Waking Up

When I woke up this morning, I felt like I had been punched in the


side of the head. I look over at my sleeping husband and a memory that

is not mine, but an old memory, comes to mind.



In 1984, my mother had recently found out her husband was cheating on

her while she was at home with the three kids. Since she was exhausted

she fell asleep before she could confront him when he got home. She

woke up to him sleeping, snoring comfortably in bed beside her. She

was so upset over his ability to sleep soundly that she struck him in

the side of the head and then pretended to sleep when he woke to the

blow.



I quickly brushed aside the thought, I've done nothing comparable to

my father and I get myself to work. At work I am taking Tylenol for

the throbbing, I suddenly know why the back of my head has a bump the

size of my palm and is tender to the touch.



Last night I was getting out of the car in the driveway. The driveway

would not exist or survive anywhere there is snow and ice due to it's

steepness. Without fail, as I heave my four month pregnant belly out

of the driver's side door, it inevitably will try to close on me. I

have to balance heaving myself out, standing on two feet, all the

while kicking the door to stay open.



After I accomplish this I am distracted. Across the street is a tiny

house. The kind of house that actually appears smaller than it's

garage. It's been empty a lll summer but this night taking up the

length of the driveway, the sidewalk, and some of the street was a

U-Haul truck. The silly picture was reverted back to me feeling silly,

when the car door, tired of holding itself open against gravity

decided to close. On the back of my head.



I then woke up wondering what I had done to deserve this.