Farmhouse

The phone rang this morning...the one we practically never answer because it is nothing but scams, robo calls and  appointment reminders. If it is somebody we know, their name will be displayed because they are in our system. If it is somebody we want to talk to but who isn't in our system we let it ring and see if they leave a message. 

We are still old school enough that some base instinct tells us to stop whatever we are doing and answer the phone immediately when it rings. There was once a time when ALL phone calls were from someone we wanted to talk to...

We would get rid of this landline because it's so much trouble, except that we have undependable, intermittent cell phone coverage here. 

Something told John to answer the phone this morning even though the screen said 'Unknown Caller' (which is slightly better than 'invalid number' or even our own name and number). It turned out to be somebody from the solar company who came, flipped a few switches, entered a password, and turned on our system. He said the SIM card, which is needed to enter the data into the website is backordered because the company that makes the inverters is very busy. In the long run, this seems like a good sign.  It must mean that a lot of people are going solar. It feels like too little too late, but it is all we can do for now, so we're happy that it's working. 

Today is Will's. 22nd birthday. I wrote this poem for him when he was born. I'm printing it here for the record.

FOR WILLIE
When you were born I wept tears of joy
He's so beautiful I said
  to your mommy, my girl.

You had been so cosy you didn't want to come out
Even though we walked
  Around the block
  Through the snow
  Up and down the stairs
  At the wintry Chicago shopping mall
  Looking for shoes for Daddy,
  And I bought some new boots, 
  And you yawned and said,
  "Not Yet..."

We cooked a turkey for Thanksgiving and gave thanks that   
  you were coming...
  And hoped that it would be soon
  And you got a little more comfortable and said,
  "Not yet."
We watched the little kids talking to Santa
  And wondered when we would see you on Santa's knee
But you were sooo comfy
  That you stretched
  And kicked Mommy in the ribs and said,
  "Not yet"

I bought a warmer coat and we went to buy a Christmas tree
  Fast
  Because the freezing wind blew across the prairie
  And us
Daddy was happy it didn't take all day
  You thought it was too cold too
  And stayed inside

Sometimes you would pretend and we would dare to hope      that soon you would come out so we could meet you
  But after an hour or a night you would stretch and say,
  "Not yet"

We bought more baby blaankets and fixed your bassinet and I knit you a little suit
  Uncle Matt and Uncle Tim and Grandpa called from 
   California and said to me
  "Why are you still there? 
  When are you coming Home? and I said,
  "Not yet"

Finally the doctor said, "we'll do a test, and if he moves a lot we'll see..."
  And you were sound asleep
But the next time he did the test
  He woke you up with a very loud noise right nest to your ear
  And you opened your eyes
  And kicked your legs
  And punched Mommy in the ribs. 
  And you said, "OK, it's time now..."

 -December 17, 1997 
  From Ahmi