"You'd think my dentist was really good looking,"

"considering how much time I spend there." I signed in late to work. The kids were tugging at their leashes, waiting for the afternoon bell to set them free for the summer.

My morning was spent in the dentist's chair. As she jammed in biting blocks, drills, bits of cardboard, and minty goop, I imagined all the things I would rather have in my mouth. It took hours. I lifted my book and read snippets from the corner of my eye while the violent dental assistant attacked me with her sucky nozzle.

I almost hit a lady in an SUV pulling out of 7-11. She appeared out of thin air, probably pulling on to the main road from the fast food joint across the street as the road cleared at the same moment as me. She honked and braked and screamed out her open window, then tailgated me for 2 miles squawking and gesturing and honking until the road divided and she could zoom up beside me to yell at me. I looked at her sideways from behind my stupidly oversized glasses and sipped my Big Gulp. She looked nice enough, except for the frenzied cursing. Reminded me of a squirrel I had once startled, who chased through the park.

I arrived at school and the kids swarmed me, hugging me and shoving yearbooks into my hands for signing. One of my library regulars said goodbye with real tears in her eyes, leaving forever to a new school. I told her she was wonderful and waved her off. Spent the afternoon shelving and singing along to Janis Joplin.

Mike is sick. He is stuck on the couch with a pile of rented movies. I put on a dish of bread pudding with caramel whiskey sauce to bake, enjoyed tight hugs and hard kisses from my baby, and am getting ready for dancing tonight. Tomorrow I get to spend time in my empty library after a morning workout. I am pretty happy these days.


Gavin and Chris at party on Sunday:

Me with a borrowed child: