I was tagged by wonderful Angie to do this Meme. I said to myself, “What the heck. I’ve got nothing better to write about and it’s Angie, for goodness sake.”

I AM: lucky to have had the life that I have had and I am grateful. On a less profound level, I am a true Gemini, “dual-natured, elusive, complex and contradictory.” I am too nice when you first meet me, and then get goofier and feistier as you get to know me better. If you are a true friend, I am loyal and steadfast. I am old enough to know how rare and precious a real soul-to-soul friendship is. No flightiness in that area.
I WANT: my daughters to come of age in a more peaceful and less frightening world than we face now. I want them to find soulmates that make them laugh, respect them, are good to them, and that they deeply respect.
I WISH: I could lasso this less frightening world for them. I wish I could keep them safe always.
I HATE: hate, so I try to avoid it.
I MISS: sleeping late and traveling. I miss my family. I miss far away friends.
I FEAR: the unthinkable, so I don’t go there. I also fear finding a black widow spider accidently in one of our boots one day; job interviews (not that I have any coming up); public speaking; events that require schmoozing; and fear itself.
I HEAR: my husband talking to my sister and brother-in-law downstairs. There has been lots of evening laughter this week produced by grown-ups.
I WONDER: whether I will have another baby one day and what that might be like. I still want one more. I am still afraid.
I REGRET: very little consciously, but I think I dream about things I regret unconsciously–like avoiding things because I’m afraid. What I regret consciously are times when I’ve hurt people.
I AM NOT: good at confrontations.
I DANCE: when I’m feeling happy and there is music on that is reaching me deep down in a groovy place. I dance when my children are watching and it makes me feel light and giddy. Sometimes they get embarassed, sometimes they get really joyful.
I SING: when I have been feeling sick and am beginning to regain strength and health. I also sing to my Hannah at night and often throughout the day. I sing when I’m alone in the house and I see the guitar out of the corner of my eye. I pick up the guitar and sing all the songs my kids don’t want to hear when they’re home. I am a much better singer than guitar player. I’m really terrible at the guitar, but I’m actually getting better.
I CRY: when my hormones want me to.
I AM NOT ALWAYS: nice. patient, cheerful.
I MAKE WITH MY HANDS: a life….lives.
I WRITE: because it brings me peace and clarity.
I CONFUSE: you…when I comment sloppily on your posts. And then I can never decide whether to make corrections or not. I most often don’t.
I NEED: to be challenged to be content.
I SHOULD: keep my office and laundry room neater.
I START: many things.
I FINISH: the things that lasso my soul.
I TAG: all odd numbered commenters to this post, unless you sweet talk me out of it—and any even numbers that want to do it. Oh, and Stephanie. I tag Stephanie because she likes to be tagged and I want to hear what she has to say. I’d love to hear what you all have to say.

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When I was trying to decide what I else should write about Rachel wandered into my room from her bedroom and after talking a bit with her I asked her to write something here. I typed for her.

From Rachel:

What I did this Week was:

My cousins came. I missed all my friend at school. I went in the car lots of times and I got to sit in the back of my Daddy’s car with my cousins.

I did lots of things. I went places where lots of boats are today. I really, really want to go to school and I really, really want to bring my new snow globe that I got the other day from my cousins.

(Then I asked her to play this game with me.)

I AM: a human.

I WANT: my cousins to stay here forever.

I WISH: that I had my ears pierced. (Huh?)

I HATE: skunks.

I MISS: going to school.

I FEAR: (am afraid of) sharks.

I HEAR: buttons from my Mom’s computer right now.

I WONDER: if things that are broken can be glued or sewed and sometimes taped.

I REGRET: am kind of sorry to my school but I’m glad to myself that I stayed home from school when my cousins were here.

I AM NOT: (”this is kind of a silly one”) a grown up.

I DANCE: because I want to and sometimes I dance because music is on.

I SING: at school; because I want to whenever I like: I sing, as the donkey in Shrek says “the Sun will come out tomorrow, bet your bottom.” and they sing it in Annie, too.

I CRY: because I get hurt, because I don’t want to do things that I have to do and when I don’t like things.

I AM NOT ALWAYS: grumpy.

I MAKE WITH MY HANDS: handprints.

I CONFUSE: which hand is left and which hand is right.

I NEED: my jacket when it’s cold.

I SHOULD: not try to get sick.

I START: my day with breakfast.

I FINISH: my dinner, breakfast and lunch.

I TAG: Me.

love, rachel

Song by Rachel for Dad

“Jingling Dad”

Oh I love my Daddy, as much as anyone
That’s why we’re singing this jingling song
That’s why we’re singing this jingling song
That’s why we’re singing this jingling song

(Mom plays guitar and Rachel jingles the bells when performing this song.)