Pushing on a Rope
Family
For adoptees, it’s all about connections
As a searching adoptee, I faced a lot of questions from well-meaning people who just didn’t get it. “Didn’t you have a good childhood?” “Aren’t your parents your real parents?” “Shouldn’t you just leave it alone?” “Why rock the boat?” As I approach the year anniversary of connecting with Pat, my first mother, many of … Continue reading
Flashback Friday — Decking the Halls
Flashback to December 1971 and helping out with the tree-trimming. I got thinking about this yesterday, while sneaking peeks over my laptop, of Basil setting up the holiday display outside. Hunter, the toddler next door, was beside himself with delight over the process. He raced around the yard, touching and looking and “talking” to the … Continue reading
Here They Come A-Caroling
Greenwich High School’s five choirs rang in the holiday season in fine form last night, presenting a delightful night of seasonal tunes. Those of us who were starting to feel Grinch-y as we plowed our way through holiday tasks had our attitude adjusted in quick order. As with all things that will happen this year, … Continue reading
On her way
The envelope was big, white and emblazoned in red with a 48-point message of congratulations. I couldn’t resist texting Catherine a photo of it — her first college acceptance letter — when I pulled it from the mailbox yesterday morning. Oddly, she of the fast fingers didn’t reply to my message, but rather burst through … Continue reading
Turkey Redux
How many helpings of leftovers have you had? I’m tucking in to my second: lunch was a turkey sandwich on rye with homemade cranberry relish and baby spinach; dinner will be the turkey vegetable soup simmering on the stove. I may be enjoying it alone. Catherine’s at work and will get dinner there. Basil loathes … Continue reading
Throwback Thanksgiving
Happy Thanksgiving! I hope your turkey is THIS good and the company is even better…
It’s Pie Time
The Facebook photo of the pie I baked Basil for his birthday celebration got more attention than most things I post, so I figured I’d share the recipe. Perhaps you’ll want to add it to your Thanksgiving table. Once upon a time, we celebrated family birthdays with cake — chocolate for me, vanilla with fancifully … Continue reading
Flashback Friday — Happy (Almost) Birthday, Baby!
Flashback today to Basil’s birthday. Tomorrow, he will be 58. (Yes, I know I’m a day early, but Flashback Saturday lacks alliteration and, besides, around here, folks know he prefers a full monthlong celebration.) This is a great photo. As with all pictures taken before we became so crop-happy, it’s the details that get me: … Continue reading
Teenagers: They’re loads of fun
Kids say the darndest, cutest things. Teenagers? Not so much. When Catherine was little, helping make the bed meant pulling up “the comfortable”; the time between midnight and 6 am was “the side of night”; she wondered, while helping fold laundry, if my bras were meant for chasing butterflies. These days, some of what comes … Continue reading
And You Wonder Why I’m Pushing on a Rope
There are many thankless things about parenting. We are underappreciated, taken for granted, hidden from the view of peers lest we prove embarrassing. We can lecture on a topic countless times only to be ignored, but if a stranger says the same darn thing, well, it’s genius. And — I don’t know about you, but … Continue reading
Pushing on a Rope 