Hrmph.

I’m drinking coffee with foamed milk and a little vanilla. It’s my attempt to brighten up an afternoon that’s just downright dreary inside my head. I don’t know why; it certainly started out grey and yucky outside this morning, but now it’s sunny and pleasant. Somehow, the more dismal weather penetrated my skull and refuses to leave.

Or maybe I just miss my kids a little.

They came home yesterday full of energy and stories. Gabe had brightened up a bit from his fears this morning (fears to which he readily admitted, when I told him I’d seen him), but his bigger gripe was that he hadn’t had enough time to finish his lunch, and when he got up to go ask the lunch lady where a trash can was (ever the proactive kid), the rest of his class got in line and filed out of the cafeteria…without him. He was quite frightened when he found himself alone, but he was rescued shortly with no major harm done to his spirits.

Sam went to school. That’s about all I could get out of him.

They went back again this morning, without needing to be dragged out the door, so I suppose it was a net positive experience for them in the end. I, on the other hand, have discovered in myself a propensity for talking out loud to myself, now that nobody’s around to hear me for so many hours each day. This morning, I had to take Eric’s car to the garage (sway bar bushing needs to be replaced, no big deal), and I found myself blabbing away to the mechanic, as though somebody forgot to shut off the valve to my mouth. Pathetic. Usually, the garage magically transforms me into a bubble-headed Valley girl, twirling my hair and widening my eyes involuntarily whenever anybody starts talking about car parts; I don’t know why, but I do it every time. This was no improvement, I think.

Going to call Mom here in a bit to check in on Dad, but I predict that I’ll hear the same thing – a good note, for a change: his numbers are still elevated, but there’s steady improvement. They’ve said he might be able to come home in a couple of days, so I’m keeping my fingers crossed for that.