Wearing out my rocker

      Three reasons teachers work: June, July and August. Ha! After a stressful first two months of summer, my face is beginning to show a bit of wear. I look tired. I am tired. I'm usually level-headed, but I have been dealing with birth, deaths, family and friends' illnesses, new car troubles, kids' homes for sale, teens acting out and up, and damned chigger bites that have itched to no end for two weeks.
     Like a midnight locomotive, I awoke with my heart racing, knowing I can't fix it all. Heck, I can't fix any of it some days. I've always been on the right track regarding my looks and life: this is how I look, take it or leave it. This is life; roll with the punches. Somewhere along the way, I got derailed.  

 The one constant that makes me happy is baby Liam. I feel like a teenager in puppy love. But I worry about his colic. See, it never ends.

    

     Today I feel worn out from the stress of dealing with everyday living. During June and July I barely had a moment to myself, and when I did, I could hardly breathe deeply enough because I was so worried about everyone else in the family who had problems. I wasn't able to read a book, wrote very little, and so beginning Monday, I am stepping back for a week, and I am taking time for myself.

     I plan to sit outside and relax, not answer the phone, not check my text messages. I want to read, and I would like to write, but I am not putting that pressure on myself. Sure as I do, I will come inside and turn on the computer intending to sketch a story, jot a thought, and the next thing you know I will be lost on Facebook. 

     I spent hours Monday readying my classroom for open house, so that is one less burden to have on my mind. Now, I am ready for down time. Today I am going to buy myself a new book or two. I will treat my honey to lunch after he returns from his six week follow up chest X ray after his bout with pneumonia.

Hoping for his clean bill of health.
Hoping my granddaughter can get her new LEMON of a car repaired or replaced.
Hoping her sinus infection clears up with new antibiotics so she can return to work.
Hoping my daughter gets a home buyer soon, as she has found her dream house.
Hoping my son's new home is built before school starts in three weeks.
Hoping my friend's dad recovers from his stroke, and my other friend has an easy grieving day on the loss of her son.
There I go again. Worry-worry-worry.

I once read that worrying is like rocking in a rocker, you can go fast, but you get nowhere. Oh, I know that. I just need to still myself. That is my plan and I am sticking to it. I'll be back though tomorrow to tell you about my book selections. Thank you for sticking with me.