Pragmatist
Pragmatist

More Pasadena
Mon Jun 09 2003

The home is furnished, except for curtains. The monk's cloth drapes we've hauled across country have become curtains for Stan's room, and window shades installed by the builder have to do for now for the bedrooms.

I've managed to save a little from my household money, and I see that one of the stores is having a sale on curtains. I've always loved Pricilla curtains, and glory be! they are on sale, and I have enough money to buy curtains for the picture window in the living room. I would have been happier with a couple more panels, but I had curtains for my living room window. Finally.

Stevie, as I've reported earlier, makes friends in any neighborhood, but lately friends haven't been enough. He's been asking for a baby sister. A sister! Not a brother. A sister. Stan gets in the act and says that since he was an only child, he didn't want to raise an only child. Well, I'm perfectly happy with my adorable, handsome little boy...but two against one...okay.

Apparently, I don't have an infertile period, and I find myself pregnant almost immediately. At least two people are overjoyed!

In the meantime I've met a woman who is politically active in the Houston area; in fact she's the county chairman for the party. But there was a lot of in-fighting and back biting, mostly among the politially active women, and the chairmanship of the party was a mighty tasty apple for some. Anyway, Anne used me as a sounding board, or rather a listening ear while she raved on. Finally she asked me if I would be willing to volunteer part time as her assistant at the county headquarters. Well, having nothing better to do than just gestate, I said OK, because Anne fell in love with Stevie and said I could bring him along.

My first day wasn't what one could call pleasant. The faction that hated Anne the most got together and made one phone call after another to the headquarters, asking questions I had no way of answering. All Anne wanted was for me to answer the phone and take messages. Not argue the fitness of this or that candidate, or the history of the party in Travis County. I lasted it out until the primary in November. But only because Anne asked me to.

I must remark again on the kindness of strangers. I was driving back to Pasadena from Houston when the car had a flat tire. I managed to pull off the freeway onto an exit street. I was noticeably pregnant at the time, and uncertain about how I was going to change that flat tire. Could I even lift the spare? Suddenly there's a pickup stopping behind me. Two men get out and change the tire, get back in the pickup and take off before I could do anything more than say thank you. I was so grateful, but so unthinking, that I didn't even get a license plate number. Hey guys, if you happen to be about 80 years old now, and happen to remember coming to the aid of a pregnant woman with a flat tire and a small child in the car....THANKS, Y'ALL!!

Good night, all.

3 Comments
  • From:
    CovertOps (Legacy)
    On:
    Mon Jun 09 2003
    The anecdote about the two good Samaritans is really heartwarming! I love it! I'd like to thank those men too!
    I'm glad you managed to get fancy curtains for the picture window. I've always liked curtains, but only those that can be put in the washing machine. They sure are easier to clean than venetian blinds. Those kill my back, wiping slat after slat.
    How cute that Stevie asked for a sister!
    As for working for Anne, that must have been a very trying period. I do not have your experience but I remember sticking up for a friend that a number of other people did not like. It made me feel frustrated and unpopular and very sorry for the friend I was defending.
    Still, I admire your courage.
    Love,
    E.L.
  • From:
    Sezrah (Legacy)
    On:
    Mon Jun 09 2003
    asking for a sister, thats pretty cool for a little boy, somebody for him to watch over and protect perhaps?
    once again, i'm impressed by the whole good samaritan vibe going on in texas

    sez
  • From:
    Ozone (Legacy)
    On:
    Mon Jun 09 2003
    In-fighting and back biting between politically active women??.....Outrageous!! I never would have thought. :)

    Then there is you....who was out voted on the new child issue. As I already know the outcome of that pregnacy, and that you did have a girl, I wonder if you would have been out voted again if another little boy showed up?