It wasn't until a couple of days ago when my friend, Coral mentioned Father's Day, that I even realized Father's Day was on the calendar this month.
And even if I had remembered, Josh is gone (with the military) and I don't currently have an address for him. (He's somewhere in Texas - that's all I know.)
In my defense...
1. My online workshop ended just a week ago and that means I've been pulling really long days getting all of my final evaluations written up.
2. We hardly had any notice that Josh was even leaving. (Actually, the military changed the dates five times that I know of - and probably more because at some point in time, Josh just quit telling me about the changes because he knew all of the changes/uncertainty was stressing me out. We got his final orders just a few days before he had to leave.)
3. I've got a self-diagnosed stress fracture in the leg I broke last year. I did go to the orthopedist, and he said that it sounds like a stress fracture, but since stress fractures don't show up on x-rays, he wanted me to get an MRI. When I asked him what sort of treatment he would recommend if I did indeed have a stress fracture, he told me that he'd simply advise me to stay off of it for 6-8 weeks. And since there's no treatment other than staying off of it (and staying off of it is not an option right now) it makes no sense to me to waste the time or the money getting an MRI. (Our out-of-pocket expense after insurance was going to be close to $500. No thanks, I could have several very fun days junk shopping at all of my favorite antique shops for $500.) Sharp, shooting pain when I walk, but its totally fine when I'm not walking. So I'm back to wearing my foot boot for now. (Glad I didn't torch that thing like I had wanted to.)
4. I've got two Hometown Workshops coming up at the end of this month. (Past online students of The Photographers' Workshop fly in from all over the country to stay in a really old house I rent and furnish out in Jacksonville - about 6-miles from where I live - so we can learn and eat and shoot and eat and connect and eat and shoot some more. Basically, we get to do all of my favorite things for four days in a row and then they go home.) But holy crap...The prep work is mind-boggling.
5. And besides, last year we made up a dance routine for Father's Day, which should totally make-up for forgetting about Father's Day this year.
So I've just been running all over the place like a chicken (wearing a foot boot) with its head cut off this past week.
In fact, when I went to drop Annie off at school the other day, I started talking to one of her teachers (who is going to watch my kids while I'm teaching the Hometown Workshops since Josh is gone) and when we finished our conversation, I said, "Ok, so we'll see you later!" and began walking back towards the car with Annie until the teacher stopped us by saying, "Wait Karen, aren't you supposed to be leaving Annie here at school?"
And when I went to read back the shopping list I had typed on my iPhone the other day, item #5 on the list was "fingers." (What???)
And when I was rushing in the parking lot of the grocery store to put stamps on some mail that needed to go out the other morning, I put all the stamps on the wrong side of the envelopes.
All that to say, Father's Day hadn't even entered my mind until my friend brought it up.
And even after she mentioned it, I still managed to completely forgot about it again until I was in the drive-through of the coffee shop with the kids at 7:30 in the morning before dropping them off for their last day of school and realized that I wasn't going to have all three kids together again before Father's Day. (Courtney was going to be at her mom's and Cole and Annie were spending a couple of days with their Paka.)
So I started searching my (embarrassingly dirty) car for pens and paper, while simultaneously trying to create and verbalize a Father's Day gift idea to my children and while pulling money out of my wallet to pay for the bagel and the muffin and the bacon breakfast sandwich my kids had just ordered.
Thankfully, I've always got a plethora of Photographers' Workshop pens (since I purchase them in quantities of 1000 to send to my students) stuffed in every nook and cranny of my car and every pouch of my purse, but somehow, even with three school-aged children in the car, we had no paper.
And then the barista developed a puzzled expression on her face, uncertain why I was looking directly at her (I meant to be looking at my kids, but I do really stupid things when my mind is on overload.) while hollering, "How can all three of you be going to school today and yet, not one of you have paper???"
Then my kids reminded me that it was the last day of school, which required no paper and that I should have been directing my question to them, and not the barista.
Then Courtney (who can find just about anything in her back-back if she looks long enough) found some plain white construction paper that she had cut and folded into cards.
So I handed each one of them a pen and said, "Ok, who's going to be Happy?" Cole raised his hand. "Who's going to be Fathers?" Courtney and Annie immediately began arguing over who was going to be Fathers. I ended the argument by convincing Annie that she really wanted to be Day because it would need an exclamation mark at the end of it and exclamation marks are really fun. She totally fell for it and decided that she wanted to be Day after all.
And then I looked across the parking lot of the coffee shop for a place where my iPhone would not take horrifically crappy photos and asked my kids to pose one by one for Josh's Father's Day present....
And after all of that (including writing this blog post), I found out Father's Day isn't until next weekend.
So Happy (early) Father's Day Josh Downs...Thanks for teaching these kids what it looks like to love and lead your family (and the kids and I promise to cook you a really good dinner one night after you get home to make-up for this lack-luster Father's Day gift.)
It's a good thing your ready for Father's Day a week ahead - because it's next Sunday! :)
Posted by: Debby Schuh | June 09, 2013 at 04:03 AM
You had me panicking thinking my days were wrong. ;)
Sit back and relax. You are ahead of yourself.
Posted by: sharon | June 09, 2013 at 05:29 AM
You're not scrambled! You're a week ahead of schedule! YAY YOU!! ; )
Posted by: jaymee | June 09, 2013 at 05:36 AM
Karen, you are the best! This post is just hilarious from beginning to end, just on general principle, then add in that you are a week ahead, I am dying over here. I know it is not polite to laugh at someone else's expense, but I am pretty sure you are awesome enough to realize how hysterical this is! I hope you leg feels better soon, and maybe those extra fingers you got will be of some assistance!
