Thursday, February 10, 2011

You Can't Make this Stuff Up!

I remember quite a few years ago, back when Ronald Reagan was President to be exact, having a conversation that I have come to regret over the years. My children were 5 and 3 and my life was relatively uncomplicated. As a miliatry family, we moved with some frequency. When the USAF took us to a new location, we made 'home', found a church ASAP and made friends. Quickly, because we probably weren't going to be there long. We lived in 5 different places in three and a half years at one point.

The conversation that I regret had much to do with my innocence and very simple view of the world at that time. There was a family in our church who seemed to go from one disaster or complicated situation to another. It seemed like they had a dark cloud over their heads that they just couldn't shake.

I was having tea with a new girlfriend and said something along the lines of, "I wonder why the Joneses seem to have so much stuff going on all the time? My life is so quiet and calm." Oh, Molli! Poor innocent Molli! Did you really call down the thunder like that? The Mollianne who said that had no idea how many times those words would come back, served up on a platter to be eaten over and over again. Remember Forest Gump and all the ways you can eat shrimp? I have eaten those words more times than I care to count.

Was there really a time when the biggest concern in my everyday life was sorting out which He-Man figure was my son's and which was Billy-the-kid-next-door's? When choosing a pattern and fabric to make an Easter dress for my daughter was the biggest decision I had to make? I lived in such a bubble and was just sure that I was going to live happily ever after. It never occured to me that bad things, tragic events, out of control things...LIFE might happen to me. Who IS that young woman in my memories? How did SHE turn into ME?

Let me just say that my life today seems very disconnected from my life then. As it ought to be. I've grown up, matured and live a life that is more complicated at times than I ever imagined but also has more joy and satisfaction than I could have dreamed. And somewhere in Rocket City, there is probably some wet-behind-the-ears young woman who could look at me and say, "Boy! Compared to her...my life is calm! There is ALWAYS something goofy going on in that family!" And, she would be right.

For instance, I went to the dermatologist on Monday to have a wart removed from the pinky finger of my right hand. Only it turns out that what I have is not a wart. It is some sort of cyst. Which requires surgical removal. Rocket Man and I looked at each other at this bit of news and burst into laughter {much to the doctor's surprise}. Rocket Man said, "Well, of course it does!" Who else goes to the dermatologist to get a pesky wart removed only to find out that surgery is in her immediate future?

I was able to get an appointment with the hand surgeon today, and am scheduled to have surgery next Monday to remove the silly thing. I came home with pain meds and have been thoroughly admonished that the dressing has to remain intact until the stitches are removed 8 days following the procedure.

Honestly. You can't make up stuff like this. I'm going to spend a week with my right hand bandaged up and my pinky finger taped to my ring finger to keep it immobilized. I'm guessing that Rocket Man will be adding some intersting things to the list of things he's never done before.

If you see me next week and think, 'Mollianne's makeup looks like it
was applied by a color-blind rocket engineer'

...You'll probably be right!

~Mollianne

4 comments:

Annie Joy said...

Your observations are so, so true. Isn't it interesting that the lessons we need to learn are often initiated by our very own thoughts or words? I don't know about you, but now (at my advanced age), I get that internal feeling when something petty or unkind or unsympathetic slips out -- the one that says "you're going to pay for that." I hope that your surgery goes well and your finger heals quickly. How is Rocket Man with blog posting? (I guess he is able, since he's a Rocket Man, but is he willing? :))

Mollianne Massey said...

Yes, Annie. I've learned that I pay for things, even when I don't say them out loud. My best example was when my first baby slept the night through before he was 2 weeks old and I wondered never said out loud, but wondered} what everyone else was doing wrong. My baby slept, why didn't theirs? My NEXT baby is 30 years old and I don't think she has EVER slept the night through. Ever. You'd think I might have learned my lesson then. I wouldn't count on any Rocket Man blog posts. Maybe a flow chart on my progress, though :p

Mevely317 said...

I sooo love your perspective and sense of humor :)
... thinking this post should be required reading for every new bride! :)

PS - I'm guessing you're right-handed? Can't wait to read what's next!

Mollianne Massey said...

Thanks Mevely. I can't imagine how stressed I'd be if I didn't laugh at all the goofy things in my life. And, yes I am right handed. I think that next week is going to be very interesting, indeed. If I can type, I will keep you posted.