A ROTTEN DAY

Warning:  Venting ahead.  Proceed at your own risk.

Yesterday was rough because of my migraine, but I got through it OK.  Today started out pretty well.  The kids and I watched a show about hurricanes, then they got going on their schoolwork without complaining.  Ga’hoole Girl and I drove to Appleton for a library visit and then her piano lesson.  Other than the fact that it was wicked cold, it was a nice drive.  We listened to some of Emma on audiobook.

I talked to my dad while Ga’hoole Girl was in piano lesson and learned about the death of a friend of mine from childhood.  His family and my family are still close.  Ga’hoole Girl’s piano lessons are an hour long, so I always make sure I bring something to keep myself occupied if I’m not shopping during that time.  So, I wrote my previous blog post and did some reading.  I was quite sad and shed a few tears, but didn’t break down into a big crying episode at the time.  I told Ga’hoole Girl the news when her lesson was over, but she didn’t remember even meeting the man who had died, so it didn’t impact her greatly.

On the way home, I got pulled over on the ramp getting on to the highway.  The police officer said that I had violated the “yield” sign.  I disagreed, but I didn’t argue – I just apologized.  She said that saying sorry wouldn’t help if I had caused an accident.  Yes, I realize this, but I didn’t think I did anything unsafe.  In any case, I didn’t argue although I thought the woman was rather rude.  She took my driver’s license and went back to her car to check my record and write things up.

While the police officer was in her car, I proceeded to start to cry hysterically.  I just couldn’t control it anymore.  Getting pulled over was like the straw that broke the camel’s back.  Ga’hoole Girl was trying to figure out what was going on, and I finally managed to tell her that I was just upset about my friend’s death.  The police officer finally came back and gave me my warning.  I had calmed down some, but not completely.  When she left, I was crying again, and looked over to see that Ga’hoole Girl was crying!  I asked her what was wrong, and she wailed that the police officer was so rude and that she shouldn’t have been rude.  Thankfully, Ga’hoole Girl’s crying spell only lasted about a minute.  Mine ended soon after.  We were able to get home without incident.

The rest of the night went OK.  Mr. Math Tutor said that a house just a few blocks away from us was on fire and that the ambulance had passed him as he was coming home from practice.  We stopped the TV show we were watching to pray for the family (we don’t know them, but Mr. Math Tutor said the house was completely engulfed).  I got really emotional about the house fire, even though I don’t know the people involved, probably because I’ve had such an emotional day.  I only cried a little bit during our prayer.

Since then, I’ve been tear-free.  I did walk on the treadmill this evening, which helped me feel a little better.  That was important because my head has been trying to hurt all night.

So, there it is.  My vent about my awful day.  Which is really not all that awful when you consider that my family and I all have food to eat, clothes on our backs, and a roof over our heads – not something many people in the world can say.  And, I’m going to bed soon.  Things will look better in the morning.