Draft 2021

Nighttime at my house isn't very restful. Oh, some nights I conk out quite easily and sleep really deeply and well, though this is usually when my husband is home and I've popped a couple of Benadryl. Sometimes I'm awakened ever so gently by this guy snuggling up on the pillow next to my head, purring sweet lullabies in my ear. Other times, I'm rudely awakened by a tiger pulling my hair - hard. Elmer will pull until I finally stumble out of bed and feed him. This lovely little lady usually sleeps on my feet all night. This doesn't really bother me, as I've grown used to it over the past 8 years. But Fern is a nibbler, and an emotional eater, and most nights, usually between 2-4, she awakens from a stressful dream and simply must have food. Now. Fern doesn't poke or prod me, however. She has a knack for finding crinkly things - a magazine on the floor, perhaps a kleenex box, or a pile of books, and she rattles them. Scratches at them. Paws and mauls them.

While filling out some paperwork (an attempt on my part to track my spending habits), I noticed the date. Well, I noticed that it was July 27, which meant a whole change in my late afternoon plans, as today is the deadline for high school registration. For some reason, I couldn't quite believe that it actually is the 27th - no particular reason popped into mind, it’s just that I thought today was Wednesday, but it’s actually Thursday. No wait, it’s Wednesday. It’s just that I thought the 27th was Thursday, not today. Which really is Wednesday. And after checking online, it really is the 27th. Then it hit me. Why I should have remembered this date. It’s one of the most important dates of my life. And I totally forgot. Today is my 26th wedding anniversary. Now, I know the stereotypical sitcom version of the forgotten anniversary involves the forgetful, contrite husband frantically dashing out to the gas station at midnight to come back with some pitiful gift for his i