together
my throat
The human kids frequently "take turns" walking with me. Not in an eager way--but more like one is busy today so could the other step in, etc.
For some reason, it sort of makes me happy because it makes me imagine that when I'm elderly and need their care they'll negotiate a mutually compassionate and equitable way to make that work too.
The puppy kids are, naturally, happy to walk any time.
Work, work, work, and then I headed home with JG on the phone to keep me company on the commute home.
Low: Heart heavy with the looming eviction of millions of families in the middle of a pandemic.
High: Hearing The Foo Fighters' cover of The Beegees' "You Should be Dancing" live from Lollapalooza on the radio. Apparently it's something they've been doing for a while? Anyway, it was the bit of disco silliness that helped me get through the day.
Pic: An early bird posing for me with their accessory worm (yesterday at the Horticultural Gardens).
L snapped a picture of me down by the Red Cedar on the first of my three hikes (sequentially with L, BS, and EM) today.
I'm scheduled for a work seminar Mon and Tues and a professional webinar Weds and Thurs, so it seemed like a good idea to get all the hiking I wanted in today.
Also a good idea... scheduling a massage for Friday.
An early morning walk with L after SO MANY days. Between her travels and mine, it's been way too long. The Radiology Gardens (where I snapped this pic) had a fundraiser, and we bought a giant planter of coleus each and lugged it around with us.
At took me to the car dealership earlier in the morning to drop Bluey off for a two-year service. When the check-in person asked if I needed a loaner or a ride back home, I felt so proud telling them that I "brought my son." The son in question was amused that when he stopped to get gas, I hopped out to help him, but was so lost around all the slots and buttons after two years of plugging in Bluey.
A boozy cousin B called as we were getting dinner on the table. A bunch of cousins are getting together at his new beachhouse in Pondicherry and he MISSED me. I've been seeing pics on cousin chat since, and everyone is talking about a big reunion in December. Today I'm pretending (even to myself) that this might actually happen.
And today is officially the day Nu picked their new name. We had tried a name that started with "N' for a while. But then one day as I was getting dressed, I saw Big A's money clip with his initials, and the thought that At would be able to use it one day slipped into my mind... I wanted that for Nu too. Nu's new name begins with "A" too, so they'll still be the "Baby A" who debuted here in 2007. And even better, it kind of starts the same way as their old name, so I can course correct before I reach the end and avoid slip-ups.
Went to check on the Arboretum's yearly peacock display with L before the rest of the family woke up. I love the purple spikes they've added to the begonias this year.
And yes, it's syllabus building time again.
Scout, Huck, and I hosted bookclub while Big A, At, and Nu did their own thing. I'd planned to have a garden party, but rain was in the forecast and mosquitoes were out in force, so I moved it indoors. And just like that we had our first indoors party since the pandemic started.
Here, Huck, Scout, and I (L to R) are spooning in blissed-out collapse after dinner.
[Pic by Nu, reflected in the glass door.]
from the scummy
Nu skimming off pond scum
At making a strawberry, arugula, feta salad
I got to play copilot too.
Play copilot--I didn't actually touch any of the controls...
I guess that had a lot to do with how I made it to Seattle, then to Detroit, and finally home today.
Another day of catching up on the last year with fam, and so many I hadn't seen in years. S Auntie and I always end up reminiscing about when she babysat us and I always remember the pencil eraser she had that was shaped like a bulldog.
Meanwhile back at home, Nu loved the Boss Day presents I packed for them before we left.
I woke up before my alarm went off this morning, glanced through the cloudy bedroom windows, and saw Max standing still in the middle of the...