Talking in My Sleep

Lying in bed on Sunday morning after a long, NATO night, the bed shakes slightly indicating that someone has crawled in with me. I can't even open my eyes, I'm so tired. I'm having a dream of Mad Men, (which I've never seen) that takes place in a model train layout, acted out by Barbie dolls. I don't want it to end. I know that it's absurd, and I'm enjoying it.

"I really like science, Mom."

"Mmm."

"I want to talk about why I like science. I think I'm going to be a scientist."

This is obviously important. I need to make an effort to be a good Mom and listen. "Hnh," is the best I can do.

"I like thinking about things. Science is a lot of thinking. You know, sometimes when I'm alone, or people think I'm not doing anything, I'm really thinking. I think about a lot of things, and science always gives you new things to think about."

"Srr...argle...mulfta."

"I'm going to be an astronomer. I know it's a lot of school and stuff, but school isn't bad when you study what you want to learn. I know I have to work on math. I'll need a lot of math. I'm not fast at math yet, but I will be, and then I'm going to be an astronomer. I think that's a lot of years of school."

"Ya...gompra...habbuti."

"I know that I might not be famous being a scientist, but I'll be doing important work. I think it's important to do work that's important. That might help people. I don't know what kind of astronomer I want to be yet. Maybe study gamma rays. You know a gamma ray burst can destroy a whole planet? I want to make sure that people are safe. I don't think I want to travel in space though. I'd miss you. I'd miss Earth."

"Me too."

"Okay. I just wanted to let you know." Pause. He's too old to kiss me unprompted most of the time, but this is normally where I would prompt him.

"I miss talking to you," I tell him.

"Okay."

"Love you."

"Love you too." He slips out of bed and I lay there, wondering if I just agreed to pay for twelve years of graduate studies. Then I fall asleep. Two more days of NATO ahead.

Wednesday afternoon we are driving to Hannah's dance class. Caleb picks up a thread of conversation where he left off several days earlier. "Mom, how do scientists get paid?"

I don't know what to answer. I think I tell him that he should affiliate himself with a research institution and apply for lots and lots of grants. Then I remember that I'm a teacher. I plug my specialty: "You could write articles and books."

He sighs. "That's what I was afraid of. Well, I guess I might have fun anyhow. I'll try."

The scientist with his circuit. It makes noise, and is light activated. Hence the darkened room.

Arts week day 3--or not

I don't know if I overslept or underslept today.
I'd say "overslept" because I didn't get up until after 1pm. (I try to be up by 11or so.) However, due to extenuating circumstances, I will say underslept because after I got home I had visitors...two visitors who kept me up. Cay likes to cuddle. I'm used to it but he was wound up and wanted to chat. I finally sent him back into his bed, but by that time I was wound up too. Then Hannah came in hunting kittens.  It was 6am! It's funny, but they don't understand why I'm cranky.

Thankfully George can run things without me most of the time. The kids had their spelling done and Hannah had done history (which is great as world history covers a lot of ground. Luckily, she likes the book.) Caleb is still doing carrying, but I don't think we'll start on borrowing until next week anyhow. Get the addition down, then confuse the issue with subtraction!

So arts today started late and didn't get far. We're painting ornaments. They might be done before Christmas...or not. Everything will be fine though, because I had nothing really planned for tomorrow. I thought we might bake cookies, but that won't be happening now...unless I get off early tonight, and I doubt that I will. I have riot training at the academy. Oh, they aren't calling it riot training. No. It's G8/NATO preparation training. And anyone who lives in a cave knows that having G8/NATO in any major city has always led to an excess of fun and dancing, and hand-holding. PDAs go WAAAAYYYY up because everyone is so happy and chillin'. . . .No wait. That's a rave. My mistake.

And I discovered that Hannah had an orthodontist appointment we forgot yesterday...grrrr.