First off, let me say that initially I committed to a Second Third post every Wednesday for a year. The "every Wednesday" part came unhitched when I remembered that I had also committed to teaching confirmation classes almost every Wednesday. For awhile, I started adding (Belated) to the titles when I posted after Wednesday. Now I'll just be satisfied to hit 52 Second Third posts sometime around the second week of November.
Long story short: this is last week's post.
Our dear friends Todd and Suzette and their kids were here last week. The weather was lovely, so we went to the park and even improvised soccer and kickball games in our too-small front yard. I tracked a high fly ball with such laser-like intensity and speed that I collided with the neighbor's basketball pole, which rang like a bell, but left no mark. Classic Jim. I ran, jumped around, got myself winded and sweaty and sore. The kids are still talking about it. Everyone had a blast, and it was easy. It just requires me to be home a little more during the daylight hours.
So I mentioned in an earlier, different Second Third post that I was making a transition to a new position that would allow me a great deal more flexibility to write (and finish!) a book of my own. My new position also enables me to work from home more regularly, which means less time on the road. We'll spend less on fuel and parking, and I'll be home for Trevor's baseball games, Emma's soccer games, fishing, canoeing, gardening, swimming. I lose 10 to 15 hours a week in traffic; meanwhile, Gabe bought a knife with his birthday money, and it occurred to me that neither he nor Brendan have ever really whittled or scaled a bluegill. And Jodi and I have so little time alone together that a 20-minute lunch conversation over PB&J is a tremendous blessing. I need to be home more, and not just to finish a book!
In my Second Third, I have been blessed with the opportunity to work from home more often, and I don't intend to squander this gift. Indeed, at this point I'm counting down the weeks.
Labels: Bren, family, fatherhood, Gabe, Jodi, Rose, Second Third, Trev, work