New life

It is 10 am on a Wednesday morning and I am home, sitting at my computer, typing away. The twins are at Rock Camp (9-12 each morning this week). I believe today their field trip is to Settlers Park. A drywall guy is occupying our one and only bathroom, taping and puttying in preparation for painting. And Rocket Boy? Rocket Boy is AT WORK.

Rocket Boy has a JOB.

I am so thrilled about this, I almost can't put it into words. It's not just about the money, though of course it is partly about that. But it's also the idea that at his great age, Rocket Boy doesn't have to retire. He gets to work on projects, use his wonderful brain, not feel bad about himself all the time.

Although I plan to go on teaching parttime until they kick me out, I would not mind retiring now. I have enough to occupy myself with my writing and reading, plus childcare and housewife duties. But Rocket Boy, like so many men, really needs to work to be happy. And he has not been happy being back in Boulder. He was happy during our 4 years in the desert, even though he didn't like Ridgecrest, because he had a job. He went to bed early each night, got up early each morning, dressed in a nice shirt and slacks, fixed himself an interesting lunch, left the house in time to be at work on time, worked all day, brought work home with him and worked into the evening. He stood up straighter. There was a positive feeling floating around him, always.

I haven't seen that positive glow in the last two years. But I saw it today, this morning. I can't stop smiling, thinking about it. I know the job might not work out -- he's starting with a 6-month probation period -- but I'm so glad he has something right now.

The third thing that makes me happy about his job (after #1, the money, and #2, RB's happiness) is that I am going to get some time alone. It amuses me that this morning, when I'd really like to be dancing and singing around the house, I have to sit and be quiet because the drywall guy is here. He'll be here all week, so I'll have to put off my dancing until next week (when the boos have Lego Camp). And then the boos will be home with me all day long for a few more weeks until school starts. But once school gets going, I'll have Tuesdays and Thursdays to myself (I'm teaching MWF). It sounds like pure heaven.

My favorite time in Ridgecrest was our last year. Rocket Boy would leave for work, I'd take the twins to preschool, and then I'd have the house to myself. And almost every day I spent a couple of hours writing. It was heaven. I didn't have to fight for the time, I didn't have to carve it out of my life -- it was just there. I'm so looking forward to having that again. I need solitude to write -- it's really hard to do with RB a few feet away, growling at his computer.

Of course, I'll be teaching, so I'll have to use my Tuesdays and Thursdays for grading and class prep. I understand that. But I still think I'll be able to spend an hour each day doing what I love. And that will make me a happier person too, better able to deal with the rest of my life.

Such a small thing: a new job. But it brings so much joy.