Tuesday, February 23, 2016

Shakespeare Is Killing Me…And Most of His Characters

Some of the ladies in my book club and I have decided to read through all of Shakespeare’s works in 2016.  I guess full disclosure would include that this brilliant idea was mine.  And it is fitting we chose this year to do so; it’s the 400 year anniversary of WS’s death.

Two months into reading, and I can definitively say it’s been brutal – even though I’m currently three plays behind.

There is good reason (several) only a few of William’s plays are deemed acceptable for student consumption.  The Bard was bawdy…and violent.  Boy, was he violent.

This week I’m on familiar ground reading Romeo & Juliet, that freshman year of high school English class staple.

However, I started with Two Gentlemen of Verona.  Trust me on this – they were NO gentlemen.  And the women – yeesh! – insipid, flat characters.

Comedy of Errors was next.  I actually quite enjoyed that one.  The confusion and mayhem of it was entertaining.

Then came Titus Andronicus.  Ugh.  Death, rape, murder, deceit, plotting, wickedness.  And flesh pie.  Spoiler:  I’m fairly certain everyone died by the end.  Although I could have missed a lone survivor.  I was more than ready to be down with it by the time I turned the last page.

Next came two poems:  “Venus and Adonis” and “The Rape of Lucrece.”  I’m the first to admit a lot of poetry goes over my head.  So I didn’t enjoy these much at all (although better than Titus).  I found Venus long and drawn out.  A lot of imagery and nonsense.  Rape was easier to understand but the subject matter left much to be desired.

At this point (while I’m sure it would be sacrilege), I really wish Goodreads would allow *zero* stars for their ratings.  Yet I’ll soldier on and hopefully even get caught up soon.  Because…at the end of the year I’ll be able to say I’ve read everything of Shakespeare, even if I didn’t enjoy it. 

Sunday, February 21, 2016

Two Is Better Than One

You know, I am so glad J and I ended up having two little people instead of just one. 

If you haven’t heard that story, it’s a funny one.  We went through some infertility processes to get pregnant with Little Boy (our now 2.5 year old).  Our fertility doctor (who was fabulous and we highly recommend) said if we wanted more kiddos, just to give her a call.  We said we’d discuss it once Little Boy turned one.  And so we did. 

One Friday night shortly after Little Boy turned one, we sat down to talk.  J was fully on board with trying for number two/four (two for us; four with his girls from a previous marriage).  I was more hesitant.  Little Boy flipped my whole world upside down.  His delivery and my recovery from it were not fabulous.  I wasn’t sure I was cut out to mother more than one.  Honestly, the mommy guilt oftentimes was (is) such that I didn’t feel I was doing a great job as it was.  But since I was on the fence, we decided to go ahead and look into the insurance piece before I called the doctor to get things rolling.

However, that Sunday I was as sick as I had been in a long time.  Couldn’t keep food down.  No energy.  Just awful.  I suffered through the day.  When getting ready for bed that night, I started shaking uncontrollably in my arms and legs.  It freaked me out.  You couldn’t see the shaking, but I could feel it.  Terrifying. 

So I did something I hadn’t done since probably middle school – headed to the ER.  Where, low and behold, we found out baby number two was already on her way…I was two weeks pregnant.  Still scared and nervous?  Yes!  But excited and knowing beyond a doubt that expanding our family to six was God’s plan?  Absolutely!

Anyway, so back to having two. 

I did wonder if I could handle two little ones – mentoring, loving, giving each the time and attention individually needed.  Having the energy to keep up with both.  Having the wisdom to balance it all.  (I know…you friends of mine who have 4…6…8 kids are laughing at me now.  That’s okay.). And sometimes I don’t do any of that well.  Sometimes Little Boy is screaming and wanting attention while I need to be feeding Baby Girl.  That’s also his prime time to get into whatever he knows he’s supposed to leave alone.  Sometimes Baby Girl wants held while Little Boy needs some Mommy time.  Sometimes Mommy counts the minutes until nap time or shuts herself in the bathroom for a few minutes to regroup.

But I LOVE it.  Yes, it’s more work (despite the fact my sister told me two is no more work than one).  However, it’s absolutely worth it.  They are such completely different personalities.  And to watch them interact is so much fun.  To see Little Boy “read” to his little sister.  Or to watch Baby Girl's eyes light up and a grin come to her face when brother enters the room. 

I wouldn’t trade it for the world.