Three Years a Widow

Somehow, 3 years have passed since I talked to Willis and had him respond.

Three years since the kids have been hugged by their daddy.

Three years since we heard his overly loud laugh.

We don't talk about him as often, and we don't miss him with the same devastating rawness. But he's still as gone. We still go on with our lives without him. And we still miss him.

Where is he? Who are we without him? How can he be gone?

I don't generally ask these questions, nor do I really need the answers.

It is enough to know that he was here, that we were a family, that he loved us and we loved him. Still do, as a matter of fact.

Later today, we will take flowers to Willis's memorial plaque, and we will revel in the memories. We love you, Willis, and we remember.

Do You Want to Know a Secret?

This is the meme that's currently going around. I feel like I cheated by using the Beatles, but I do love their music, and Rob would have chosen them, too. The answers were surprisingly accurate.

Using only song names from ONE ARTIST, cleverly answer these questions. Try not to repeat a song title. It’s harder than you think...

YOUR ARTIST: The Beatles.

Are you male or female: She's a Woman

Describe yourself: Ain't She Sweet

How do you feel about yourself: I Feel Fine

Describe where you currently live: The Long and Winding Road

The first thing you think of when you wake up: Roll Over Beethoven

If you could go anywhere, where would you go: Penny Lane

Your favorite form of transportation: Ticket to Ride

What is the weather like where you are at: I'll Follow the Sun

Your best friend is: Three Cool Cats

Your favorite color is: Yellow Submarine

If your life were a TV show, what would it be called: Long Tall Sally

What is life to you: Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da

What is the best advice you have to give: We Can Work It Out

If you could change your name, what would it be: Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds

Your favorite food is: Strawberry Fields Forever

How I would like to die: With a Little Help from My Friends

My soul’s present condition: Free as a Bird

What are you going to post this as: Do You Want to Know a Secret?

Now it is your turn— or not. List a few in the comments or link back at your convenience.

New Camera!

I have been hauling my new camera with me since I got it last week, and taking hundreds of images, including an eagle at the beach, Hannah's birthday celebration, the sky, flowers, the kids... It's a hot, happy time in my neck of the woods.

P.S. Thanks to Silverstar, who presented me my first blogging award, at right...

Kids- all sizes

Turns out, some things are, if not universal, then at least globally cross-cultural. Our Japanese 16 y.o. student, our 13 year old, the 13 year old from across the street, and his two 16 year old Japanese students, all male, were just gathered in our student’s mini-suite, watching Mr. Bean, and giggling. Five teenage boys, 3 of them brand-new in this country, giggling over Mr. Bean. Go figure....

Somehow, in spite of Rob’s and my intermittent weariness with parenting 4 children of our own, we seem to have become the neighbourhood’s kids’ hangout. It’s kind of cool. Mostly.

Sigh.

Grin.

Look what I found!

A friend, a dog, a geocache, some Thai food. Seattle has been a great place, not just for the convention, but for the extra-curriculars:

I had a super time with Silverstar tonight. She and Friday are both lovely, and Silverstar has a keen wit and insight. I suspect I'm on to a new hobby (geocaching), thanks to a demonstration and infectious enthusiasm about same.

A little poetry, a little miscellany

•Wrote this a few weeks back- I still get a kick out of it.

hollowed out shadow of invisible self
unseen, unseeable
the dog barks at the nothingness which is me
the cat stares into the corner
which is where i am
hovering
above the nothingness in the corner
if you look up, will you see me?
the cat can
and she's not too swift

•Five of us from work are heading to Seattle this weekend for a veterinary conference- looking forward to it. We're going to see Othello on Saurday night- I haven't seen it since Grade 8. I hope the weather improves- the trip across the Juan de Fuca Strait is gorgeous in the late afternoon sun.

•On Canada Day (July 1st), I turned my body into a Canadian Flag: red borders, white in the middle, with a maple leaf in the centre. I had fun in the sun, regardless of consequences.

•I'm lovin' on my house and kids. :) I think Rob and I must be nuts for thinking adding a student to the chaos in our home would be beneficial. That said, I'm looking forward to it.

•Summer really is a marvelous invention.

Faces

See those faces? Those faces are the reason I continue to draw breath.

Sometimes, they are the faces that make me want to hold my breath and count to ten; sometimes they are the faces that make my breath

blast forth with extreme force and volume.

Often, they are the faces that make me catch my breath and

drop a kiss on those downy-soft, sweet and sweaty heads.

My kids are sometimes my greatest trial.

Ultimately, they are my salvation; they make me want to be a better human.