First Day

Start of term-time at Alma. I got in on time, did the usual things (the challenge about my name, helping people find odd affinities, class work, etc.)

My first day is fairly light, but I was so exhausted by the end of the day... as my colleagues remind me, this is a "reentry" after the sabbatical.






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Labor Day/Boss Day

We had no plans for Labor Day, so armed with a hardcore DSA poster, an excellent batch of biriyani, an ironic floral/pastel mug meant for someone's grandma, and all the baby sibs, (who address him as "Nana" in the one word of Telugu they do know), we made the trip up to Alma for At's Boss Day. I love my babies. The babies will save us.

Nine miles of pavement

alone but with thoughts and lyrics
the whistle and whoosh of traffic

I can imagine the uplift of impact
almost feel I might be able to fly

Saturday at Alma

Spent this Saturday in retreat/orientation with the new MacCurdy women. We got some new furnishings and tees with the last of the budget last year, elected house officers, made plans for a year of programming, and started a statement to change "women's house" to "women-presenting and women-perceived." All in all, a rather busy two days. On to classes...









Nu came along to Alma for the day, and hung out with At helping make posters and eat pizza at his  DSA event...

Fall is creeping in

See top left

#RadiologyGardens

#Daddy'sBirthday

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Unclear Condition

Morning is manic fog
milky, vanishing, slipping
under cereal, hugs,
reminders, lists,
all the things
we must bring

they are literal--Driving
the littlest human
to school and...
you know what?
they say...
that may be frost

just ponds of them
hanging out in the fields
with horses, ducks
the littlest human watches
my face cautiously
for a trace of panic

Fog flaps in the wind.
like blankets, begins to
put this year to bed. I
wonder where the sun will be
this time, next year--
and will we be here

Choices

If I focus on the sparkles set off by my new mobile and not the murky window behind it, perchance I'll get through this term brilliantly?

#Self-bribery #StartOfClasses






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Big A and Bebes

Our new term-time normal, I guess.


The show-off-y corn behind Big A is his too. 









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Away they go...

Nu's hamming it up in their first day of school outfit.

Also, it was the first time I publicly tried out the gender-neutral pronouns Nu had requested.















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Tiny tomato

School starts this week, and this tiny tomato in my planter box is the culmination of some of the best moments of the summer: The outside; children's laughter, water-fights, reading; sunshine; Huckie content in the sun; Scout instigating me to chase him...

Hello school year!






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Coping

We were on our way to Harry Potter Night at the Lugnuts game (A A-D-S's birthday celebration)...

Nu cried twice before we even left the garage. At was packing for college. Nu sprinted upstairs for more hugs and came back to the car feeling a bit better.

I had a headache all evening, was crying as we pulled into our street, and full-out bawling by the time we rounded the bend in the driveway and his car was gone... He was supposed to leave in the afternoon, but kept getting delayed, and I think I kinda hoped he'd still be there...

Big A is in YS for LH's funeral service, so Nu and I had a sleepover with the puppies in the rumpus room.

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