Bring it on

Saturday 7 March 2009

Well, the weather broke... finally... and you know what that means. I was up MUCH too late last night (this morning) and by the time I got up (late this morning) both my sisters had come up with an excuse to do... yard work. Yes, both of them were out there-- actually the moment I looked out my window both their bare bottoms were up in the air. Jessy and Lisa were out by the back garden wall, clearing out leaves and trash that had blown there over the winter. As I watched Jessy actually crawled in under one of the evergreen bushes and came out with a surprisingly large arm load of tumbleweeds and leaves. She saw me then, dropped the stuff into the bag Lisa held, and then Lisa turned round and they both waved. I giggled. Well-- it was about 65 degrees outside. Why not?

I washed, brushed teeth, and shuffled down the front stairs. Little J.J. (3) was sitting on the dining room floor playing with trucks. 'Uh-oh,' he said, looking up at me then. 'Someone has no clothes on!'

I laughed. 'And good morning to you too!' I teased.

'Mummy! She has no clothes on!'

I stepped in to the kitchen and Mother was there, just pouring out water for tea. 'Well,' she said, 'I was wondering when you would join the day.'

I smiled and leaned on the counter. 'Well, I saw those other two birds out there.'

'Yes,' they're out there.... I'm sure Lisa was up at the crack of dawn.'

'And tomorrow is Daylight Saving's....'

'Yes.'

I took the cup she gave me and made my way back to the small parlour and stepped outside. The late-morning sun was actually hot-- out of the breeze, at the back of the house, it must have been 75. 'Wow,' I sighed.

'Janine!' Lisa ran up past the pool to me. 'You're up!'

I nodded. 'I see you two are busy.'

She nodded. 'Daddy told us to do something while we are out here. Jessy picked cleaning up.'

Daddy was somewhere else; I heard the tractor off past the kitchen. 'Well, I'll help if you want. Though I'd rather....'

Lisa giggled. 'Do nothing?'

I nodded and we both laughed.

I had missed breakfast and so only ate when Mother served grilled-cheese sandwiches at noon. It's Lent, so we won't be having meat. We all came in to eat, even Daddy. The three of us unclothed people sat outside at the table. Afterwards Jessy and dragged out chaises out to the lawn and read. Lisa brought a blanket and lay on the grass beside me. About an hour later Mother sent J.J. out to collect her for a nap. She complained, but went. Jessy and I lay out in the sun for another hour or more. It was absolutely delightful.

As I write this I have not had clothes on all day (except for sneakers but I never count footwear). I will have to get dressed for church tomorrow, of course... and that's not quite a good enough reason to not go, but believe me I've been tempted. I can't believe this weather trend will last; if I were a bettor my money would be on more snow, closer to Easter, just enough to ruin everyone's optimism, not because I'm a pessimist but because this winter season has just been weird we should expect what we're afraid to expect.

So for now I am enjoying it, savouring the sensation, so to speak. After supper Jessy and I watched 'Bring It On' on Oxygen and I sat down in the TV theatre wrapt up in two blankets because it's been chilly in the basement all day. But the blankets were way more than I needed and I was actually uncomfortable. I just kept them on because Daddy came down to watch it with us... and Lisa though Daddy was uncomfortable with the language Oxygen allowed in their TV edit and sent her up stairs. That's funny because all week there have been commercials about being the boss of your TV and blocking certain shows. I hope he doesn't block Oxygen just because of a few words. I don't use those words and neither does Jessy, and neither of us would ever let Lisa use them. Sometimes the best influences are ourselves, you know.

Speaking of influences, little Lisa was naked all night too. Mother tucked her in and she insisted on not wearing pyjamas. Oh, well.

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