Thanks for the delay

So, I’m on a plane right now, typing on my new laptop (I’m quite excited that I can actually work on my computer without it being plugged in). In the past four years, every time I’ve traveled anywhere, I couldn’t use my computer because the battery never worked. Even when I got a new $100 replaceable one for Christmas, my laptop wouldn't work. Bizarre. Thankfully (??), that laptop died the other day and I got a new one!!!). But I digress. I just finished grading 14 essays from students taking my technical and professional writing class. I began today and ended today, thanks to a five-hour plane delay, no other responsibilities at the moment, no daughter running around me, and no dinner to fix. This task of grading a single set of essays typically takes me two weeks. Today, however, with this delay and my persistence to finish them before the conference I’m attending begins, I was able to finish grading them. Yippee!!

Not only did I complete the essays (on the plane. Right now, I’m somewhere over Tennessee on my way to Louisville), but I also got to see my dad. What a treat that was! He just happened to be in Houston today, which is unusual for the middle of the week, so I got to see him for a quick minute. He took me to Sonic (yum!) and we sipped our drinks together. I didn’t get my usual Route 44 vanilla Diet Coke, easy ice, though. Instead I got the medium size (of the same variety, of course) because I would have had to throw it away when I went back through security anyway. At least we can buy something there to bring on the plane. I have to have something to drink as I drive (non-alcoholic of course).

Shane called me a minute ago, and his first words were, “Do you want to know something that will make your heart break?” Hmm. Do I? All I want to know is if Elizabeth is all right? Is she? OK? Tell me whatever you want to now that I know she’s OK.

He proceeds to tell me that when he brought Elizabeth home from Amy’s today, she runs into the house and goes straight to the room that we call our office and bangs on the door, calling, “Mama. Mama. Mama.” When nobody answered, she starts banging on the master bedroom door. “Mama. Mama! Mama!” Still no answer. So, Shane opens the bedroom door to let her in. She runs into the room, looks around, and then runs into the bathroom expectantly. Nope, no Mama there either. So she sits down on the floor and cries. Then Shane asks her, “Ah, honey. Do you want to call Mama?” And she shakes her head yes. They call me, and I proclaim my love for her and how much I miss her and how much I love her and how I can’t wait to see her. Then, suddenly the phone goes dead. She had hung up on me. Now she has broken my heart.