We recently got to go visit friends and family in Boston. One group is technically family and one group is technically friends, but thankfully we can’t tell the difference.
Part 1:
Part 2:
Boston (from my phone)
Thanksgiving in Spokane
The Penguin & the Gingerbread Man
These outfits are 30 years old that my mom saved. I just love you two together, even though you won’t sit still or look at the camera at the same time. Alfalfa & Spanky Forever
a letter
A-
I’ve thought about what you said almost every day since you wrote it: “Let your love for him convict you of how much you don’t love other people.”
When I first read that, I wasn’t all that convicted. While I was DOING a lot of loving things for Wesley, I wasn’t feeling that much love for him all that often. But I’m the sort that has to earn a feeling. And these days, when I cup that little face, stroke those little cheeks, watch those little eyes look out a window, hear that little giggle, press into that warm little embrace… these days my emotions are swept up like a tiny speck of dust caught in a hurricane.
In this case, six months is a nonsense measurement. It measures something mathematical that is entirely mystical. And I’m no mystic, as you know.
One thing I love about your friendship, is that while I’m tempted to write you some simple factual updates about my circumstances and histories, I’m much more drawn to write you some simple factual updates about my soul. If only these were the kinds of annual letters sent out this time of year. I’d read those.
So now that I’ve touched on that whirlwind romance that is motherhood, I’ll share about the other piece. The ugly not loving other people thing.
I’ve been reading about how I need to be less cynical in conflict. I was considering writing “with people” after “conflict” but I’m not sure it’s necessary. So I guess I’m saying I just need to be less cynical, since every day I’m in conflict. I wish had some way to tie that thought to a pithy advent quote but it’s just a plain thought unfortunately. I’m waiting to be made less cynical. I’d like to love people better by storing up hope for them. I have more hope stored for Wesley than I could fit into all the pockets of all the coats I’ve ever seen.
-S
(From Black Rook in Rainy Weather by Sylvia Plath)
Of whatever angel may choose to flare
Suddenly at my elbow. I only know that a rook
Ordering its black feathers can so shine
As to seize my senses, haul
My eyelids up, and grant
A brief respite from fear
Of total neutrality. With luck,
Trekking stubborn through this season
Of fatigue, I shall
Patch together a content
Of sorts. Miracles occur,
If you care to call those spasmodic
Tricks of radiance miracles.
The wait's begun again, The long wait for the angel.
For that rare, random descent.
Christmas with you.
For my nephew, Hudson
Some stories
have dying
in them.
Not all stories.
Today's story did.
Some stories
you will make,
some stories
will be made for you.
All stories
will shape you.
Some stories
have dying
in them.
All stories
have living
in them.
Most stories
have living
and then dying.
One story
has dying
and then living.
Keep looking
for the story
that has dying
and then living
and living
and living.
The trip home from Spokane
You haven't lived
until you've driven
ill-advised through
dusk-prepared Cascades
just after the first snowfall.
Therefore, we paused
even as we moved at speeds
only common to mankind
for the last half century.
Restart the track. Raise volume.
Restart contemplations. Raise eyes.
The winter-dusted hills here are haunted
with hints of threat.
These bastions,
these behemoth boneyards
of some corrupted past:
they taunt the very thought
that we could ever last
beyond today.
The next turn brings new vistas,
or ice patches, or pain.
It takes no great metaphor to gain
knowledge of our frailty;
only great attention
to ensure that it remain.
As songs - written and recorded by someone else -
the stereos now recite
attempt to tune their tones to this time-torn terrain,
the razor-peaks pierce our souls with mixed scents
of our imperfections
and their pine.
I must ask again:
Between the crest-settled stars
and the divine,
can you identify the line?
The mountains demand their poetry of us;
the rocks make men cry out on their behalf:
"Enter!
Here is no boundary
no border
no barrier to heaven
lest you misperceive it.
Here is summary of bounty,
but you disbelieve it.
There is no distraction, no matter how insipid,
you cannot be redeemed from.
Hell hath no fury
you cannot overcome."
Palm Springs From My Phone
What a life.
Excited to celebrate this week with some of the people I've been grateful for the longest
From Thanksgiving time last year :)
Of all the nuts, you're my favorite!
This was the day you snuggled me for a long time for no reason at all. It was a good day.
Sick and tired
This is you, being sick and tired and perfectly wonderful still. This is also us, being sick and tired and grateful you’re around to cheer us up. This was also your first trip to urgent care because we don’t know what we’re doing.
Sister Magic
Logan sent me this from across the state because I was having a hard day. I just want to remember how it made me feel — loved. She’s great at the loving thing.
Learning to sit in chairs
5 Months Blond
🐰
Toys vs. Tools
You sit in front of your toybasket.
I plop in front of my toolbox.
The two are not so different.
Toys are tools by which we enjoy
the world;
tools are toys which we employ
to build the world.
Both should be satisfying.
But when you get older
you will find few people feel this way.
Toys are freedom
they say,
and tools are chains.
Toys are happy
they say
and tools are sad.
Find the similarity in them:
tools can be happy,
toys can be sad.
Consider your tools toys,
and your toys tools.
Show all the world its secret joys,
and call out its hidden fools.
Nov. 4th
I honestly didn’t know I could love somebody’s cheeks so dang much. I miss them already because I know you’re going to grow up and have grown up cheeks.
The gift of staying still
Taking pictures of the same tree every year because I’m grateful just to be in the same place again.
2017
2018
Practicing your sitting while the daylight slips away.
All fall down and kisses after
What's Up Doc?
Wesley Wabbit
Remember, Remember
Little Pepper you turn three so very soon. Here's to you, little one, who always has a smile and an "I love you" for everyone. You bring so much laughter with your "accent" and your unique way of phrasing and naming everything. When I think of you, I cherish how you were such an easy friend to make! You've never made me work for your affection, you are so generous with it. I can't wait to learn even more about who you are this year.💞 I love you so much, little niece of mine!
"That was a good Walla Walla!"
