Terra cotta roses–Laura by Laura Baumbach

I’ve been busier this month than usual. It’s all a good thing, busier means business is growing. Business is prospering, the kids are growing up, and, with my boys anyway, that means extra events, teacher appointments, and roughhousing problems. Even the oldest is doing drama all over me, moving out after a disagreement over a girlfriend. And that event has made the youngest react by being involved in fighting at school. Gotta love the teen years and pre-adolescent growth! lol. Life with a capital ‘L’.

The EPIC Awards in New Orleans was great, a true boost to the ego, no argument there. Yea, MEXICAN HEAT! It was followed up a less wonderful but more meaningful trip to Philly the following weekend. I have a third trip out of town at the end of the month. This time to Atlanta for a TV interview. Three air flights in one month is a lot for me. As I grow older, air travel becomes exhausting.

I’m feeling a little worn around the edges lately. A little sad with my oldest son gone. A little stressed with my youngest hurt by his brother’s absence. A little sad at the passing of so many close family and friends in the last 6 months. A LOT tired and feeling a decade past my age. Even the weather is gray and cold. But this morning, while I was staring out the kitchen window wishing I was rich and famous and well-adjusted *g*, I looked over on the counter top and noticed that the vase I keep there was full of tea roses. (Must have been my husband at large!) Little bright, terra cotta, salmonish tea roses all pert and graceful, full of color and strength on their thick wooden stems. They looked frail, like I felt right then, but under those bright, delicate petals they had an unbending core. It made me smile. And feel better. Hey, tomorrow’s another day!