It probably used up .09 watts of her brain power to write it, but it was using up a bucket of mine to wrestle with it. Why would such a friendly wish bug me like a raspberry seed between my teeth? I held up the Saturday morning routine against the "Is this great yet?" yardstick. John likes to sleep in. I spring out of bed to get writing done before kids emerge. Was this great? It certainly did not involve John. I was already failing and it was only seven am. By ten the question of who would pick up our daughter from the train came into play. He was willing. I was willing. No conflict here, but neither was it great yet. 

 

I started some laundry, still feeling like a schmuck at greatness. I made blueberry pancakes, just for fun. They were yummy if you slathered enough maple syrup and butter on them, but great was a stretch. Besides, John ate at the table and I chewed in the kitchen while I kept pouring batter. Still a failure. 

 

I taught sewing which was adorable, considering one little boy made a Batman cape complete with a utility belt, another girl almost finished a zebra and a third child happily poked a needle in bright wool for an hour. I kept offering to help but she was self sufficient. She made a tree. All three kids felt great, as did I but John was in another room entirely, so more failure hung like a nimbus. 

 

We went to church and I thought, maybe this is our chance to be great together. I actually sat next to him instead of on the other side of the kids like we learned to do for decades. It was a crucial strategy for child monitoring, but actually now the kids don't wiggle or scream. I could let down my guard a little. It was a pleasant service, with an upbeat message, and stellar music. One musician actually played the mandolin and violin in the same song, slinging one behind him while he switched, as well as singing harmony. THAT was great. But did it have anything to do with John and me? We both enjoyed it simultaneously. Is that enough? 

 

In the evening we set up the computer to watch a movie as a family. It was fun enough that we watched one episode of Leverage and one of White Collar, passing the chocolate pretzels and chips. I guess it registered on the Greatness Scale somewhere, unless greatness necessitates preplanning and cash. 

 

We had an ordinary weekend. It will not go down in Odhner history as the epoch of 2012. But maybe a string of ordinary afternoons, lined up on the cord of marriage add up to make a beautiful necklace.

 

Some people might even call it great. 

Photo by Joy Feerrar

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