Better Than a Nap

Last Monday I was so tired after staying up late with Gregory and his homework. I used to do this "stay-up-til-all-hours" thing so much better with the older children. There is something about being twenty-five years older than when I first started with a secondary school-age child that makes a definite difference in my stamina.

I was just made of firmer stuff back then. Now, with tail-end Gregory, I find myself

going back to bed, or at least napping on the couch or in my rocking chair, after the boys go to school and Val goes to work--which is what I did this morning when I

began nodding off in the middle of Daniel interpreting the writing on the wall

(my scripture study).

However, a two-hour rejuvenating nap was not in the cards for me today. Just as I drifted off into blissful unconsciousness, the phone rang.

Never one to ignore the phone (it might be important; it might be one of my children, or Val;

it might be an emergency, for heaven's sake!--something I've been paranoid about ever since I locked myself out of the house when Jeffrey had a seizure in middle school and I couldn't be contacted--yes, the cell phone was in the house), I rolled off the couch, grabbed the phone

off the endtable just before it clicked over to the answering machine, and in my most cheerful, wide-awake voice (I wouldn't want anyone to think I had been

sleeping, now would I?) said, Hello!!

It was Gregory. BINGO--one of my children. The person responsible for bringing

pizza to French class for the restaurant skit

had forgotten to bring it. Could I PLEASE go buy some pizza

and bring it in to school ASAP?

Yup--an emergency.

Fortunately, Val had bought four frozen pizzas at the commissary a couple of weeks ago.

Since I don't know of any pizzarias open at 8:30 in the morning, I pulled a couple of

Red Barons out of the freezer to bake while I hurriedly got dressed, brushed my teeth,

and washed my face off and put it back on again.

By the time I was ready, so was the pizza, and a mere 45 minutes after the emergency

phone call I was delivering it to Gregory's classroom

in left-over Papa John's boxes.

When Gregory saw me at the classroom door, he ran across the room and gave me the

biggest smile and hug EVER. I think he even said,

"I LOVE YOU!"

The girl who forgot to bring pizza called out,

"You're the best mom in the world!"

Better than any nap, don't you think? ;)