Sep 29 2008
Me and my shadows
I'm an introvert in a house full of extraverts. I love quiet and solitude. The rest of my family loves being in a noisy crowd, if not at the center of one.
Occasionally, I'll notice Nathan and Lucie playing nicely together in the living room. Wanting to take advantage of the situation, I'll tiptoe upstairs hoping to put away the laundry -- or maybe to sneak in a little writing -- without interruption.
It's inevitable that as soon as I settle into whatever it is I'm doing, the two of them come barging in. While I haven't timed it, it feels like it takes about five minutes for their mommy's-not-around radar to go off and send them straight to wherever I am.
Like tonight. Before I knew it, the kids had invaded my room, taken off their clothes, and jumped in my shower. They started fighting, yelling at me to referee. Then they ran out of hot water, and the shower door slammed open with a loud bang. And I was pulled away by my two shadows -- wet, naked, and giggling -- asking me to help them get dressed for bed.
Did the Peter Pan story ever mention how he lost his shadow? Maybe I can use his method from time to time and get something done around here.
