Monday, August 18, 2008

During the last few days

I attended an information evening at my son's high school concerning internet safety. The information scared me to such an extent that I immediately decided to pack up my entire family and move to a hut in the outback where there would be no chance of ever having access to the internet. Then, as I sat at home with my cup of tea and a large dose of desperate, paranoid fear, I remembered Alice's comment to me in a previous post about the fine line between solitude and loneliness. This comforted me and I was able to resume normal mothering, which includes allowing my children (and myself) to socialise via the internet, safely and in moderation. Thanks Alice.

I finished reading that book I was talking about last week. I was sitting at the dining table and leaning over the book when I noticed water drops splashing onto the pages. It took me a second or two to realise that they were my tears. That has never happened to me before, so it made me laugh out loud. My tears mixed with my laughter and made a rainbow.

I met an Australian woman who had recently spent three years living in Germany with her young family. She was describing the house with the rolladen, the gardens, the village life, and all of this time I was thinking that maybe, just maybe, she had been living in eurolush's village. So I asked the only question which would, beyond a shadow of a doubt, prove whether she had or had not. I asked "Was there a pastry van in your village? You know...Frau Muller's pastry van....which would stop at your front door every morning?" The woman looked at me like I was crazy, raising her eyebrows and smiling sarcastically and responding "No." Damn.

My son has gone off for a four-day tennis tournament with his squad, which means that I do not have to accompany him. He is having a wonderful time. So am I.

My husband and I celebrated our twentieth wedding anniversary. We went for a bushwalk, and while walking we came across a few large, moss-covered rocks which we had to cross so as to continue the trek. I do not like slippery rocks. My husband skipped easily from rock to rock, oblivious to the possibility of falling, then slipping, then rolling down the cliff-face and...well...you can tell what I was thinking. So, naturally, NATURALLY, Eleanor (after much encouragement and an outstretched hand from her loving husband) attempted to skip easily from rock to rock, but instead slipped and slid and fell. Eleanor then used some very bad language. Eleanor then became overly dramatic. Overly-dramatic-Eleanor claimed that what had just happened showed that she is overly anxious and is therefore unable to deal with the smallest of problems which crop up like mossy rocks on the pathway of life. Luckily, Eleanor's husband has over twenty years of experience in the art of Eleanor management, so he simply said "Eleanor, what just happened is not a metaphor, you just aren't used to bushwalking."

This is not a metaphor.

I just love that.

That simple, five-word phrase is the best anniversary present I have ever received.

The photograph below is not a metaphor, it's just a photo of my husband.

23 comments:

Mary said...

I don't see life in metaphors at the moment. There is too much of the practical happening. However I do think that sometimes it is lovely and positive to see metaphors and similes in your living.

Sometimes.

KPB said...

Oh happy anniversary to you. We went bushwalking yesterday too. And you know what? If there is a tree root to trip over, a rock to fall on, a cliff to fall off, I will find it.

blackbird said...

I could use your husband's voice in my head NEARLY EVERY DAY.

Happy Anniversary.
Next year, I recommend a walk in the city.

Anonymous said...

Germany without the pastry van? Oh, dear. Let's not entertain that thought for too long.

20 years of Eleanor management...I like that.

Hello Mr. Comment Box, up there on that rocky crag. It is wise that Eleanor is down below, taking your photo. Good call.

Happy Anniversary!

That One said...

Happy Anniversary to the Comment Boxes!

With best wishes for many, many more! (Anniversaries, not bushwalks.)

RW said...

Yes. Happy Anniversary to you!

I too, have concerns about the Internet and safety and privacy. I, think I WEEKLY state that once you post/ publish something online - you can never take it back...

Anonymous said...

Rouladen! You're making me very homesick--for Milwaukee of course, not Germany. ;)

and...your marital dynamic sounds very similar to my own.

Duyvken said...

Happy anniversary! We'll celebrate our 9th wedding anniversary at the end of the month and it feels like a heartbeat, I imagine that one also gets to 20yrs without feeling too dramatically the passing of time. It's just when those children go walking through the room that the years hit you in the face!

karin-odlar-sin-trädgård said...

What a lovely way to celebrating ones anniversary! Even though you need to train more at skipping on stones;-) Still congratulations!

Anonymous said...

"This is not a metaphor." I love that! You married a good man 20 years ago, Eleanor. Congratulations!
I have never been bushwalking. It looks a little rocky, and mossy and slipperly. I'm a wimp.

But I have eaten from the delights of Frau Meuller's bright yellow van when I visited Eurolush. Just seeing a picture of that van makes me dizzy with anticipation.
I must get back there soon! B.

Jeanette Nord said...

What a lovely post - tears and laughter making a rainbow - eleanor management - this is not a metaphor - you put it so well ( and your husband to obviously...)

Thanks for charing and happy anniversary!

Jeanette

Anonymous said...

What a lovely sharing with us of your anniversary walk and the parts each of you played. You're a perfect pairing. Neither one of you should attempt to change......and I wish you 20 more years together and then 20 more after that.

Anonymous said...

Happy anniversary! You husband sounds lovely and what a gift that he has a way with words too. "This is not a metaphor" made me smile all day.

Wishing you many more years of love and management ;)

Sömsmånen said...

Oh so true. Most things in life is not a metaphor for life. Wow, this made me think. Life is life. That's it. Sometimes you just fall without it meaning anything.
This is most helpful and reassuring.
Good work, Mr Commentbox! (And for 20 years too...) Happy anniversary, you two wanderfugeln!

RW said...

You al'right?

Mary said...

what rw said....

Esti said...

Congrats on your anniversary.

I relate with a lot of things you've said here. I'm not a bushwalker either. I hope it didn't hurt too much...

And yes, that sentence, the metaphore... that would have worked for me too
:)

Anonymous said...

Eleanor...come out ...come out... wherever you are.

You are missed in blog land!

Sömsmånen said...

Eleanor, I miss you and your wonderful posts. I hope you're staying away of free choice and that everything is allright with you and your dear ones. Love.

KPB said...

Where are you?

Come back.

We miss you.

No really. We do.

At least come over for morning tea one day.

Esti said...

where are you?...
I've tagged you...

Anonymous said...

Not that I'm counting or anything but it's been 30 days since your last post and I'm a wee bit worried here. I hope everything is OK with you and yours?

Hugs!

alice c said...

Hi Eleanor,
I am so sorry - I missed this post due to a major blogging crisis which consumed me and required that I have not one but TWO blogs.

Thank you for your kind comment - I angsted for some time that you might have felt lectured at. It is a horrible tendency of mine developed over years of dealing with my children. I'm so relieved that you thought it was a positive suggestion. I suggest modestly to you that all the cool friends who have been hanging around aimlessly waiting for you prove that you need not fear solitude or loneliness.

And congratulations on your anniversary - it is a long time to be happy.