a smile. across the room.

So, Miss Jackie (you remember her?) came knocking at my door today to ask if she could park a little closer to my house while she is having cement poured in her backyard.

I said sure.

The last time she spoke to me, she asked if I was pregnant again "already". I cried that day (when I went inside the house, of course). Felt sorry for myself, then I got over it.

This time she told me that ol' Herb and her were pregnant with their second by the time their first was nine months old (Morg's age).

Oh boy.

Her: you know, we didn't have any kind of pro.tec.tion back then, so we just had to smile at eachother, you know, from across the room. I'd tell Herb, "you stay over there".

Pause (TMI).

Oh. Boy.

Her: you know, it really didn't take much at all. It was like that and I was pregnant again.

Three babies. Right in a row. Just like that.

Me (courteously laughing): Yeah, that's the way it goes sometimes, I guess.

I guess.

Her: Yeah, well.....you know if you want some apricots, feel free to pick them right off the tree back there.......you know.....we won't do anything with them......Herb just won't help me...... and on and on.

-------------------------------------

Weird ol' day, it's been.

I do love me some apricots, though.

And the fact that it's friday.

And my sunflowers are blooming high above the fence line.

That makes me real happy.

So, here's to pro.tec.tion. Apricots. Miss Jackie.

Nine month-old babies.

(and one's enough for me right now.thank.you.very.much).

Here's to dwindling August.

Cooler evenings.

And smiles, of course,

from across the room.

Good Night.