September 15, 2007

I am Lonely.



My husband has been out of town for 24 hours and I miss him.

Last night I stayed up until 2AM simply because I think I was subconsciously waiting for him to come to bed before I turned off my light. I stayed up reading and watching old re-runs of 'Sex & the City' on the small TV perched on the tall dresser in the corner of the bedroom. The voices and people on the screen made me feel less alone.

I've been hooked on 'Sex & the City' ever since they started playing re-runs on one of the local stations here. I became so hooked that I asked Chris to rent a season on DVD for me so I could watch it on one of our recent trips. It turns out, however, that the episodes I've been watching on TV are EXTREMELY EDITED, so when I put in the DVD to watch a full length, un-edited episode, I was SHOCKED. I blushed and turned the volume down and then turned it off completely because, well, I guess I just do not enjoy watching soft porn in airports. I think I'll stick with my "edited for TV" version, thankyouverymuch.

I curled up in bed last night and ate some Salt & Vinegar chips because Salty is my best friend. I finished the book I was reading, "PLAN B: Further Thoughts on Faith" by Anne Lamott, and underlined nearly every word in the second to last chapter.

I still was restless, so I picked up the collection of Ernest Hemingway's short stories (the book that got me hit on for the first time in... ever) and figured I'd read as many short stories as I needed to before falling asleep. After reading for awhile, I decided to stick a pillow under the covers next to me- to try and trick myself into believing Chris was there. It did not work because Chris does not have the stature of a pillow; he has the stature of a handsome bean pole. I was not fooled. So I kept reading.

My mind started to play tricks on me. I rolled over and imagined seeing a stranger standing silently in the doorway of my bedroom. My heart started to pound. Should I go get my cell phone just in case? I imagined what I would do if that really happened. Would I remember to run and grab Ezra before I bolted out of the house? These thoughts make me feel nauseous, so I do what I always do when I get freaked out. I say the name "Jesus" really loud, thinking it will spook all the boogie-men away, because I imagine boogies are freaked out by that sort of thing. Then, I remembered some of the best advice I have EVER RECEIVED in my whole entire life:

My brother, Jaxon, told me (when I was probably 6 years old or so), that all I had to do when I was scared was picture Garfield the Cat swinging into the scene on a vine rope- kicking all the bad guys butts and easily saving the day. So, I did just that.

I started to feel better after that, like I always do, so I kept reading.

I thought about bringing Ezra into the bed with me, to bring me back to reality, but then decided against it. For such a small guy, he can take up A LOT of room when he's sleeping. And I do not like to snuggle when I am falling asleep. I need my space.

The story I was reading was about a man who was camping alone in the wilderness. He set up camp by a stream and spent the days fly fishing. In the mornings he caught grasshoppers as bait while his coffee was brewing and his grits were cooking over the fire. When he spoke out loud to himself, his voice was shocking and seemed out of place because there was no one around to hear it. He was alone.

I felt like that guy in the wilderness last night, too.

I eventually (finally!) drifted off to sleep- dreaming about buying Scottish kilts from stores that were carved out of big boulders.

9 comments:

Cristina Mathers said...

i used to love sex in the city, but i like watching it on tv more now because it's edited. some things on there were just embarrassing to even hear. i still like it, but i am kinda glad that i can't relate to it that much anymore.

being a mom is cooler that all that!

i thought about bringing ellie to bed with me when M was out of town, but decided against it too. i am not a sleepy cuddlier.

hope you get some restful sleep in the land of kilts and boulders tonight! =)

kachina said...

I say "JESUS" really loud too when I'm scared...but now I'll picture Garfield too! : )

Rachel said...

I hate it when my husband is out of town too. You get so used to another adult being in the house with you.

misguidedmommy said...

k so i was reading your blog while watching flushed away and those little slug guys were singing i'm so lonely i'm mr lonely and now i have it stuck in my head. so i finally get it out, and visit your page today and guess whats back in my head

Anonymous said...

awww did you make it? Is he home yet? I'm to big of a wuss to stay home alone.

Anonymous said...

oh my gooooosshhhhh this is sooo funny because i got hooked on sex and the city the SAME way and i watched it every time seth was gone... i started to love when he would have guys night, or practice cause i would have my sex and the city date night with myself... hahaha that sounds scand but its not... anyway i LOVE it and i'm finished and i miiiisss it. ---skylana, obviously.

Anonymous said...

oh p.s. i watched all the dvds... hahah i'm pretty slutty though. j slash k. -skylana (again)

Anonymous said...

Evil cannot even stand in the presence of the name of Jesus. Speak his name often! <3

Boerenooi said...

OMW, i do exactly the same!!! My fiance is out of town until friday, and i also cannot sleep, and i also emagine people coming into my house. I watch melcome in the middle, to make me fall asleep. Its sad not having your loved one with you!