Chatting at the Lake
the boy
Millennium Falcon
It was the greatest moment of my life to that point: a new, clean Millennium Falcon, nearly as big as I, was mine.
At times all I could do was sit and look at it incredulously.
Now, over forty years later, it’s in the Boy’s room, though the newness has worn off — both from the Falcon and for the Boy.
Evening Reading
Family Outing
Our first family outing in some time. We took the kids for some Afghan cuisine and ice cream — something new, something loved.
E on a Bridge
Closure
When we put Nana’s ashes in the memorial bench, I had one thought lingering in the back of my mind the entire time: soon enough, we’ll be doing this for Papa as well.
So today brought a certain closure to it all. My parents are in their final resting place. Their urns are touching, together again.
During the short service, led by Nana’s and Papa’s pastor, there was talk of the hope we have in Jesus, the hope of eternal life together with God. I sat staring at Papa’s urn, hoping the topic wouldn’t come up in the after-service chat. I always feel awkward in those moments because I play along, agree with whoever is talking, and even say things that I don’t even mean or believe. Our neighbor, for example, was talking to me the other day about Papa’s passing.
“Well, he’s with Omi now, and they’re probably still hugging,” she said.
“No,” I laughed, “she probably isn’t done fussing at him yet.”
I don’t believe that, but I felt it was something that would give our neighbor a smile, and having lost her husband only this spring, I thought laughs are probably all too uncommon in her life these days.
In the evening, some family Uno, three-hand cribbage, and of course, our family favorite, badminton.
Soccer Fall 2021
Tommy
We bought the tickets back in May, when Papa was still here, still relatively stable. Things were relatively normal. But when a death comes, you start to second guess things.
Still, K and I have been so impressed with how the Boy has taken to guitar, how much he practices it, how interested he is in discovering new guitarists, that we decided that instead of it being a date night it would be a father-son-Mexican-feast-Tommy-Emmanuel evening.
I wish I could have gotten a picture of the Boy’s expression at times. “How is he doing that?!?” was a common comment.
Just listen to his show-closing (non-encore) version of “Guitar Boogie” to see what the Boy meant:
First Day 2021
It was yesterday, but I only got the pictures from K today. First day 2021. The Girl starts high school.
The Boy, now in fourth grade, is nearing the end of his elementary schooling.
These are big kids. How did that happen?
Other Years
Last Day of Polska 2021
Spykowice and Cribbage
One Last Visit
The last time this visit that E and his cousins get a chance to go to Wypasiona Dolina, the line park just outside Babcia’s village.
Krakow
Autograph
When a world-class athlete who’s won the World Cup twice, the world championship twice, and has three Olympic gold medals and a bronze — when this guy stops by your grandma’s house, you get him to sign anything you can find.
And why might this guy drop by your grandma’s house? Because your grandma is his aunt,
making you his second cousin. I think. Some kind of cousin.
Monday in Jablonka
Nowy Targ 2021
Riding around Jablonka
Wypasiona Dolina 2021
Despite the fact that L had a less-than-positive experience with the line park just outside of Jablonka, it became just about her favorite activity when at Babcia’s.
Overcoming
This year the Boy is old enough to do the larger courses, and it’s clear: he’ll probably share L’s opinion of the park.
Bike Ride
Birthday Lunch
