Humming more Abba Songs

It's been working up to being a tight summer at this Skating Family household. With Dad scrambling for work, and me already working full-time, there's little room for extras. In fact, I had already decided that Stitch wouldn't have a big birthday party this year. A cake and things at home, but no party.

The decision came at the end of a hard week. Work was and still is a juggling act of tight deadlines and manufacturers. At home, our eldest cat is slowly going downhill. I've been misty eyed, because while she had her issues, she's still my kitty. It made me even sadder to tell Stitch that we would celebrate quietly this year, and he was sad to hear it, but nothing I could do.

Then on Friday afternoon, my boss asked me if I had a few minutes to talk about "things." Well, what else can go wrong. He explained to me that the company was spoiled, and had relied too long on just waiting for customers to call. It was time to get an Outside Sales Person, and that they wanted me to do it. The position would be created slowly in the next few weeks, as people were moved around to compensate for me going on the road. I'd spend four days out of the office visiting people, and one day in the office doing officey things. While it wouldn't mean an immediate pay increase, the subject would be revisited later.

Then, a friend contacted me, needing some help clearing out an old theatre. One of the old tenants had passed away, the partner had decided he didn't want to do it anymore, and so the place was now in the care of the original organization who didn't know what to make of the piles of ancient theatre equipment. He said he'd pay me. I agreed to give him as many hours as I could.

Then, I got a phone message from someone wanting some beadwork done. She said she'd pay me. I agreed.

Then, Stitch got his birthday party. While I can't go into details, he's getting his party. It will be a surprise party on the Small Rink. With the hours I've worked this weekend, I can get his Zuca, too.

Saturday night I watched as five kids play around on the ice, pushing cones and shooting a pilfered water gun at each other, and I fought tears. Stitch was playing with his growing harem of girls and two hockey kids, all of them playing beautifully. It just felt so unreal. After all my worry and concern, everything began working out.



Coach gave Stitch a freebie on public ice this afternoon, and his skating has improved by leaps and bounds. I can't wait to see how he does for the Home Competition in a few weeks. I guess I should try to stop worrying about things and just keep going. When it was over, Stitch was still skating, spinning and jumping and laughing. One of our rink friends shut the ice door and Stitch didn't care. He laughed and kept going.

Everything is going to be okay.