Family

Hello all. Where to begin?

I’ll start with a shot of the cutting table at present. I was snapping this photo yesterday when I received the call that my father-in-law had died. The project has remained untouched ever since, a reminder of sudden upset and a shift in the week’s priorities.  We were able to get Isaac out the door almost immediately. He’s flown to Washington to comfort and support his mother and siblings. I wish we had been able to secure travel for me and the kids to go with him at that time. I adore my in-laws and am hurting for their loss. From what I hear, their evening was filled with much singing, both solemn and light, as well as requisite tears and a sprinkling of laughter. A healthy farewell. 

The news is still rather fresh and I haven’t yet sorted through my feelings, (currently a jarbled ponder). I’m glad to be heading their way with my son on Friday to offer hugs and tears, whatever comfort I can lend. Until then, I’ve taken on the mantle of grand pie-maker, as a measure of support for my husband…

In Isaac’s family, Thanksgiving can be a bigger deal than Christmas. And the fervor is most notably reflected in the pie-count. (I believe the record stands at 17 homemade pies for one Thanksgiving celebration.) Isaac has taken this tradition to heart and when we’re not celebrating with the Baileys, the pie-making falls to us (mostly Isaac). 

This was to be one of those years. So, Monday night, we set out as a family to gather supplies and foster that holiday feeling. We packed the fridge tight, with berries and butter and all sorts of yummy goodness, planning today as a full day of pie-making, with Elijah as apprentice. But then, with last night’s terrible news, the prime pie-man headed out of town in a hurry.

On the way to the airport to drop him off, our discussion was focused on pie and the logistics of successful pie-preparation. There was no talk of store-bought alternatives or even the weightier matters at hand. With this conversation, it became clear to me that these pies, especially this year, stand for more than good eats. In his buried grief, somewhere, Isaac wants the reassurance that Thanksgiving goes on, that pies go on, that life goes on. So tonight I make pies, lots and lots of pies: pies of love, pies of sympathy, pies of support, pies my husband would have made had our holiday gone as planned. Isaac will have his pies, even if he’s not here to share them. And with this, I hold the hope that my husband will know he’s loved.

So, today, I am thankful that the Baileys have Thanksgiving. That the love and laughter they share tomorrow will strengthen them through this painful time. I long to be there with them as they scurry about prepping all of the many necessary family traditions. I’ve never known a more passionate lot.

Well, I’m back.  It was a beautiful wedding and a delightful visit with Isaac’s family.  In between the wedding and the reception, I snuck off with my aunt for a family history tour (what a good sport – I hadn’t spoken with her for years and years, then she got a call from my dad that I was nearby and would like to spend the afternoon with her). 

I never knew any of my grandparents and I can barely connect names with faces when it comes to extended family, but oh how I’ve longed for those relationships!  In three-hours’ time, my aunt was able to show me the home or business of two sets of great grandparents and one set of great great grandparents.  We popped in for visits with 3 of my dad’s cousins (two of which are his ‘double cousins’ – his mom’s older sister married his dad’s older brother!).  Oh how I wanted to latch onto their legs and beg to be their granddaughter!  We only visited for a few minutes, but I was choked up at parting. 

The most emotional part of the day was meeting my grandmother’s sister, Joyce.  Currently 96, she was only one year older than my grandmother  — they were very close.  I learned that they shared a room in the attic of their home and were the same grade in school — their grandfather had donated the land for the one-room schoolhouse they attended.  My grandparents met in school, and before they married, Joyce and my great uncle double-dated with them.

What a wealth — my goodness, where has she been all of my life?  How come I never realized that she existed?  Here was this woman before me who held so much of my family history in her heart – so many of the stories and memories I’ve longed for from a grandparent.  I wish we’d met two decades ago and I had grabbed onto her leg back then — I’m sure she would have said, “Yes, I’ll be your grandmother!”  Now, at her age, she’s fading, as are the memories of her time.  I’m grateful to have met her and for that momentary glimpse of what my grandmother might have been like if she hadn’t passed four decades too early.

(Click here to read more about each photo — including one very sheepish memory)

I have a babysitter for today — the idea was to hunker down and meet some of my work goals before heading out of town for George’s wedding (Isaac’s brother). But, here I am all flustered and unable to focus — as I type this, my brother is in surgery for a kidney transplant — my dear, sweet brother and his dear, sweet donor. I’m both excited for him and nervous. So, admittedly, I’m indulging my distracted self in a little blog therapy — photograph something fun I’ve made and show it to my friends — a sure-fire, feel-better solution (you always say the nicest things – thank you!). And, here it is – a watercolor of Elijah’s name (if that wasn’t obvious). The “E” is a disembodied bird beak – who knows what I was thinking, but it’s cute, huh?

Anyway, if any of you are praying-types, please say a prayer for my brother! I should have news in a couple of hours.

UPDATE:  Well, everything went very well and all parts are working. It’ll be a number of weeks, with close supervision by specialists, before he’s given a full stamp of approval. Thank you for your prayers. 

I finally pulled out the wheat grinder I got for Christmas and gave it a whirl. Elijah needed some ‘mom and me’ time, so we baked whole wheat biscotti. They turned out OK — just a little bit too healthy-like. But, hey, they’re almost gone now, so that says something.

Laura is all moved out of her apartment — no looking back!  The muck of cleaning out old digs is done and the Haagen-Daz celebration is complete.  Now we can focus entirely on decorating her new home, at least for a few days. 

We’ve about finished the living room already — we still need to sew the curtains.  Then, it’s on to the kitchen.  With a number of her own paintings displayed, four framed transfers from my husband, and a fruit bowl in oils (from Dave’s grandma), Laura’s living room is a virtual gallery.  It’s really coming together.  And, what fun to decorate an older home — that dollhouse quality (not to mention the hardwood floors) lets us get away with such varied and inspiring colors. 

But, patience me.  I’m trying to resist spilling the visual beans on her whole-house re-do.  The girl should get to have her own thunder.  And I’m sure she’ll boom away, over in her neck of the woods, once she’s recovered from her big move and is ready to brag.  Till then, get your giddy-fix here:

A big girl at last,
Charlotte romps with cousin Lily and her galfriends.
“Last one out of the pool is a happy baby!”

Inflatable Heaven — another delightful day with the Gunns.

More shopping. It’s Elijah’s turn this week. He starts school next Monday!  (No worries, there’ll be no lovely stacks of sport socks or lunch foods in my Flickr.) I have mixed feelings, as usual. We’ve decided to enroll him in a different school district and we’ll be driving him nine miles each way, every day, twice a day. (Last year’s school is a half mile down the street.) It’s been a tough decision. But, when the current district changed the gifted program and 80% of the district’s gifted teachers quit, we knew we had to find a better solution. I think we’ve made the right choice on the school thing.  When Elijah’s challenged, he’s happy. And that’s what we want, a happy son. Say a prayer for us that this will all work out!

Still on the list:  backpack, lunchbox, shorts, underwear, and some audio books for the long drives ahead.