Hello.

 

Hi, I'm Annie.

Mother of 3,
spouse to G,
writer of things,
former batgirl,
sister,
daughter,
lucky friend,
and American
living in Australia.

Basic Joy = my attempt to document all of this life stuff, stubbornly looking for the joy in dailiness. 

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Mama, Ph.D.: Women Write About Motherhood and Academic LifeMountains Beyond Mountains: The Quest of Dr. Paul Farmer, a Man Who Would Cure the WorldThe Sweetness at the Bottom of the PieThe Island: A NovelThe PassageSecret Spaces of Childhood

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« Our own little Freaky Friday week | Main | Dear Ira Glass, »
Tuesday
Apr242007

Ah, the smell of bus exhaust in the morning...

Dear Daughter L,
Tomorrow at 5 a.m. you are leaving on your first lengthy school field trip. Without me. While I hope you have a grand time this week in Washington, DC, I want to pause a moment in sheer disbelief that I have a daughter old enough to go somewhere without me for more than a day. Simultaneously, I am having panic flashbacks to the long orchestra and debate trips that I had when I was just a smidge older than you. Watch out for cute boys in the back of the bus, be leery of the restroom facilities in buses (and sitting near them is a definite don't), keep a wary eye out for practical jokes while you are sleeping on the bus. Try to absorb some knowledge about the nation's capital in the midst of the ever evolving and revolving social drama that is 8th grade. Please don't watch late night t.v. in the hotel room. Know that we love you AND that we know you will miss us even though you'd rather pluck out your eyelashes than admit it. Bon voyage and see you Friday!

*******

In other--but semi-related--news, my brother Chris has received his Peace Corps assignment to Mali. (My kids are especially excited that Timbuktu is in Mali.) Can't believe the Peace Corps thinks that my ten-year-old brother is old enough to do natural resource work for the Malian government until I remember he's actually 27. It's an I-feel-old day.

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Reader Comments (4)

Okay, how did L get old enough to be going ANYWHERE alone? Wow. She'll have so much fun.

And call me a moron, but I've never even heard of Mali...sounds very exciting though.

04.24.2007 | Unregistered CommenterStie

Wow, a child off on her own. It's hard for me to imagine. Seems like it would be a surreal experience. And yeah, I am not all too familiar with Mali myself. Timbuktu on the other hand... Dr.Seuss has made famous.

04.24.2007 | Unregistered CommenterBridget

I'm here by way of Stie. Our dog, a Llasa Apso, had her roots in Timbuktu, so there's actually a sticker on our map designating the place!

One reason it's so scary to let kids go off on their own is that we remember what we did off on our own!

04.25.2007 | Unregistered CommenterMarty:

Marty, you've spotted the core of my fears! I guess I need to let her make her own mistakes instead of fearing she'll make mine :).

04.28.2007 | Unregistered CommenterAnnie

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