The sleepover kids slept in until 7 a.m. Then they ate a loaf of banana bread, a box of cereal, and two boxes of milk. Now I can imagine the amount of food Laura’s family must go through with 6 kids. It’s not insignificant. We had a couple of blackouts this morning, but they were temporary. The two kids who don’t have any teenagers in their family kept saying, “Is Kier still asleep?” I explained that teenagers can sleep until noon and she said, “Why?” Turns out Kier could only sleep through the noise until about 9:30, and that’s not considered sleeping in for most teens.
The kids played on into the afternoon. With the exception of going out and getting them additional food, I felt I should stay at home as long as they were there over. Kier spent the whole day in the hammock reading, her favorite thing to do. She said it was the first time she’d ever read a book from cover to cover without leaving the hammock, not even to go to the bathroom or to get food. It’s true, she didn’t move. Good thing she’s such a fast reader.
I also read my book, tried to live in the moment, but who am I trying to kid. I’m just waiting for tomorrow to get here, when Paul arrives. I can concentrate on little else.
Church started an hour and a half later today. The starting time is a bit liquid here, according to what is happening with the family who runs it. Seems only fair, since they do it with no assistance.
I took all the sleepover kids back to their houses, then Kier and I went for lunch in town, since the younger ones wanted to get some cartoon time. Kier told me about her evening, which had a bit less drama than some other Saturday nights. Could be because her two girlfriends were either babysitting siblings or out of town.
Kier and I were having coffee and the drummer guy came over and sat with us. He was telling us his life story, which was brutal and sad. It involved kidnapping, his father-in-law being shot, him being shot at, drugs, about his sons, how he doesn’t see his daughter now, all sorts of cray cray life things. He was pouring out his life, looking very sad. Then, all of a sudden Kier says, “Ok, mom, we need to leave now and get back to my sisters.” She stands up and pulls on my arm. We leave and I tell her I think we were being a bit rude to the guy who was pouring out his life story. She says, “He was hitting on you, and I couldn’t have that.” Made me laugh out loud that she thinks I can’t take care of myself. But I don’t think he was. Just a lonely guy who has no one to talk to.
At church there were two work groups down from the States. So the church/bar was packed with over 50 people. The message was about taking risks and not always playing it safe. He talked about how many North American churches have become too comfortable and are risk-averse. I’d have to say that’s true of many of the churches I’ve attended, even more so in Canada. People don’t want any risk, any discomfort, any discourse, yet that’s often where personal growth germinates. He was also talking openly about addiction, which is common here. One person is 18 days sober–now everyone knows. The culture, as I’ve said before, leans more towards full disclosure as being the healthier way to live.
After church, Kier hung out with one of her friends. They went out to get a bite to eat at a South American restaurant and then watched a movie. We came home and it was an hour past Cali’s bedtime. Not a great way to start the week for a kid who requires a fair bit of sleep.
I watched the Oscars. Actually watched to the bitter end for the first time in years, mainly because I was waiting for Kier to get home.