Does your family do Leftovers Day? Towards the end of the week, when my fridge is full of the remains of previous nights’ meals, I take everything out for a smorgasbord of leftovers. This is awesome because (a) no one complains about what we are eating for dinner and (b) I don’t have to cook.
It is Leftover Day for Finish the Sentence Friday today – all those prompts that I started and never finished, or planned on writing but never did. My attention span has been short this summer, so writing multiple little pieces instead of one larger piece is perfect. Be prepared for a bit of whiplash, as I jump from one prompt to the next with no segue way but “*****”.
When it comes to my emotions and my words…
My mother and I sit in the gas line at Costco, waiting comfortably in the cooled air. We chat about this and that, and she mentions, not for the first time, how much she and my father learn about me when they read my blog. It’s akin to reading your child’s diary with her permission, I suppose.
“I didn’t know you felt that way,” she says.
Sometimes I don’t know, either,” I reply.
Often times I write with intention, the emotions waiting to tip out onto the page. Other times, I begin writing in one direction and find myself in another. Thoughts and feelings that were tucked away emerge unbidden, and their intensity or depth surprises me. I liken it to free association, when the filters dissolve and I allow myself to go with the flow of the words.
I’m not adept at going with the flow, but I’m trying to embrace it.
*****
I am who I am today…
I clasp my hands behind his neck, barely stretching thanks to my four-inch heels. He pulls me close as we sway to the music of Celine Dion; I don’t dare ruin the moment by singing along.
The DJ cuts in after a few minutes, asking all the couples who have been married for less than a year to leave the dance floor. I watch the bride and groom make their exit, along with the other newlyweds. I smile up at Matt with the smugness of youth as we keep dancing; we have been married for thirteen months.
After we leave the dance floor, I watch the remaining older couples with awe. I was barely an adult when Matt and I were wed, and it was hard to imagine being married for decades.
The wedding invitations are far and few between these days; I suppose they may pick up again when my children’s generation starts tying the knot. Then we will have become one of those older couples, those pairs who keep dancing as the young whipper snappers break away and head to the bar.
I’m okay with that.
*****
This summer…
I am spending a fortune this summer. I knew college was costly, but I did not anticipate how much I would fork out before she actually got there. Toiletries, clothes, school supplies…you would think the teenager is going to school in the Alaskan wilderness with no access to stores or the internet.
I love this stuff, though. Gwen inexplicably did not inherit my fondness for shopping, but she is game for Target runs and browsing in Staples. I’ll take any time she’ll spend with me, even if it’s to prepare for her leaving.
*****
When I close my eyes, I see…
I rarely remember my dreams. Sometimes I will have a residual flash during the day, but I can never grasp it before it floats back into my unconsciousness. One recent morning, the alarm woke me from a dream that pissed me off. To be more specific, Matt pissed me off in the dream. I didn’t remember details, but I knew he was a jerk. The hostility I felt towards Dream Matt took awhile to dissipate, and I was annoyed at Real Life Matt for a few hours. I had to keep reminding myself that he really didn’t do anything.
*****
If I could teach the world one thing…
A few months ago, I was reading an article about packing for a trip, and came across this sentence:
But when you go on vacation, you really have to winnow it down.
Huh? I thought the phrase was “whittle it down,” but I have been wrong on occasion. I googled it, and was surprised to discover that both the writer and I were correct. Both words have multiple definitions, but Merriam-Webster identifies the ones I was looking for:
winnow : to remove (people or things that are less important, desirable, etc.) from a larger group or list : to make (a list of possible choices) smaller by removing the less desirable choices
whittle : to reduce, remove, or destroy gradually as if by cutting off bits with a knife : pare <whittle down expenses>
Who knew? Which word do you use?
I love the format you used here! Often I have an idea for a post but can’t quite come up with enough to say to fill more than a couple hundred words. Rather than feeling whiplashed, I feel as though I’ve read a post consisting of meaningful chapters. Best of luck to Gwen (and to you) as she heads off to college.
Thank you Mo! I liked this format too – the short mini-stories were fun to write.
We totally do leftovers day…and always the day before trash day. I never realized that both winnow and whittle could be used. And I love that you defined both. Now, whenever I use the term whittle, I’ll imagine hacking at whatever it is I’m discussing! 😀
Ha! Wow, Five sentence starters in one post. That’s pretty good! And you did it so well. How are you doing with sending your daughter to college? Oy! This is your first one, right? My oldest is going to be a sophomore, and I just don’t know how I’m going to get through all that in a couple of years. You sound so calm about it! Are you? It’s exciting and all for her, but how’s Mom doing?
