Category Archives: Family

Old Home Week

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Turns out you can, indeed, go home. Expect things to have changed, expect to discover new delights. Expect to laugh and cry. Hug your loved ones. And plan to return.

Thanks, Mom, for sharing your gifts as always: music, food, wisdom and stories. 

Thanks, Sarah, for offering me your perfectly comfortable home, your gracious listening ears, more food, and transportation. And for sharing Stanley. Thanks, Dharam, for sharing your presence, your insights, your music, and your fabulous hugs. And more food.   

Thanks, David and Sarah, for sharing your time, your vulnerability, your smiles, your love. And food. Thanks, Cristina, Guru & Amrit for showing up with youth and energy and honesty. And even more food. My hope for the future is greatly increased the more I get to know you. 

And thanks, Val and Mike, for your hospitality, wisdom, and stories. Including great food and lots of wine!

I love having you all in my life!
Going home isn’t easy for some. When I come home to family, it can be a slugfest…but in the most delightful way. 

I am truly fortunate. 

 

Weekly Photo Challenge: Similar Smiles

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“Smile a while, and while you smile, another smiles. And soon, there are miles and miles of smiles. And life’s worthwhile because you smile.” 

I spent last weekend at my son’s wedding celebration, surrounded by similar smiles. Genetics and orthodontia have collaborated to give my kids what I believe (in the most unbiased way) are the most beautiful smiles on Earth. My hobby and therapy is collecting as many as I can to look at when they’re not around. 

 

The smile that started it all, and the one I miss every day:

Smile

Weekly Photo Challenge: Sunrise, Sunset

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Many years ago, four members of my family were cast in a community theater production of Fiddler on the Roof –  my late husband, myself, my son and my daughter. My son, fabulous dancer that he is, performed in the Russian cossack dance and the Jewish bottle dance. To bring this full circle, we will be celebrating my son’s wedding ceremony this weekend. 

The wedding scene in the musical features a beautiful tune called “Sunrise, Sunset”.
“…Is this the little boy at play?
I don’t remember growing older, when did they?
What words of wisdom can I give them,
How can I help to ease their way?
Now they must learn from one another,
Day by day.”

To Josh and Daena: may all your sunrises and sunsets together fill you with joy and wonder!  

Rise/Set

Weekly Photo Challenge: I’d Rather Be…honest

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How do I finish this sentence? “I’d rather be….” It presents a bit of a conflict.

If I can think of other things I’d rather be doing, then I’m not engaging with the present moment and the thing that I’m doing right now. I’d like to be a person that practices the discipline of positive presence, but honestly, I do a lot of wishful thinking.

That said…here’s what I would enjoy doing, any time!

#1 – Hanging out with my adult children. They are all tremendously stimulating individuals, and I’m very attached to them…and they all live at least 70 miles away from me. So occasions to be together are always a treat. Occasions when all five of us are together are extra special!

#2 – Camping. “Can I play outside? Please?” 

#3 – Making music, dancing to music, listening to music

photo by Dharam Kaur Khalsa

So my complete fantasy would be singing around a campfire with all my kids. Hasn’t happened yet, but maybe some day….
Yeah, that would be a real Kumbaya moment. Peace out!

I’d Rather Be…

Weekly Photo Challenge: Beloved

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A kiss, a hug, interlocking arms, smiling side-by-side, a loving glance, a delicate touch – these are tokens from a beloved. 

And to witness, record, and return these tokens, oh best beloveds, is my love gift to you.

— dedicated to my family. 

Beloved