Back in the spring I got a comment that took me aback, from someone who had been reading here for a long time. It was one of those moments that highlights how little people on the internet actually know each other. I suppose there are still big surprises for people who know one another in the real world, but it's easier to put up a front online.
It left me feeling self-conscious. I kept blogging regularly up until my birthday, because I had said I would, and then I found I didn't really want to write here very often. But: (a) I miss it. (b) It's silly to give too much weight to an internet acquaintance's random opinions about my life. (c) I forget things if I don't record them here. So here we go.
I am pretty sure that at some point in the future I will say to my husband, "When did we go to the ER?" If you are looking for an answer to that question, Future Jamie, it is Saturday, September 30 29, 2018. Elwood tried to catch Stella as she wobbled on her bike. He lost his balance and dislocated his right middle finger. He said it didn't hurt too much but he seemed traumatized: a little off-balance, eyes unfocused. It was conspicuous enough that I asked Stella if she was VERY SURE he hadn't hit his head. We got in the car and he started pouring sweat, even though it was pleasantly cool here on Saturday. Urgent care sent us immediately to the ER, where we spent much less time than I thought we would.
My husband and I have different ideas about how injured people should conduct themselves. In my view, a person who almost falls over in his kitchen should not plan to walk a half-mile home. ("I'll be fine!" he insisted, but I drove him home anyway.) Also in my view, a person who makes his living crunching numbers should not attempt to translate these skills into crunching knuckles; he should not take it upon himself to reduce his own dislocation. He was a little annoyed when the nurse practitioner needed about 5 seconds to pop the finger back into place. "I should have tried harder," said Elwood. "I needed more force." "No," I told him with a certain emphasis, "you needed more licensure."
I have instructed him that the only situation in which he is invited to relocate something I've dislocated is a post-zombie apocalypse scenario. Let us hope we never have to assess his subluxation management skills.
On Saturday before the ER trip I threw up a quick post about a new project I'm taking on for my parish, and then a painful case of blogger's regret hit me in the ER waiting room. Elwood read the post after I took it down and pronounced it "totally innocuous," but to my eye it had an unpleasant overtone of BEHOLD MY RIGHTNESS. The upshot was this: if you might be interested in reading more of my faith-related writing at another site, and if we know each other a little bit through the internet or real life, leave me a comment or shoot me an email. (If you already commented on the other post, no need to do so again here. Unless you just want to. I love comments, almost all the time.)
It was obvious you were passionate about the project, and I was curious to see how it would unfold. I didn’t see the comment in question, but I hope it doesn’t keep you from doing what you need to do.
Posted by: Celeste | October 02, 2018 at 10:08 PM
(Frets terribly that the rogue commentator was me.)
I would be delighted to read more of your writings on faith.
Posted by: Jody | October 03, 2018 at 05:06 AM
I’m glad Elwood is okay now.
Posted by: Jody | October 03, 2018 at 05:06 AM
I would read your musings anywhere. I'm glad Elwood is okay and I'm really hoping we can all avoid that post-zombie apocalypse scenario. :)
Posted by: Karen Edmisten | October 03, 2018 at 05:53 AM
I would love to be able to read your writings on your faith journey.
I'm so sorry you had an unpleasant commentor experience. After bloggling for, lol nigh on thirteen years, phew. Sometimes it gets dicey. (I've shifted blog homes a couple of times, myself, when pesky people just would not go away).
Dislocated fingers — yeeouchie!
Posted by: Penelope | October 03, 2018 at 05:57 AM
PS what I meant was: me. I have blogged for thirteen years ... if my early hours' grammar wasn't clear.
Posted by: Penelope | October 03, 2018 at 05:58 AM
I can't say that I really know you, although I have been reading your blog for years now, and I'd love to read your musings on faith (or family, or whatever). Glad the finger is back to normal!
Posted by: Billygoat | October 03, 2018 at 07:34 AM
My husband dislocated his finger in a bike accident in July. It was dislocated front to back and side to side. (wanna see his x-rays? He shows them to everyone, whether they want to see them or not.) He then tried to do his own PT (again with needing training and licensure and such) and the thing swelled up like a bowling pin. I hope your husband does not do that, but I have a feeling he may try, based on his attempts at re-locating the finger.
