Oh, the Irony
This time last year, we were in the midst of purchasing a house and we had a contract on one. However, there was a contingency on the sale of our place and we were asking for an extension on the contract. The seller didn't want to extend the contract another 30 days so the contract fell through. So, here we are a year later and guess what - the house is still on the market at a really, REALLY reduced price. Family friends live in the neighborhood so we drive past it occasionally.
The asking price of the house is well below what we offered to purchase it. In fact, it is hovering around the price we initially offered and to which their real estate agent (not their current one) said, "I can't bring that price to them; it's insulting." This is the event where the whole "Feelings in Real Estate" lesson was learned and I realized that selling and/or buying a house was not something that I wanted to do on a regular basis.
Here is the frightening thing - at least for the sellers of the house that was almost ours - the market is terrible and there are other houses on the market that are selling for the same price that are much nicer and in the same neighborhood. I am sure that the sellers are unhappy with the decision that they made especially since they purchased a new home and closed on it at the end of August of last year (according to the family friends of ours).
I hope that the house sells soon because I feel bad for them. See, there's that "feelings" thing again. I don't know their financial situation but I can imagine that it would not be a great feeling to have 2 homes to maintain. The stress of selling a house is not fun and it takes a toll on you. Still, they were condescending and high-handed with us during the contract negotiations and although I don't like to revel in people's misery, you reap what you sew.
The boys are getting so big and with this comes the expectation that they will do things that bigger kids do like listen or come when you call them. I know that I was not the most obedient child, but I didn't blatantly ignore my parents when they were talking to me or disregard what they were asking me to do. I may have grumbled, but I actually did what they asked and came when they called. 
I did nothing this weekend - I've had the same cold for what feels like forever. I didn't do the "usual" like washing work clothes for the week or go grocery shopping. I pretty much sat around in my pajamas and didn't shower. Yes, I made breakfast and lunch during Mother's Day and we started painting the boys room, but other than that I was a sloth. 
This year Mother's Day takes on different meaning for me because this is the first time that I will not be spending it with my mom. I have a precarious relationship with my mother; she's overbearing a lot of the time but I know that her heart is in the right place. Since my parents moved out of state recently, it will be another year of adjustments for me (what else is new - the good times never seem to end). Only my sister and I are the ones that remain in the same state for the first time since my brother joined the Marines and went to basic training eons ago. 
There was a time when I went to yoga class religiously. Well, at least 5 times a week anyway. In the beginning of class the teacher would talk us through a sitting pose where we would breathe and prepare for the class. One of the things she would tell us was to clear our heads; I believe the exact quote was, "Clear your head of any thoughts from the day. Don't let anyone or anything rent space in your head." 
