Coming Home

Howdy! I got back from three weeks in South Africa on the afternoon of October 7. I hit the Stopwatch on my iPhone about an hour into the five-hour drive from Wakkerstroom to the Johannesburg airport, and let it run until I opened the front door to the joyous kisses of Chet Baker. All told, this was how long I was in transit, getting home. The trip went very smoothly, but I gotta say, it's a hell of a trip. 

It was also completely totally worth it, and I will do it again!! More on that later. Maybe you'd like to come along?

  I had to stop on my way home to record The Three Graces, who are always a balm to my eye, but never more than on this crystalline October 7.

And being the compulsive documenter of all things wonderful, I had to shoot a photo or two of poor little Chet Baker before I opened the door and let him out.

He was, of course, rooing for all he was worth. METHER YOU SILLY PERSON LET ME OUT SO I KIN WASH YOUR FACE!!!

Which he did, and then he immediately took off on a long-overdue chiptymunk run. Just too much joy to contain, had to run away. Made me laugh!

BACON!! GET OVER HERE AND GUV ME KISSES!!

I just got home and you go running off around the corner of the house!! Get back here you worthless puppeh!

Oh right! Here I come, ready or not! Pucker up!!

If a dog can smile, this dog is beaming. 

I got home Wednesday afternoon. Friday night I had some paintings in a show that opened at Marietta College's Gallery 310. It was a nice opening, built around some Audubon prints, with three invited contemporary artists who use birds in their work. I think I represented the classic traditional bird painter. This photo was taken at about 6 pm, which was midnight by my donked-up internal clock. Tan, but not very rested nor ready to go! Thanks to Bill for coming to the opening and taking this photo. While I was gone, he'd not only held down the fort, cared for Liam and kept all my planties and fish alive and thriving, but he'd also overseen the Midwest Birding Symposium and the smashingly successful American Birding Expo! Whatta guy.

Saturday was given over to Liam's cross country meet about an hour away. He got a personal best in the race! 

Saturday night was Homecoming. Liam wanted to go to the dance. I volunteered to take him and wait outside the gym until he was done. I took plenty of work with me, but as soon as I'd kissed him goodbye I reclined the seat, closed my eyes, laced my fingers over my chest just like my Dad used to do, and slept in a quiet parking lot for 2 1/2 hours while he danced. After three weeks of trying to catch a little sleep in airplane and van seats while bolt upright, that Subaru felt like a private sleeping berth to me.

He came back, all aglow from having danced with a pretty girl, and asked me if he could stay another half hour. "Mom. I'm REALLY having fun now!"  Who was I to say no? Such joy! He ran back into the gym, into the thumping music and sweaty bodies. Finally the gym disgorged its overexcited and amped-up contents into the chilly October night.

We made our way homeward as midnight approached. He told me (mostly) all about it. 

What fun it is to see him starting his great big wonderful life! You can tell your kids they're beautiful, but they think you're just saying that because they're your child. They really never believe it inside until a member of the opposite sex shows real interest. Validation, as always, has to come from without.

Wha-ha-Happened?

I don't know what happened, I really don't.  While I had an awkward stage that lasted from first through ninth grades, my daughter seems to be morphing from cygnet to swan without a hitch. We're all mystified. Even her super-suave daddy was a bit gawky for awhile. Not so the Phoebster.

Liam is fascinated with his older sister. He adores her. Sure, they tussle and there's an ongoing battle over who gets the front seat in the Subaru or who gets to watch Cake Boss or Avatar, but he really, really loves her. I'm not sure she knows just how much she anchors his world. She's a second mama to him.

So it was a little confusing for both of us when daughter/sister/general good egg Phoebe stepped out of her room perfumed, becurled, and undeniably ravishing, ready for her first big night out as a high school student at the Homecoming Dance.

Liam's first reaction was to sniff her, to see if it was really Phoebe. My son as a dog. He sniffs everything.

Which was OK for a little while, but she smelled really good, and Liam kept sneaking a sniff here
and there.

Ak ak ak akgg

And then there was the problem of what to do with those long stems of hers. Fold them? Put them to one side or another? They just go on and on, unlike her mother's, which have a definite end in feet.

Just one more sniff. Phoebe: "Peach deodorant is catnip for creepers."

Time for some solo shots.

                                                       Whoops, he's baaaack.

She loves him, too. Neither of them seems to believe me when I tell them he'll one day tower over her. Just give him a couple of years.

One of my favorite shots. This was a hard shove which effectively removed Liam from the composition. Oof!

For a moment or two. Long enough for me to capture the essence of Fifi that still chokes me up every time I look at it. Like I said, I dunno what happened. I'm just glad it did. By the time you read this her braces will be off. Look out, world!