My nephew recently celebrated a birthday (my goodness, the boy is THREE) and in telling uncle fashion, I had to be reminded of this fact in perhaps a too-understanding passing comment made by my parents over the phone. (“James, you know it’s I.’s birthday coming up, right? Right?”). Sigh. With usual grace, however, my sister [...]
I forget, sometimes, how nice it is to live at once in the city and the edge of it at the same time. Stepping out into a bright, brisk morning in your quiet neighborhood and making the ten minute walk to the closest T station to get off twenty minutes later in Government Center. All [...]
How good to periodically look over to your right as you sit in your front row box seats in the Philadelphia Wachovia Center, and to see the play of lights on the faces of the niece and nephew in rapt attention to the show on the ice. Disney princesses? Check. Snacks packed by their mom [...]
Down in Pennsylvania for the holidays–driving in with S. and first getting dropped off at my sister’s place mid-evening. The explosion of niece and nephew into your arms when you first get through the door? Nothing more warming that that– love it. Sister and brother-in-law cooking up the full breakfast the next morning (some kind [...]
When the spread between you and the winner is nearly 50% of your total accumulated point value, you know you’ve been beat. So S. and I, despite what I’d like to call a heroic last meal attempt with the preparation of a variety of the vegan spring roll recipe (c’mon, I even put enoki mushrooms [...]
You feel more grounded after really good days like these. Certain. Reading the longer books aloud with a warm-bodied nephew and niece early in the morning. Crouched together and leaning back against the bedboard, small heads resting on your chest and small hands reaching up for ears and the softness of hair. A breakfast at [...]
How nice to re-read favorite stories with the niece and nephew–especially ones with frogs and toads. Brilliant. Alone Toad went to Frog’s house. He found a note on the door. The note said, “Dear Toad, I am not at home. I went out. I want to be alone.” “Alone?” said Toad. “Frog has me for [...]
So it wasn’t a problem with the start time, getting on the road and heading towards the Highway Heading Home shortly after noontime yesterday afternoon. But S. and I were pretty wired (or car tired) nearly ten hours later when we finally pulled up to our end destination. All part of the experience of being [...]
Ok, so knowing what’s IN the box takes away some of the mystery of the package that arrives from overseas. Still, it feels good to open a box that you know has been packed by a friend and that has traveled more than a few miles to get to your door. Now, tracking the progress [...]
Spring Comes Early South of Home
Sure, come springtime, it makes sense that the grass gets greener and that the trees start bursting a few weeks earlier in the states south of New England. It’s a whole other order of goodness to see it and feel it though–driving with S. down from Boston to Pennsylvania this weekend with arms perched outside [...]