Today my friend Jeanette added a photo to Facebook. It was taken 20 years ago at her wedding: I am Puffy Sleeves #3 and #4 to the right of the bride, and Clark is the guy behind me who used to have hair. This photo captures the day – 20 year ago – that Clark and I became a couple. Dave and Jeanette matched us up … Continue reading Twenty Years Already?!
Well, we’re home. Five weeks is a long time to be away, and I’d almost forgotten how much I enjoy driving my own car and drooling on my own pillow. I do love my house, my beer pints, my shower, and… what else? Oh, that husband of mine! Boy was I glad to see him! The airport reunion between Clark and the kids was sweet, but they ditched their poor dad before we even made it to our driveway. The neighbors were out playing catch, so Clark slowed down for them to say hello. Sam stuck his head out the window and yelled, “WE’RE BACK!” The kids swarmed the car and before we knew it they were off. The last thing I heard was, “Woah, you’re all tan!” before they headed off for an 11PM play date. What can you do? Summer in Alaska… we were home!
A lot of my friends wonder how I handle going back to Nebraska to live with my parents for a month every summer. And to be fair, I think my parents’ friends wonder the same thing (in reverse). It seems that we all love our families, but maybe not all quite that much.
My brother and I grew up on a gravel road, several miles from the nearest highway or town. But you bloom where you’re planted, right? So one day we decided to give the lemonade stand thing a go. We set up shop at the bottom of our driveway, and parked ourselves in the sweltering heat. The traffic on our old country road averaged one car … Continue reading The no-lemons-but-only-lemonade-day!
We have this game we play at dinner called “Best & Worst,” where everyone at the table shares the best and worst events of their day. Today, hardly anyone had a worst to share. Maggie’s worst was scraping her knee when she fell off her scooter, and my worst was forgetting to take towels to the pool. None of the other six people at the … Continue reading The Very-Good-No-Worst Day
It’s ironic that we live in bear and moose country in Alaska, but the kids’ most scarring animal and insect stories always happen in Nebraska. In 2008 we had our first Nebraska summer trip, and our 4-year-old Sam was terrified through half of it. With his full-blown insect phobia, he wasn’t a happy camper in the tall weeds of Nebraska. I’d hold him on my … Continue reading Nebraska Nightmares
I’m worried about our old dog. Yesterday I came home and found her stuck half in and half out of her doggie door. It requires a slight hop to get through, and her back legs barely have the strength anymore. I helped her outside, where she struggled to squat and do her business. She typically prefers to be outdoors, but yesterday she wanted to come … Continue reading Yellow
“Bloom where you’re planted.” I have no idea who originally came up with this brilliant gem of advice, but I was the parent of a four-year-old the first time I heard it uttered by Teacher Tom at the Anchorage Cooperative Preschool. It’s one of those phrases that has stuck with me ever since. My family and I have just returned from the World Ice Art … Continue reading Blooming Where We’re Transplanted
Profoundly Ordinary 