Posted by: My | June 09, 2013 at 06:48 AM
After spending a week in the hospital with our youngest son, where my fabulous husband was Mr. Mom and Dad for the week to our 3 other kiddos, I am scrambling for an awesome Father's Day present. I am also in such a brain fog with all of our sons new health issues that I can't put two thoughts together so You are insanely prepared to me! :) Love the blog post. Now I know I'm not the only one scrambling. :) Hope the leg feels better!
Posted by: Shan | June 09, 2013 at 07:18 AM
I just had to google Father's Day 2013 to check the date. You had me in a panic, lol! My husband is currently up fixing the kid's breakfast, and I'm lounging in bed reading blogs. THAT would not be good on Father's Day! Now, that you've got Father's Day taken care of maybe you can relax a bit and clear your mind :) I hope your leg gets better soon!
Posted by: Amy | June 09, 2013 at 07:37 AM
Karen, where can i find out about your hometown workshops? I want to come eat and shoot and eat with you!
Posted by: Melinda~ | June 09, 2013 at 08:02 AM
Oh man, you ARE stressed. Because you rushed and panicked your way into being "late" for Father's Day a week in advance. Now with all that time you've saved by getting those three cute photos done, maybe you can put your foot up...for just a minute?
Wishing you a reduction to the stress. Very soon.
Posted by: Yolanda | June 09, 2013 at 09:11 AM
OK, thanks for the heart attack over here thinking I biffed Father's Day when it's next Sunday!
Posted by: KimberDill | June 09, 2013 at 09:27 AM
Great job Karen! You are ahead of schedule. So you really didn't forget.
Posted by: k.chock | June 09, 2013 at 09:40 AM
lol! Now what are you going to do next Sunday?!!
Posted by: Addie | June 09, 2013 at 10:04 AM
I love it! And I love those pens... I was so sad when mine broke!
Posted by: Jessie | June 09, 2013 at 11:52 AM
Karen, you are awesome.
I smiled through this whole post. My favorite line is when you said "chicken wearing a foot boot".
I was wondering this morning if it was Father's Day. I usually try to get a card for my husband from the cat lol. My dad passed away years ago and we don't talk to my husband's dad often (no strife or anything, he is just really busy and we forget) so we tend to forget about these things. You came up with a great idea on such short notice and I love the picture of Annie!!
Posted by: Robyn :) | June 09, 2013 at 12:55 PM
Thankful that my birthday falls on Father's Day this year so I didn't panic when I read this blog post this morning because I knew that it was next week and not today. lol :)
Posted by: KarinaS | June 09, 2013 at 03:17 PM
Best gift ever!
Posted by: Shaun Paddock | June 09, 2013 at 06:08 PM
The best fathers day gift you could give josh is to slow down and take care of yourself. Your worth It!!!!!! A lesson i learned the hard way!
Posted by: Cindy Welch | June 09, 2013 at 06:41 PM
Karen - You're awesome - even with all that stress you are cracking me up.
Now time for your laugh - First sit down, elevate leg and watch for less than two minutes. Not saying it's you, just that it's funny.
http://vimeo.com/66753575
Posted by: Toni | June 09, 2013 at 06:54 PM
I just panicked and googled Father's day 2013! My husband is sitting right here but is totally the kind to realize I forgot something like that and never mention it all day because he is just gracious and awesome like that, so I about lost it for a second! Glad we all have another week!
Posted by: Piper | June 09, 2013 at 08:24 PM
How sweet!! ....But I really got on here to raz you about your Beavers playing my Wildcats for the series! I always think of you in that Beavers shirt in Amarillo, Tx. Giggles. Everytime! Miss you!
Posted by: Jacque Green | June 09, 2013 at 09:35 PM
While reading your post, I am thinking, "Doesn't she know it's NEXT weekend?!" Love your posts!
Posted by: SusanC | June 10, 2013 at 07:39 AM
Oh, Karen! I don't know why but by the time I saw the photo of Annie, I had tears in my eyes! I was thinking how odd that Father's day is not the same as in Canada!
Kerry tried to convince us that Father's day was this weekend! I had a few moments of panic and then realized it's next weekend, and he was either trying to pull a fast one, or he really had no idea, although he did say "it's always the first weekend of the month"
Take a few minutes and breath!
Posted by: Kelli | June 10, 2013 at 08:48 AM
B.r.e.a.t.h.e! And I think your "fingers" mean you wanted "finger food" for you and your workshop attendees.
Posted by: SandraA | June 10, 2013 at 09:34 AM
Welcome to your 40's.........and know it just gets worse as your brain will become more and more scattered.
Signed, 55
Posted by: Kathy | June 10, 2013 at 11:39 AM
Aww!How did I miss the hometown workshop?????? Just saying......
Posted by: LaShawn | June 10, 2013 at 01:15 PM
It's all he needs...don't "STRESS" the small stuff. :) <3
Hope Texas is good to Josh Downs!!!
Posted by: kat-in-texas | June 10, 2013 at 03:56 PM
Oh....and that is absolutely the BEST Father's Day wish EVER!! EVER!!
Posted by: janel | June 11, 2013 at 05:59 PM
You are clearly one of the best all time story tellers ever. You gift us with not only your words, but how you so humorously and openly share your stories! Love reading your blog and getting a glimpse of you! :)
Posted by: Elizabeth | June 12, 2013 at 03:22 PM