Now It's Half-Full

It's Monday evening and I'm in my study listening to Nina Simone suggest that someone put a little sugar in her bowl. No longer do I perceive my glass to be half-empty.

The Munchkins returned to the nest yesterday.

Miss Eleven had a wonderful time a her cousin's Birthday party. As the youngest of my brood, she is awkwardly placed at times. She already has five nephews and nieces and this party was for the only one of her cousins who is close to her in age. The rest are all at least eight years older. So, she thoroughly enjoyed herself - lots of girl-stuff like trying on make-up and watching a Hannah Montana marathon. I'm not sorry to have missed it!

Mr Fifteen is proud of the fact that he was excused from most of the hard work at Scout Camp because of his sore hand. I am unsurprised by this. He is rarely eager to help around the house even when both his hands are perfectly healthy! Anyway, his stitches come out this week and I'll be on his case about practising piano and occasionally placing his soiled clothes in the laundry basket. Boys are generally easier to deal with than girls, but their adolescence is somewhat malodorous!

I saw Steve at the gym this morning. I was feeling guilty about giving exercise a miss on Sunday morning, but I'd needed the break to recover from Saturday's vigorous and pleasurable activities. And I also needed time to wrap my head around the acquisition of a friend with benefits. We chatted for a while on the telephone tonight - the first time I have ever called him - and I think we're in agreement that nothing life-changing has occurred ... yet. He realises that children and work are my chief priorities, just as I appreciate that solitude and the space to be creative are important to him. At the risk of sounding like a control-freak, I am anxious to ensure that this new friendship does not spill over into my family and professional life. Neither Steve nor I are good candidates for a live-in, long-term relationship.

So, I'm comfortable with having a gym-buddy and a friend with whom I can occasionally - maybe even regularly - spend pleasurable hours in conversation and other more intimate interactions. But it's not all about me, of course. Over the coming weeks I will find out whether the little I have to offer is sufficient for Steve's needs. I am aware that he is still on a journey of recovery and I will respect his right to do what suits him best, even should that include occasional visits to haunts I'm happy to shun. I don't much like that last thought. I have too great a respect for my sexual health and welfare to be intimate with anyone who routinely puts himself at risk.

Apart from getting laid - which certainly contributed to topping up that half-empty glass - I am also looking forward to next Sunday, Fathers Day here in Australia. My elder son is making a flying visit from Sydney for the occasion and it looks as though five of us will all be together for my big day. Only Ms Twenty-eight is unable to be here. Maybe that's just as well. Call me a bad grandparent, but her four children border on feral in comparison to my own when they were little!

Nina's now singing "My Baby Just Cares for me". She's a lucky girl. That must be a wonderful way to feel, but I too am quite happy tonight. My glass is at least half-full.

Comments

In general, you are a half-full kind of man. Lucky children you have, and lucky Steve!
 
Friend with benefits. An attractive situation. Should keep the glass better than half full.
 

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