We've had a couple very good crops this summer. Tomatoes were late to ripen, but we have had more than enough. I've made several batches of soup that use diced tomatoes, lots of salsa (much of which we canned), and many BLT's (which every time I eat one, I can't believe how much I love them; man, I love BLT's) and other dishes that involve delicious homegrown tomatoes. This, in addition to the 12 quarts of pickles made earlier this summer, make me feel proud and connected.
I've also been growing a bunch of baby. There are days when she reminds me constantly that she is in there. On these days, I feel like I have, well, a baby with me saying "hi" (in the ribs, in the bladder, and thankfully most often on the right side of by belly). I can imagine feeling lonely once I have to go back to work without any company.
People ask how I feel, and I always say something along the lines of, "really good." To be honest, if I think about it, I feel not so well a lot of the time, but I'm so happy that it doesn't really seem to matter. Being a shy-ish person, I am really enjoying the automatic icebreaker I am carrying with me. Mothers seem to gravitate toward a mother to be. Going to Jon's concerts and cross country races are much less lonely. And I'm big enough now that people to tip-toe around wondering if I've just gained weight. I've had some very strange conversations (one high-school boy -that I hardly knew - was hinting around wanting to touch my belly) and have been amused at the offensive things people feel at liberty to say:
My Principal: "You are due in October, right?"
Me: "No, December"
Principal: "Man, you are going to look good." said as he held his hands far out in front of his stomach.
I feel like this is the calm before the storm (which I am looking forward to the "storm"). I am enjoying this part of my life.
