What I live for:

Well, it's been a while. Think I'll come back for a bit.

The following short story is an example of what I live for:

Spencer - "Mom, can you bring up the clutch from my high hat? ... like in the next 20 minutes?"

Mom - "OK". Only in my head it sounds like this, "Good thing I'm home right now, and that the school is only 5 minutes away, and that I'm not busy (mumble, mumble)."

Go to the music room, wrestle for a good 7 minutes or so with a high hat cymbal, stand, and what I think is the clutch attached for your foot at the bottom (in process, banged into the wall, smashed my finger, dropped my glasses then stepped on them). But this makes sense, right? A clutch should be for your foot. Finally I lug the whole contraption in to the school office where he has said he'll meet me. I see him walking by and not stopping, so I lean my head out to yell at him ... leaned I guess just a little too far because the door closed on me and I locked myself out. The office staff rescued me with a patient, "It's all right, ma'am".

Spencer joins me, sees the delivered package and looks at me incredulously, saying, "You brought the WHOLE thing?"

Mom - "Well, I couldn't figure out how to get the clutch off" as I'm pointing to it.

Spencer - Chortling, he tells me that what I'm pointing to is, in fact, a pedal. He then simply lifts up a cymbal, disattaches the clutch (which is nowhere near your foot), says "THIS is the clutch" and starts to walks away. Still chortling.

I remind him ever so kindly to say thank you, mom, while sticking out my tongue at him (like any other mature 47 year old mom who's just been embarrassed in front of the office staff).

He turns around, smiles that adorable disarming smile, and gives me a hug.

This is what I live for. Sooooo worth every minute!!