Yep, she’s my first one. I am pretty calm but we have 13 days until the send off. She’s excited and I’m excited for her, and I’m focusing on that positivity instead of the sadness of her leaving. In other words, I’m using avoidance as a coping mechanism!
This was such a great read, Dana. SO creative!!
I love that your mom is seeing/reading sides to you she didn’t know. It’s so true when we write, some things come out that don’t usually come out in ‘conversation’… I get that. Totally.
4 inch heels? Hell no. lol
WHITTLE! I can’t believe winnow actually means that too! Thanks for teaching me something new… 😀
My pleasure! And I rarely wear heels anymore, but when I do, I go TALL!
I use whittle and will swear it’s correct no matter what. I love that you did snippets from a bunch of old Finish the Sentence posts! And ahhh… this summer. Gwen. <3 And I've woken up angry at Dream Robert too… funny thing.
It is! Matt had no clue until he read this post.
I use “winnow”, though I know both…I tend to think of “whittle” more in the context of woodwork.
HOORAY for college and exciting new beginnings and all the intense prep which goes into starting it with a BANG!
And. I’m glad you get to be smug with Matt. It’s awesome.
It is pretty awesome. So far you and Kelly use “winnow.” I wonder if it is more common in England? She’s in Vancouver, but same idea.
Hooray for being ALL DONE with college shopping!!
I use whittle (and have never heard of the word winnow). I’m anxious for you, about Gwen leaving. Oh momma, Im sure that post will slay me. And I’ve had similar experiences with dreams. The worst is when I have a Jon Bon Jovi dream, cause I wake up all guilty and can’t look Rich in the eye😉.
Ha! I’ve had a dream or two like that. You’re sweet to be anxious for me, Allie. I’m happy to share the anxiety with a friend, so thank you!
I LOVE the wedding one! I was only 19 when David and I got married. We got a little taste of being the “old couple” when his younger brothers got married 7-ish years ago. By then, we already had kids, albeit young ones. I can’t wait to be the old couple dancing away when my girls get married – some day in the VERY distant future! 😉
Also, I have always said “whittle” as well, but think I like “winnow” better now!
It is kinda nice, right? I was positive that author made a mistake, but a little research proved me wrong!
Ha, ha! I’ve done the dream thing where I wake up seriously annoyed at hubby. Poor guys – they get in trouble enough. They don’t need our dreams to stoke the fire.
Good luck as you prepare to “launch” your daughter to college. I hope you will share in the upcoming weeks. I need all the prep I can get.
Oh yes, and there is only one bad thing about leftovers day: all the plastic ware to wash!
That is true! And I will share about Gwen’s send off if I can manage it. I don’t want to embarrass her:)
Huh, I would have used whittle also!
We finally have passed the craze of weddings. Two years ago I think we had seven! Last year a few, and this year none. Not that I don’t love seeing my friends get married, it just gets exhausting travel for them, not to mention expensive. We’re now on the baby-having side of life 🙂
That’s a good side to be on! I went to five weddings during the summer I was pregnant with my son – had to wear the same black dress to all of them. Blech.
Ahm Ahm,…. Winnow. Do i ever knew about? i don’t think so.
Put me in the winnow category. You’ve reminded me of our neighbours “The Whittles.” Haven’t thought about them for years.
Good on you, Dana. Such a clever way to deal with the leftovers. Sending you all the very best wishes as your girl heads off to college. I’m pleased to report that, with any luck, she’ll be able to sell some of these recent purchases, in four years time. My daughter recently collected quite a tidy sum for some of her stuff.
Oh, that’s good to know, Kelly! So you use “winnow”? I wonder if it’s a BC thing?;)
Hmm.. Winnow. Who knew?
I AM going to the Alaskan wilderness (did you know that? just kidding!) and it certainly will cost as much as my first year of college. Seriously. Things have changed.
I think many people get to know me a lot more through my blog. Definitely my family!
I am so excited for you, Tamara! Traveling is so expensive, but the payoffs are incredible.
I totally use whittle, but never realized you could use winnow interchangeably and definitely learned something new here tonight. That said, I loved your leftovers rendition and had fun learning a bit more about you, as well 😉
I had never heard of winnow! Who knew.