Our Obsessions

There has been some major obsessing at my house. Is summer making us OCD? Well maybe, cuz I've heard about, looked up information on, and answered more questions regarding hurricanes in the last three weeks than I'd like to recall. And that was just one child's obsession... the other has an obsession all her own.

What is the deal with hurricanes? How are they even a topic with so few that have totally fizzled before making landfall...hundreds of miles away from us? It all started with the signs all over the freeways and a boy who can read. "Hurricane season is here. Be prepared." Thus ensued the, "What's a hurricane? Is it coming here? How are they made? Why does God make hurricanes?" And so the National Hurricane Center of NOAA.org has become my best friend as Camron and I have plotted the storms and watched them develop. We've Googled, we've YouTubed, and we've read in Encyclopedias. This has resulted in tropical storm updates from an enthusiastic child. Sometimes at 6:30AM, sometimes when using the restroom, and all the time at a fevered pitch. Though one should note that telling your children about Hurricane Ike hitting Galveston is not a good idea when a planned trip to Galveston is happening within the next few days. Nor is it a good idea to let them watch any of Shark Week. We live, we learn.

So while Camron obsesses over hurricanes, Meaghan continues her obsession with glasses. While she is short on the questions, she is long on the begging and dramatic effects. One day I came this close to buying her a pair just to make it all stop. I can't tell you how many times she has made her eyes all squinty and then bumped into things, or told me she can't see me or her own feet. And the best is when she walks around with her arms held out to keep her from walking into things. She's even told me she wouldn't be able to remember her name until she gets the glasses she so desperately needs. Not even threatening her with puffs of air in the eye or eye drops has deterred her. I had to lie and tell her shots might be involved. While this lie stopped her from asking for her own pair of glasses, it didn't stop her from asking for mine.

And me? I'm obsessing with fall. Cooler weather. College football. Some of my favorite holidays and activities. I'm in no rush for school to start, as I've enjoyed sleeping a little later, but I can hardly stand the wait and it's only August. And so the obsessing will continue. Cuz if ya can't beat 'em, ya may as well join 'em.