Friday was bridge day. I am subbing in at a table. I have my phone on me, in my lap just in case. Tom calls. I have a text conversation going with him regarding Bucky and his rash. Riley has a rash I think is ringworm. We are trying to decide who has to call the Doctor. I hate to be texting during the game. It distracts, but my table partners are understanding. Issues at home and minor crisis take precedent occasionally.
The end result of all the texting back and fourth is an invitation to join me at the club after bridge. Friday night at the club, everybody is up there. I am thinking date night, happy times are hear again.
I am sitting with some women after bridge when Tom walks in. He comes over and gives me a kiss, then wanders off to the deck where all the men are sitting. I excuse myself from my group and go join him. But it is all men in Tom's crowd so I go and sit with another group of women on the patio that I know, laughing with them that this is date night and the men are at one table and the women are at another table.
As the crowds change and grow, Tom and I eventually end up sitting together, having a delightful evening talking with friends. There are other couple that eventual rejoin each other having said hello to friends and shared their tales from the week.
The sad story this week in town is hearing about three boys caught smoking pot by the police. They have been grounded for the season from their sport. There will probably be other repercussions. This may effect their college prospects. When back at school one of the boys was sharing his tale of whoa with friends, he was offered an Oxycontin from a peer to make him feel better. This time he knew better than to say yes and accept. The discussion at lunch with the women revolves around the prevalence of drugs in the community. How do we keep our children safe.
I warned my boys when we moved back here that drugs would be available and offered. They needed to be strong and resist the temptation. There would be a lot of temptation. People get caught and their lives are changed for a long time.
I started watering down my glass of wine half way through the evening and ended with a diet Pepsi and a glass of water in order to drive Tom and myself home sober and safe. I planned and made choices to be safe.
I talked to the boys when I got home last night, again, about the drugs in the community. I can only hope that they make good choices when they are put in a situation where they must choose. I hope they walk away. It will be their choice to make. I wont be there to guide them or advise them.
For Trevor, I can make the argument of how much do you love your sport. Do you not love it enough to take the risk of getting caught and kicked off the team. You lose big making the wrong choices and there are no take backs anymore.
Riley is my cautious one, but eventually he will want to explore and discover the world. I pray that he will be safe and make good choices. I pray that I have raised my children to think, to use their minds to see the pitfalls and dangers of certain choices.
I have to say Trevor is working very hard and is on task at school. One of our friends at the club came up to us during the evening. He had subbed in at the boy's school and had Trevor in one of his classes. He wanted us to know that Trevor had been on task and helpful with the other students. People had turned to Trevor for help. He seemed well liked and popular. I glowed with pride. I always want to be a fly on the wall and see how my boys are without my presence. So far so good.
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