This week has been crazy. Not good crazy or crazy fun, but one where you just hope that you can close your eyes and wake up when it is over. It has definitely been a week where I think I should have been able to cut out early for a 5 o’clock happy hour to unwind.
I spent most of the week in Jacksonville working long days and spending the nights away from Jenn and Nolin. It has been harder this time to leave Nolin because as he is now 3 months old (a fact that I have a hard time believing), he has become so much fun. Nolin discovered his laugh and I have to admit it is pretty awesome.
He laughs at pretty much anything including some of the fantastic songs and raps I make up for him. I am starting to think that I could have a career as a children’s artist…well that may be stretching it a bit because as I said, Nolin laughs at anything so his approval may not be the best gauge for a successful career change.
Jenn also started back to school this week. This is the week that she has been dreading since Nolin came into our lives. I am pleased to say that she has handled the transition like a champ. It has been easier since Grandma Teresa has been here to take care of Nolin (and Pancake) while we are at work.
It’s official, my life will now parallel the Everybody Loves Raymond tv series since my in-laws have taken up residency down the street from us. All kidding aside though, it has been pretty nice for Jenn, Nolin and I to have Teresa so close and we are looking forward to Don coming down shortly.
With all of these changes taking place, I think that we have all been seeking out some way to relax and unwind. For some of my friends that comes at 5:00 on a Thursday night after work (sometimes a Wednesday or even a Tuesday). For Teresa, I think she enjoys her happy hour at around 8am (no we haven’t driven her to early morning drinking just yet) when she looks into the crib as Nolin is waking up and he just smiles at her. For Jenn, it is the moment she walks in the door and is home with her mom and Nolin. For me, it starts about 10 minutes after I walk in the door, and I am greeted by big laughs from my little man. At that point it really doesn’t matter what headaches or problems the day may have had in store for me because this is the moment that I have been working for all day.
I guess happy hour has taken on a different meaning since my twenties, but it is also pretty nice to now be able to enjoy one every night without the headache the next morning. I hope these days continue, and that at some point everyone is able to find the times that allow them to relax and smile because as the song goes…It’s 5 o’clock somewhere.
Our Modern Family 