I went to go post on your missing post and it was GONE. I didn't see it as "BEHOLD" but more as "hey I get to do this cool thing and maybe make some changes at my church" which I am jealous of in a "our parish is old and not willing to try ANYTHING new and also your pastor listens?" sort of way.
Posted by: mary d | October 03, 2018 at 09:24 AM
I would love to read anything you write on faith!
Posted by: Zagorka | October 03, 2018 at 10:59 AM
I would love to read ANYTHING you write, as others have said :) Was so sad to have missed the post, and kicking myself for not having just gotten your posts emailed to me already, so at least I could have read it before it got taken down :) I think of you as a combination of someone-further-on-the-journey, kid-raising-wise (my oldest is 15, and you parent, and inspire me to parent, as I want to have parented), and someone-who-took-the-other-road (I got my PhD while my 1st and 2nd were young, but then just dropped out of academe and started homeschooling instead - your journey allows me a bit of a peek into what-might-have-been).
Posted by: mandamum | October 03, 2018 at 11:28 AM
Me, too, with wanting to read your other writing. I’ve been reading for years and never commenting, because I don’t have a blog, but I do have 7 homeschooled kids (12 down to 1–the 1 & 3 year olds aren’t technically doing “school”) and I’m frequently reading while nursing or something.
(As an aside, I think the post I think about most often is one you wrote some years ago about your son’s voice deepening because of the lengthening of his larynx. It was an awesome and strikingly beautiful image... my oldest (twin girls) just turned 12 and are mere millimeters away from being taller than I am.)
(Also, my husband is in linguistics; I can’t tell exactly what your field is, but it obviously has linguistic connections.)
So: can I read, too? Please?
Posted by: yet another Jenny | October 03, 2018 at 12:12 PM
I'm in the camp of never commenting but I have been reading and enjoying your blog for years! I homeschooled and then had to go back to work so I enjoy your perspective as an employed mother with a large(ish) family. You have created a wonderful family culture with your children. I would love to read your writing elsewhere.
Posted by: Jeanie | October 03, 2018 at 01:26 PM
I would love to read anything you write. Anywhere, on any topic. I don't promise to agree with you, but I promise not to attack YOU, although I might attack your premises or reasoning.
Posted by: Salome Ellen | October 03, 2018 at 05:57 PM
I love your writing and your perspective on things, especially motherhood and faith. I will read anything you write.
Posted by: Joy | October 03, 2018 at 07:28 PM
I'd be interested in reading what you put together at your other site. I think you will do a good job of addressing the issues you spoke of, treading lightly and with grace in areas where your views may differ from those of fellow parishioner, while still providing a thorough and thoughtful treatment. I feel like I can make that prediction because you do a good job of that here (where you don't even have to!!) so you'll be a natural there.
Posted by: Giedra | October 04, 2018 at 01:13 PM
I would also love to read what you have to write.
Posted by: Nicole | October 04, 2018 at 07:06 PM
Oh wow... so many lurkers (most longtime readers) coming out of the woodwork! ;-) I missed your post, but its title remained in my blogroll for a day and I was kind of sad it wasn't there. I thought it was funny that Jody would think it might be she who wrote the bad comment. I miss her blog. I'm jealous she reads yours, but not mine. Sigh... That's an awful awful thing to say, but it's the truth.
In any case, you know I'd want to read anything you write. I really hope we can meet in person someday. I appreciate so much being your friend.
Posted by: L-Mama(e) in Translation | October 04, 2018 at 09:51 PM
I would really love to read more about your faith-related project. I do so enjoy your writing!
Posted by: Alexandra | October 05, 2018 at 11:11 AM
I've almost contacted you directly so many times since discovering your blog this summer! I'm a mama to one toddler, live in the far northern Chicago burbs, and am in the process of finishing my PhD, so I love hearing what life is like for a Catholic mother in academia. I'm sure I'd enjoy hearing about your new project too. :)
Posted by: Jessica | October 05, 2018 at 02:30 PM
Glad to here Elwood's finger is sorted out!
I'll happily read anything you write about anything (parenting, food, academia, knitting, you name it) -- but especially topics on faith.
Posted by: Kristin | October 06, 2018 at 01:44 PM
Do you know me, at least a little bit, on the internet? Because I love reading your writing about faith. I was all set to comment on your original post but then it was gone.
Posted by: Jennifer | October 11, 2018 at 08:25 PM