Reading: Almost finished A Tree Grows in Brooklyn. Then back to Gotham.

Miracle Drug

The twins and I took our customary late morning walk around the neighborhood today. Actually, I walked and they rode on their little yellow ride-on cars. Their new shoes are becoming horribly scuffed since they propel themselves by scraping their feet along the sidewalk.

The walk today was far more pleasant than the one yesterday because today I wasn't sneezing and rubbing my itchy eyes. I had started taking Claritin last week before I went to Maine, and I was amazed at how well it controlled my seasonal allergy symptoms. From the time I was 17, I've sniffled and sneezed through each May and June. Twenty years of spring time allergies. But with Claritin, I can almost believe that I don't have allergies at all. (Yikes. I'm starting to sound like a commercial. Move over Joan Lunden.)

In fact, Claritin controlled my symptoms so well, I started to think that perhaps the pollen wasn't so bad this year and I might not need it after all. So I didn't take my pill on Tuesday morning, which turned out to be a huge mistake. By mid afternoon I was in misery again. The next morning I leapt for the vial of pills as soon as I got out of bed. No crackhead looking for her next hit ever moved as fast I did.

Forget Viagra. Claritin is the true wonder drug of the 90s.

The boys sometimes start a screeching contest in the car. One will emit an ear-piercing shriek and the others will follow in turn. It's very annoying, not to mention distracting for the person driving.

As we were driving home after picking up Tab yesterday, Daniel and Matthew began the screeching game. I told Daniel to knock it off.

"But Matthew told me to."

"Well, if Matthew told you--"

"Don't say it," Tab interrupted.

"...to jump off a bridge--"

"No, no!" Tab pleaded.

"...would you?"

Tab groaned. "Now you've done it. I tried to stop you. You really are a mom, now."

I answered, "The Moms' Union made me sign a contract stating that I will say it at regular intervals. Along with the bit about children starving in Asia and the 'I don't care what the other mothers let their kids do' line."

"Shadae jumped off a bridge once," Daniel offered. Shadae is a somewhat wild girl in his kindergarten class.

"Knowing Shadae, I wouldn't be a bit surprised."

previous       index       e-mail me       next