King Malcolm here. Maggie’s long-suffering husband. Maggie “just can’t even” as she puts it, with this week’s column. Something about the frozen tundra and arctic conditions. She’s currently huddled up under a blanket by a warm fire reading Heated Rivalry (that should stoke the embers) and asked me to step in. I’m not sure what the issue is – she used to have much tougher skin 1000 years ago. It’s not like that castle we called home was particularly toasty or anything. But I guess now technically she doesn’t even have skin, so therein might lie the problem. Anyway, I figured – how hard could this be?!? She’s always agonizing over this column and what she’s going to write about – and I’m like, what’s the big deal, just get the job done!
In a nutshell, there’s nothing going on. Wait, she told me I shouldn’t say that. OK, let’s just say we’re in the quiet before the storm… a lull in the action… or for you namby-pambies out there, a “breathing spell”. Apparently, there’s A LOT of “breathing” going on out there right now. I searched through Maggie’s email, and there wasn’t even one single whiny question from any of you. Usually, at least one parent has some question or concern about something that feels very important to them – all I’ll say is that you all have a lot of FOMO. But I digress – the point is – not a one this week. Which to me means, my work here is basically done. We’re good. Nothing to see here. But I know I’ll get in trouble if I don’t at least write about something. You know what’s particularly cold?? The doghouse. And I don’t like being in it. So, I’m writing the column.
I guess it’s fair to say that there’s never nothing going on. It’s just that some times are more restful than others. This is normal. After all of the activity around Catholic Schools Week (and that crazy Trivia Night you hold – I mean, come on – did you see that guy in the speedo?!?), it’s only common sense that folks need a breather. Lent is coming – it’s early again this year – and there’s plenty that goes on with all of that (we are a Catholic school after all!). And then with Spring Break and Easter… and then before you know it’s all of the Spring activities, and then it’s Graduation and the school year is over. It’ll be Summer before we know it, and Maggie I’m sure will then be complaining about how hot it is! Seriously, her window of comfortable temperature has a three degree variance. So, take your breather for the moment. Enjoy the respite. Blow off some steam with some Mardi Gras parties (you parents like your parties around here – I see you 4th grade parents bus trip!), before we head into the next busy phase. Things are going to heat up again soon, and I’m not just talking about the weather.
Maggie will thaw eventually – most likely this weekend when it hits sixty degrees! I, for one, will be huddled up with a bowl of queso and some fritos on Sunday, watching the Super Bowl. Maggie just watches for the commercials. We’re Saints fans anyway (duh!), so this one’s not that big of a deal to us. No skin in this game. As noted already, no skin at all. Now breathe.
– King Malcolm
