I have issues with noise, which I probably attribute to my ADD. If there's too much going on around me, then
As I write this, the TV is on in the other room, the dishwasher just started up, and the roommate is making himself dinner. I blame this on nobody but myself, but my mental state just can't handle all the different things occurring, none of which require my attention, but all of which demand it.
Today was our beloved niece's birthday, and being as ill-prepared as I ever am (ok, I'm actually going to legitimately blame this one on working 12 days straight, nearing 10 hours a day), we ran to a local store to purchase a befitting gift. We were probably in the store for no more than 10-15 minutes, but returned to this:
Yeah, someone just went ahead and etched a huge ole "X" into the side of the Mini. I hate this shit. I don't know if it was just pure random rage on someone's part, the rainbow flag hanging from the mirror, or the Immigration Equality sign in the footwell, but it pisses me off. And rest assured, if I'd caught him, he'd be swinging from his balls right now while I granted him the same treatment.
It just so happened that there was a policeman in the parking lot, so my sweetie beckoned him over, and he began his write-up. We left him to it, as we were already late by this time, and didn't want to be show-stealers or anything like that once we finally made it to the party.
The wee one is just gorgeous, and coming on in leaps and bounds. She's walking around all over the place, chomping down Jello, and while looking you straight in the eye and smiling sweetly, will declare "Bye", when she wants to be left alone. One of her moms' best friends was visiting from out of town, with the three small children she has been fostering with the intention to adopt. Their parents had huge drug problems, not to mention the domestic abuse going on: seemed Daddy liked to beat his wife and eldest son, K. Mommy was given the chance to get her children back if she left Daddy, but she decided he was more important. So Melissa has paperwork in to adopt these adorable kids: K is around 3, M is his little brother, and is about 2, and then there's the baby sister A, who is three weeks younger than our niece.
I spent almost the entire afternoon either distracting A from when Mommy was going out of the room, or chasing M around the house. K is very shy; he's probably the only one old enough to remember, even subconsciously, the life that came before what is now being dangled before him. He warms up eventually, though. Towards the end of our visit, K found the big sharp knife meant for cutting the birthday cake on the table, and had it in his hand when Mommy caught him and yelled.
Oh my goodness, you've never seen a little boy have such a breakdown. And she's holding him and rocking with him on the sofa, and he's just shrieking. What really got me were the words she was whispering to him:
"I'm not going to hit you. I was so scared you were going to hurt yourself, and that's why I shouted. I love you. I will always love you."
Yeah, that's pretty much the point at which I lost it. This tiny little family, Mommy doing it all on her own (and a DAMNED fine job, if I might add), and they just need her so much. It was heart-breaking.
Before we left, he was up and about again, shoving cake into my mouth with M, and giggling at my chomping on his fork, but I just wanted to grab him and hold him and tell him nobody was going to hurt him, ever again. I think they're going to be taking up space in my mind for quite a while to come.
