wordsimageslife
an exploration of life as a parent & designer

Clear and 53 degrees

It's been an awfully long-time since I've posted anything, I almost have to wonder if anybody checks back. Not that that really matters, since this more for me and the rest of the world is just out there doing whatever it is that the rest of the world does.

Yesterday would have been Dad's 68th birthday but instead it was the first anniversary of his passing to the big ballpark in the sky or where ever it is that deceased Yankee fans go. I'm still not sure which was more difficult for me, opening day without Dad or yesterday. Not that it really matters, he is missed but remembered and that's what's most important. Of course, as Mom pointed out in a recent e-mail, he would certainly have been amused by the fact that the Pope's funeral was on his birthday. He always did have an offbeat sense of humor and certainly told some of the worst jokes my sisters and I ever had to hear. And we certainly learned to love every one of them not matter how many times we cringed as he began to recite any of his favorites. Fortunately, my memory sucks and I can only remember having to listen to them and not the actual content.

So, my weather headline is my way of setting the scene. I'm in my comfort outfit (shorts and a sweatshirt) most likely because it reminds me so much of being at the beach. And for some reason, my legs don't just seem to get as cold as the upper extremities.

The last three weeks have been totally nuts. Week One was a bout of strep throat for both Izzy and Liam. Week Two was Izzy's Spring Break and we at least got out a little and when to the planetarium at the Maryland Science Center. It wasn't as cool as what I remember from my select trips to the Hayden Planetarium in NYC (Museum of Natural HIstory) but there will be second visits upcoming. Week Three was Liam's turn to be sick. He was home Monday through Wednesday and then Izzy's school was closed on Friday for the Pope's funeral. (If Dad were alive, I can just hear him saying that Izzy's school was closed for his birthday...) Week Four will begin tomorrow and right now Izzy has what Liam had last week and I'm just praying to whomever is in charge of communicable illnesses that a) it stops here and b) she's better by Monday morning. Oh and to top it all off, Karen has had some kind of bug for at least two weeks.

We did all have a really nice weekend last weekend. We rented a cabin at Herrington Manor State Park in Western Maryland. Saturday was off and on again rain but they managed to get a hike in—I wasn't in a hiking mood, so I grabbed dinner duty at the first opportunity—down to the lake which everyone seemed to enjoy. Our friend Clare was there as well, with her three kids (WARNING: DO NOT TRY THIS AT HOME) who are 6, almost 4 and one and a half. Her artist husband was home working on his art. He's the Mr. Mom so the alone time is valuable to him in getting caught up. And don't I know that now. I have nothing to show for the past three weeks work wise other than wrapping up one minor project and a much longer to-do list than I would like.

So, I'm back. At least for tonight. Not that means much. The words only mirror one reality. Mine. Hopefully, I'll have more time and energy to post again on a more frequent basis. It's good to write. It's good to say goodnight. God speed Dad. God speed.