Even though my brain was getting better by using it, there were times I was just crazy! I realized after I was sick that I would probably never be the same person I was before I got sick. It seemed as if my personality and reasoning skills had shifted for life. My perspectives were different than they had ever been before. These changes mixed in with innate orneriness got me in a bit of trouble that summer after I had finished a year of school.
I was taking charge of my life and family a bit more each day. I had finished a year of school and felt good about how well I had done. I was not too disappointed when I found out I needed 2 more classes and some student teaching experience before I could actually be certified.
Michael, a United Methodist minister, needed to be gone for a couple days in June to attend the annual conference that was held every year. It was my first big test of taking care of the kids and running the household by myself for more than one day. I was kind of excited about the prospect and had “secret surprises” planned for Michael.
Things were going well after Michael left. Roseann came over on the second day and we were enjoying some tea and Yatzee.
“Would you do me a favor?” I asked her.
“Anything. What do you need?” she asked.
“I need you to help me move my livingroom furniture outside to the front yard.”
“And why would we do this?”
“I’m going to sell it. Michael is going to buy me new livingroom furniture.”
She agreed to help, assuming I had discussed this venture with my sweet husband. Together we moved out the sofa, loveseat, chair, and ottoman. I put a big sign on it—For sale, $100.
Within an hour, a nice man stopped. After checking out the furniture, he gave me the money. Later in the day he came back with a truck and took away my furniture.
That night, I was sitting in the one piece of furniture I had kept (the recliner) and Scott and Sarah were enjoying the open space of the livingroom, running around in circles and dancing. After dinner, the phone rang.
“Hi dear, how is it going?” Michael asked me.
“Great! I have a surprise for you,” I said excitedly.
“A good surprise or a bad surprise?” he asked.
“I think it is a good surprise.” I concluded. He groaned. He knew my “thinking” wasn’t always rational.
We talked a bit more and he said he would see me the next evening. I told him I couldn’t wait!
I felt like I had survived his time gone really well. No one had gotten hurt. We had spent a lot of time playing, some time watching TV, and everyone’s basic needs were met. After bathtime, I dressed the kids in their pajamas and we all settled down to watch a KidSong video before bedtime. I was sitting in the recliner and the kids were rolling around on the floor to the music when Michael walked in the door.
“Oh Shoot!” he said when he walked in and looked around. “I knew I shouldn’t have left you alone!”
“Surprise?” I said, sounding like a deflated balloon.
“Dear, what have you done?” he asked rather loudly.
“I put all of our furniture on the front lawn and sold it. I made us $100” I said proudly.
“Why would you do that?” he asked, putting the $100 in his wallet.
“So we can buy new furniture. That furniture was getting old and it wasn’t comfortable at all anymore.”
“Dear, we can’t afford new furniture. You should have asked me first.”
“I didn’t want you to have to mess with it and I was afraid you would say no.”
He put his face close to mine, “I would have!”
“The kids really like having the open space to play and run.”
“That’s good because it is going to stay open for a long time.”
“Michael” I whined.
“No, Lori. We cannot afford new furniture and that is that!”
“Then give me back my $100.” I pouted. He turned to go into the bedroom and then suddenly turned back around.
“Lori?” he said, “HOW did you get all of the furniture out on the front lawn?” “Roseann helped me.”
“Dear, dear, dear,” he muttered as he disappeared into the bedroom.
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