So in the past two weeks I've demonstrated an impressive ability for getting flat tires. And I don't mean just kind of flat, or low, or hey-look-your-tire-needs-some-air. I mean FLAT. As in, not driving anywhere at all.
Last week I had a flat in front of the beauty shop and this week I had one in front of the dollar store, and if the fact that I hang out at those two places doesn't give away that I'm a woman living in a small southern town, then I don't know what does.
At some point I'm going to bite the proverbial bullet and learn how to change a flat myself, so I won't have to be all damsel in distress on the roadways. I've learned how to do other things like mounting shelves and talking to contractors and killing spiders, so technically there's no reason why I can't change a tire. Except for the fact that it gets your dress dirty.
So yeah, I'm not going to be changing any tires, we should stop kidding ourselves.
Also the guys at the tire place where I usually end up are probably sick of seeing me, because they've also been subjected to fixing the tires on Zoe's stroller for me - a task which is decidedly unmanly.
Speaking of Zoe, a little updated information for all the sweet people who ask me how she's doing on a regular basis...
She's 14 months old now and is still holding out on the walking thing, but has lots of other interesting ways of getting where she wants to go. She's still smaller than a lot of babies her age, but is checking out perfectly healthy and growing at a pretty fast rate these days.
This has to do, no doubt, with the amount of food the kid eats. It's both shocking and impressive. I'm telling you, she eats more than some adults. Friends and family members who share our meals don't even know what to say, so they comment on what a "good eater" she is - when really I know they're wondering if she has a hollow leg and if I ever feed her at home. It defies logic, how such a skinny kid can put it away like that and just go on being skinny - but all I can say is I hope that trait sticks with her into adulthood. And also she didn't get it from me.
At the ripe old age of one, homegirl has definite ideas about fashion. She scoots into her room and points at her clothes, so I can take them down piece by piece and let her look at them. And then she decides what she wants to wear, so I can only pick out her outfit if we don't go through this little routine first. Otherwise there is really just a lot of drama and a lot of tears and getting dressed is just HARD, you know? I knew that as a little girl mom I should expect this, but honestly I thought I had at least a few years before it kicked in.
When my own mother hears that story, she just laughs and revels in the joy of watching me reap what I've sown. This is because I once staged a sit-in and caused our entire family to be late to a major event because I wouldn't wear a dress that had cherries on it. And other things like that.
Zoe plays a lovely tune on the piano, both real piano and her little toy one, and builds a mean block tower. Our two dogs are her best friends and cuddle partners, and she only gets on their nerves enough to run them outside ten or twelve times a day. She loves the outdoors and seems to have inherited the adventurous gene from me, which thrills me to no end. I've never seen her turn her nose up at any new food, she always tries it; and she has never acted afraid or hesitant when doing or going somewhere new or meeting people. She embraces everything that comes her way with a huge smile on her face, and acts like she just can't wait to see what will happen next.
She's a bright, sparkling spirit and a joy to care for, and when I think about all the fun stuff we'll get to do together as she grows, I get so excited I can hardly stand myself.
sspears@blythevillecourier.com