Thursday, January 12, 2017

Stranded, January family self portrait

(click to enlarge photo) - Maria Chiquita Beach


Normally I am the laziest person ever. but this Sunday I decided we should make the best of life and head off in an adventure. I'd gotten us discounted passes to an animal shelter  with access to a private beach. I even secured dog sitting so Loui wouldn't be alone all day. As far as I was concerned, I was rocking the day.

One hour and a half away from home the car broke down... we had people push us until we could make it to the parking lot...

So this is us not making it to the animal shelter in a  not-so-great beach waiting for the tow truck.... still, as far as places to get stranded go, not the worst.

and so begins 2017....

2016
December- Valle de Anton
November- and then there were five
October- Pura Vida
September- Gone Surfin'
August- Golden
July- Searching for a mattress 
June - Erased
February- Paper towns

Friday, January 6, 2017

farewell to my favourite fairy


It’s been a month. 

My mom always used to say the woman we knew was not the woman who raised her. Like a good wine, time made her smoother. Like an onion over a fire, as time went by she became sweeter and sweeter. So much so that in the last years of her life she actually morphed into a fairy, flying about like a butterfly, from happy thought to happy thought, in awe of the universe that unfolded around her, and grateful for every morsel she got to taste.

I phoned her that day. God knows how many years had gone by since I’d last phoned her. We spoke on occasion, but usually the calls were initiated by my mother, her daughter.  Over the years we have only called each other directly on a handful of occasions.  She called as I was going into labor, preparing to welcome my first child. I called as she was preparing to exit the stage. I like to think that the timing of our calls speaks of our connection. 

It wasn’t a coincidence. I’d had a dream, one I don’t remember but felt like a nightmare at the time, and I woke up to tell my husband “I’m worried about my grandma”.

So I called.  And on the other end, just as I would a few days later in a somber mausoleum, I could hear the bells of her heart rattle and tinkle. We spoke of nothing in particular. 

As she aged her body shrunk, and with it her sense of entitlement. She took up less space physically but also tried to take up less space in our lives.  She was always grateful for any amount of notice you would give her. She would put out requests, for a visit for example, and immediately take it back, acknowledging out loud how she understood it would be hard to find time in a busy and important schedule for her. That is my one regret from our last conversation. I wish I’d said: “Take all the space you want, you’ve earned it.  You’ve touched so many lives. You’ve saved so many castaways, you’ve inspired us all who were lucky enough to hear your tinkerbells”


Bonvoyage Mamimi, ‘til next time.

Wednesday, January 4, 2017

So long 2016, December family self portrait


Valle de Anton


2016
November- and then there were five
October- Pura Vida
September- Gone Surfin'
August- Golden
July- Searching for a mattress 
June - Erased
February- Paper towns

Tuesday, January 3, 2017

happy holidays and best wishes for 2017






Me trying to get the kids to stop playing with their new toys over dinner: "stop playing, focus on your dinner, BE in the moment". My daughter's response pointing at her empty plate: "mom, I ATE the moment!"

 Hope you are all enjoying this festive season. My best wishes to all for a wonderful 2017
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