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I have to admit I played Debbie's game yesterday. Cathy has not spent a Christmas Eve nor a Christmas morning with me since I moved out of the house, and this year it's my turn. Debbie's family has many traditions over the holidays and Cathy has become a part of them. I knew Cathy was a little upset at the thought of missing out this year, but I let her know that she'd never spent a Christmas with my side of the family and she didn't know what she was missing. Cathy was troubled to the point of making an appointment to speak with her counselor at school (reminder, we're talking about a 4th-grader here) because she was confused and didn't know what to do. I figured if Catherine's going to spend a Christmas with me, I want it to be her choice... and she's not ready to make such a decision yet. Talking with Debbie yesterday, as I said, I played her game. I said Debbie would have to drop Cathy off at my house for my placement weekend in two weeks and pick her up. If she did, she could have Cathy for Christmas... if she didn't, Cathy would come with me. It worked. Debbie asked for directions to my house and said she'd agree to my compromise. So, December placements are set; I'll see Cathy on the 12th and the 26th. I'll take a city bus to Appleton Thursday to Chuck E. Cheese Thursday evening to celebrate Catherine's tenth birthday with her friends from school. Mom thinks her foot will be well enough to drive (and pick me up) to attend Cathy's church program on the 20th. I don't know yet how I'll be able to get to Cathy's school concert on the 11th, but hope to have something worked out. Kari on the other hand has called me twice since I last wrote here. Money's really tight for her and she's on pins and needles wondering if I'm working yet, hoping to have some child support money come through. She even had the audacity to ask if my parents would be interested in helping out as well, for the sake of their grandchild and all. I didn't remind Kari that they already have seven grandchildren, Dawson makes number eight. My nephew Josh was from Tony's prior relationship, so Mom and Dad weren't involved with him until he was two, but Dawson is the first grandchild they've had where they weren't invited, informed, nor welcome to help during the pregnancy or birth. Both Mom and Dad were flabbergasted at my kitchen table over the past two weekends at my story of her phone call informing me she had what she called an "instrumental hand" in the destruction of my career, then asking if I'd move in with her. (The story for me was emotionally draining to retell. I told Mom to let Kevin and Lori know about it so I wouldn't have to go through it again. I shared the story via my writing here with two former students as well.) Mom did say when she was here that she would indeed like to meet my son, but agreed with me that it shouldn't happen until I do first and that it's a comfortable situation. I don't see a lot of comfort there for at least a year. Well, dear reader, that about wraps up my November, my first month of my glorious return to edge of the Fox Valley. There's still so much more work to get done. |