louise on the left (coast)

I had an odd conversation this week, with a kid in middle school.  Not my own. And I'm still trying to sort out if I've done the right thing. Early in the morning, I dropped my kid off at middle school and this day, actually walked my child into to school. I'm a chatty mom who actually loves kids.  I love watching them interact and I love seeing what they wear to school and all that stuff.  I think it's really fascinating watching kids grow up at this stage, you either love middle schoolers, or dread them.  And I'm definitely someone who loves that age. In any case, as I was walking back to my car, I passed a boy I knew since elementary school, so I asked  what I thought was a simple question: I said, "How are you today, 'James Watson'?" ( clearly, that's so not his real name .) To which he answered 100% sincerely (which is why I love this kid. He really is like that.) in front of the other boys hanging around. "Hello, Mrs. Larsen. Well,

Note: There used to be photo of my kid "Somber Girl" here, but I took it off line, due to the discovery that there are actually very creepy guys out there w/ fetishes re: kids in braces . Gross. Go away. Here it is smack dab the middle of summer. Some kids are off at camp. Some kids are lounging at a pool, some away on family vacations. But, it's okay. We're still on Staycation . It seemed like great destination, this Staycation of ours. After all, this was supposed to be a special day, July 25 th , 2008. The day Dr. Chang finally installed her new titanium set of orthodontia. It only took about two hours and only cost about $5,500. She was a great sport. But after we got home I noticed how uncharacteristically she quietly slumped down on the sofa. No rushing to the mirror to admire the changes. She just stared into space. She says she's tired, and I believe her, but I also remember how often life has a way of not living up to one's expectations. Straig