Get Busy

In the span of a couple of days two different people said to me, "At the end of the day, you have to either get busy living or get busy dying." My long time mentor and most admired career woman told me she regretted not having spent more time with her family and that she likes having the time to work out. I got a lobbying contract referral and two other leads. A friend and former colleague said to learn from him and know that putting one's time 'in' is not always the path to happiness nor success. I guess if I'm looking for a sign, I got a few.

(I don't know why I'm so skeptical.....when I was contemplating getting a divorce that any casual observer could see was a NECESSITY, a chatty marriage counselor sat down next to me on an airplane from Louisville to St. Louis and talked to me about my situation. I never, ever talk to anyone on a plane, even in an emergency landing. Then he followed up by mailing me books to support my decision. And there are still people who don't believe there is a God.)

I am seriously contemplating quitting my job in favor of more time with the kiddies and to give being a lobbyist consultant a try. If I could make the contract lobbying gig work, I set my own hours, it's pretty lucrative and I would work hard January though May, but have the rest of the year to be in charge of carpooling, etc. But on the other hand.....do people do this? Ahhhh.....the risk gene not hardy here. Nonetheless, the worst thing to happen is in January if I have no clients and no prospects, I find another job. I can't fathom going back to my old position, with my old boss, all the old issues and problems, plus now the added guilt of two more babies left behind. But I would miss my friends, salary, benefits and sense of purpose. Hard choices. I'm 80/20 there, have to check out J's medical insurance, etc.

All good friends know that I have struggled with these career issues in a self indulgent way for years, so I will try and not bore you with additional nonsense.

The babies are doing so well. They are really little butterballs now and always want to be held. Brooke appears to be the calmer one these days; Caroline likes things a certain way, hers. In the pictures above, Jack plays at Monkey Joes and in his play room. He is a streaker and will strip down to his diaper whenever the opportunity presents itself. We're trying to ignore it, as parenting books believe that shaming for stripping behavior will marr their body sense for life. Jack reads "Five Little Monkeys" and Caroline gives us a smile.

Caroline's godmother and our dear friend Carolle is a cartoon....www.mslivingwell.org to view it and learn more about MS.