‘Isla, get off the stage, Dearest.’ We’d just arrived at the theatre after three hours in the car. Isla was burning of some energy by strutting across a platform thing I think was leftover from another performance. Part of Isla’s Christmas gift was tickets to The Nutcracker when Scottish Ballet brought it to Inverness. We didn’t think we’d get to go, because weather was happening right up until we started our road-trip. But we piled in the car, picked up…
Isla looked at my face this morning and asked a very maybe wise beyond her years/obvious/ simple question: Mummy, why don’t you sleep at night? What could I say? Because I’m cold, Because I’m reading, Because I’m hungry, Because I feel crowded, Because I feel alone, Because I think too much, Because it’s too quiet. Are you breathing? Have I done enough? How old am I? How old are you? Shit. Because I’m crafting complicated sentences. Fuck it. What time…
On her second snow day… Neil: It’s a blizzard. Isla: I don’t see a lizard. It’s snow, Daddy. On love… Isla: I love you, Mumma. Don’t ever change. Me: *just over here on the floor* On snacks… Isla was picking through a bag of gum-drops after lunch. ‘Hmm. I think Nana ate all the good ones.’ On her mother’s artistic abilities… Me: It’s a butterfly. Isla: It’s a heart with a line in it. Me: Well, you and me went…
Medium-known fact/disclaimer: I’m an American living in Scotland. I know a lot of people and more than half of them live not here. I have been sending and receiving airmail since I was 12 years old. These are my personal tips on how to send stuff to people who live where you don’t, while still keeping your bank account happy. And theirs, too. Most of the stuff I send goes to people in the US. My mother has been sending…
And so, Mom was here for three weeksish. She’s back now, and returned to the coldest day on record. Sorry, Ma. We managed all that togetherness without an argument. Which hasn’t happened in like, ever. Mom did get a chest infection and spent most of the time sleeping or watching British crime dramas. On her IPad. It was kinda surreal. Also surreal was a Christmas dinner where my divorced parents didn’t fight, and I found a wine that doesn’t give…
