I have to say, not working is truly just as good as I thought it might be.  But after so many years of it, coupled with the feeling that I'm obligated to pay for toys, well, I've been trying to figure out how to do some work with no pain!  One thing I told myself when we moved here is that if I am patient, things will come to me.  And yesterday I got an email from people I've kept up with...and they wanted to know if I'd review/rewrite some online courses they're getting ready for the fall.  I've taught and written some of these courses, so it's something I can do well, I think.  This certainly seems to fit the bill of having work come to me!  Though it won't mean all that much money, it will be professional work that I can do at home.  I don't know yet how many actual hours it will entail. 

I also contacted a woman I've known for years who is now the head of libraries in the Arlington schools.  I think one thing I could do is to be a sub for librarians in the county.  I go today to get my TB test, and wrote off to get some recommendations.  I'm thinking that I could so some number of days a month, but I might also be able to do some long-term things, like a pregnancy or something.  So, we'll see how that goes -- not sure.

But as I do these things, yesterday was a day I was glad I wasn't working.  I got a call from a neighbor who needed a quick hour of babysitting, and that's always something I've wanted to give back (actually, it's not giving back, because it's something I never had, but wanted so much!)...so I had a nice time playing dinosaurs with a most precocious 3 1/2 year old girl!  

Then, I helped Mom get her passport updated, and we went to Tysons to do a few errands.  As we were leaving, Mom was really careful going down the stairs to the parking deck, but missed one last tricky step -- and she fell.  Jeeze -- I was right next to her, but she fell away from me and I was just grabbing at air.  She landed pretty softly, but on her bad hip.  She kept her head up, so her shoulders took some of the fall as well.  She was on the cement like a little rag doll, but told me that nothing was broken.  Sure enough, she got up and said that nothing hurt!  Wow -- how many 84 (is that right) year old women could fall and get themselves up?  I told her that it's a testament to all the exercise she's been doing -- her walking, yoga, aerobics.  I called her last night and she was in pain -- I guess that's to be expected.  I hope that it's just a bruise and that nothing chipped or something...I guess time will tell.  I've felt that I want my work to be flexible enough to allow me to help her if she does end up with a broken bone...but we dodged it yesterday!