Left To Our Own Devices (Overstimulated)

We're all overstimulated
Our brains in cyberspace but with no particular destination
Floating, eyes flitting, thumbs flicking our social media feeds
We can't even watch TV without the second screen
I took my book everywhere when I was eight
Now I can't even wait at the grocery store
My hand reaches for my pocket
Looks like I have a minute
For an information drip

We can get notifications for anything

Severe weather alerts, our children's schools

But these tools get buried

Under a million others

The phone buzzes

Get 10% off your next order

Gzzzz

The latest celebrity death

Gzzzzz

What can the Vikings do at quarterback?

I can't say this without feeling old

I long for the days 

Where no one knew where I was

If I wasn't home

Where I didn't feel panic for not checking my phone

V2

Zombie time

The kids walk in the door

Or ring it a dozen times if it's locked

They throw their shoes in the closet

They might say hello

But then it's screen time

Screen time

If it's not TV, it's video games

Or a tablet

Mom stares at her phone and giggles at memes

Dad isn't sure what to do with himself

Three other people's faces lighting up

He can't give in and join

He feels resentment

Mom seems OK with them staring and nearly drooling

Sometimes doesn't seem to want to engage

He has to be the one to break the spell

Off the screens, off the screens

But Dad, when can we go back on?

If I had my way, I'd keep your devices

You'd have to go through me to get them back

Mom laughs at a video

His daughter asks his son what game she's playing

He doesn't hear with his headphones on

Dad wanders around looking for something to do

June 2035

I imagined yesterday
The night before your graduation
As we prepared for the celebration
The memories that we'd share

I remember being terrified

The night you were born

And Grandma said it was time for her to go

Mom, you and me, a family

How do we take care of you?

That night was no worry, as you slept soundly

The journey had worn you out

Sometimes life hits the fast-forward button

The diapers, the crawling, the walking, the running

Soon you had a sister

Baby Omi

Number blocks and Lankybox

You taught yourself math and got curious

Super Bowl Week- 2020

For Super Bowl week, we use TSB to simulate past seasons.

2020

Entering Wk 17:

AFC

Buf 15-0!

Mia 9-6

Cle 12-3

Bal 10-5

Ind 11-4

LAC 12-3

KC 9-6

BYE Buffalo 16-0

BYE CLE  13-3 +117

3 LAC 13-3  +84

4 IND 12-4 +123

5 BAL 10-6 +45

6 KC 9-7 +101

ITH: MIA 9-6 +29 (eliminated)

NFC

WAS 12-3

GB 9-5-1 

CHI 8-7

NO 10-5 +79

TB 10-5 +38

SF 10-5 +27

ARI 9-6

BYE WAS 13-3

BYE NO 11-5 +89

3 SF 11-5 +70

4 GB 10-5-1 +88

WC TB 11-5 +45

WC ARI 9-7

Life

I feel off today. Just overly tired, I think. I didn't realize how much work it would be to do the whole weekend (minus Sunday afternoon) myself. I'd kind of dreaded the sleepover on Saturday, having not really talked to Zavie beyond saying hi. But I pretty much let them be on their tablets. I mean, that's what sleepovers even meant for us back in the day. We'd play Nintendo for hours into the early morning and the only time we saw our or other parents was to eat a meal. 

So Zavie's a cool kid. And he and Levi are two like souls, silly and goofy. I saw Levi dancing while we were playing Monopoly, which is an extremely rare sight. I think he's self conscious, which his sister is definitely not. 

But I just feel like my sinuses hurt a lot and I feel exhausted, and when I feel very tired I'm prone to getting sick. Kind of felt that way yesterday afternoon after getting back from taking kids to KFC at church. Felt sluggish in the pool, like I didn't want to move. 

Better sleep tonight will help. I survived, as I always do.