A New Yardstick for Bad Days

Someone comes up to me today and tells me she's been enjoying reading my blog. Mmmm, say it a little more slowly, please. Bllllloooooggggg, you say? I'm not sure what you mean. Oh wait, I have a niggling little recollection of something called a blog. On a side note, is that not one of the funniest words, niggling? You've got to love a word that rhymes with giggling, wiggling, and jiggling. I laugh every time I write, read, or say "niggling." Which thankfully is not often seeing it's quite hard to work the word into casual conversation. If I did, and laughed every time I said it, people may think I'm weird. Okay, weird-er.

So back to the blog thing. I figured I'd better revisit all those lonely, forlorn ones and zeros I've created somewhere in cyberspace. Here I am and I'll catch you up on some of the better points of the last few months. I'll start with a story about my friend.

I have a friend, a childhood friend from so long ago that some of my earliest memories have her in it somewhere. If a memory doesn't have her in it it's probably because one of us was punished from playing together. As a sickly little child in and out of hospitals, I recall many times thinking how I must get better so I can go home and play before she wears out all the new toys she's probably getting. I was so very shallow back then. I'm much different now, you know.

My family moved, then her family moved and we lost touch. We saw one another a time or two in high school, but never were able to spend time together again. Fast forward to last summer, when I attended the orientation meeting for our homeschool group. What a surprise to see her after all these years! We have a lot in common again, and I enjoy her company very much.

We decided to take our punks (okay, my punks and her darling children) to the corn maze one day during the fall. D had never had the chance to meet her and he got to tag along with us. My poor friend had one of my kind of days and encountered one obstacle after another getting to the corn maze. Finally she got there and was feeling much relieved, as evidenced on her face. She began to relax after a harrowing morning.

We took the kids to the animal encounter area where they get to pet and feed animals, then watch a pig race.

The pig race. Not just any ol' pig race, mind you. It was a Special pig race where each pig had a kid chosen out of the audience to cheer him or her on. If the pig won, the kid got a prize. After a few of these races, the grand finale was announced. My friend's son was chosen to cheer the pig, but since this was the last race, it was the bestest one. The cheering kids got to bring an adult with them to help out. They had to cheer loudest of all in the final race, and as an incentive the losing parent had to kiss the losing pig. Oh my!! My friend and her son so diligently cheered but luck was not on their side that day. I saw the stress returning to her face.



Oh boy did the stress of the morning return to accompany the stress of losing the race.

But she did it!! And without a meltdown even. However, she only proceeded once she was assured the pig was cleared from having the swine flu. Personally, I'd have asked for a doctor's note. But that's just me. She's a stronger person.

I could only get one shot, since she wasn't very happy with the event and didn't try to make it last for my photographing pleasure. But as you can see in this closely cropped version she did kiss the pig. Sort of.

Now as part of my daily drama and tongue-in-cheek bad days, I have a new yardstick by which to measure. If someone asks how my day has been, I've been known to say "It could have been worse. At least I didn't have to kiss any pigs!"