to make a plan.  Actually, 4 plans.  And, actually - if I'm being honest - it was really my idea and he's just coming along for the ride because that's how it usually goes.  And I'm not sure that sounds quite like what I mean.  But, I digress. We need 4 plans.  We don't have 4 plans and we're not sure what's going to be in those 4 plans.  But, right now we're thinking 4 plans.  Plan 1: Budget/money/spending.  We have struggled with this for all 20 years of our marriage.  We've been bailed out, scooped up, helped out ... and still, we struggle.  So, this plan is at the top of the list of plans. Plan 2: Shoot - I already forgot plan 2.  Plan 3: To move or not to move, that is the question.  To move where and how and when?  We're leaning a particular direction, but...big decisions are hard.  Also, do we store our stuff or get rid of it or move it? Plan 4: Double shoot - I forgot...

It's a cold December night and I'm thinking of things I would say if you were here.  I might say: I've missed you. or I'm sorry it's been difficult. or Tell me about the good things. or I might say nothing at all. A lot of life is spent saying nothing at all.  Sitting in a movie theater or watching TV.  Riding in a car.  Tonight Carly and I drove home together from Grandma's house, almost all the way in the silence of an audio book.  I think she listened to about half.  The other half she spent just thinking. I sometimes wonder what internal monologue sounds like to everyone else.  I know what mine sounds like.  There's a lot of "why'd you do that" reasoning and "I should've said..."  It's words, though.  Apparently, that internal monologue isn't the same for everyone.  What did the monologue sound like before I had words?  That's a question I can't answer.  The night outside was inky black whil...

I dreamed a dream once of what this would be like.  Of life.  Of patterns and songs and ticking off boxes to find my way.  Trouble was, I keep looking at the wrong list. This year's list: - Turn 40 (check) - Move again (check) - Send the boy on a mission (check) - Finish admin license - Get lost (check) - Get found (check) - Lost again (check) Wait, that went off track.  Adulthood is a lot of getting off track.  And back on.  It's weird. I thought at 40, I would have it all together. But, I'm barely keeping it from falling apart.  Weird. So, this is me where I am now. 40, working, waiting.  My boy's on a mission in Boise.  My girl's 12 going on 20.  My husband hates his job most days, and loves it alternatively.  Same for me.  We live in a small town I don't like very much and dream of going somewhere else, but we don't know where that is.  I want to be a writer, but I don't spend time writing...