Today I was cooking and baking many things, pancakes, lasagna, cookies. My kitchen is not so big so I needed to utilize some extra space in the dining room. This reminded me of a time almost 13 years ago now. And I think it is an illustration of my life at that time. My husband at the time, and father of my five children, had led us to a small, economically and culturally depressed town in Southwest Florida to live in a house that had been purchased and renovate it. At the time my children were aged 8 and under with my youngest 10 months old.
For these 6 months we maintained our residence in Denver but it was rented out to another family. At one point it was necessary to relocate to a different small house that we owned and was between renters. I was preparing my youngest daughter’s ladybug-themed first birthday celebration. Whilst using my KitchenAid mixer to prepare the cupcakes and frosting, the electricity conked out. This was due to a lapse between the tenant and us, a failure to continue it under our name. However, it was unbeknownst to me until I was unable to prepare the cake. I checked the fuse box but realized it was a deeper issue. (The water would follow, creating a perfect storm collision between first and third world scenarios.) So I had to take the mixer and ingredients, along with the children, across town to the house being operated on, where amongst construction equipment and personnel I had to prepare the cupcakes and frost. Luckily, the cupcakes and party as as whole went on and was enjoyed by all, except for the father who always ruined every birthday celebration for some reason.
And that was the crazy of my life for a while until I chose to extricate and create a more peaceful, calm, secure life for myself and my children when they are with me every other week (and sometimes more often).
Notes From Real Life 