Wild weekend

We've had a heck of a weekend.  Friday afternoon we drove to Brooklyn for Jim's niece's wedding.  It was held in a TV/Movie studio called Steiner Studios--it was like pulling into one of those old time studio lots with the big overhead sign and the gate that has to be raised after you are deemed worthy of entry.  The wedding was held on the rooftop of Studio 6 as the sun went down and the city lights began to twinkle.

It was like the bride and groom looked into my heart and said "How can we do this to maximize Patty Anne's raw emotions?"  It was a Glee episode not unlike the episode where Finn's mother and Kurt's father get married. The groom and the wedding party broke into Queen's Somebody To Love which the bride finished solo on the arms of her parents.  THEN (as if that wasn't enough to reduce me to tears) the celebrant honored the ancestors and conducted a traditional Celtic tying the knot ceremony.  I'm not even going to share the whole "mother's last kiss" business because I still can't think about that without melting.  Sigh.  Then we got in the car and drove home by 4 AM. 

Then because we hadn't put enough miles on the car, we decided to take a ride to Cooperstown on Sunday.  There was a regatta on the lake

There was a hidden garden

And there were butterflies by the lake

Wild times and Wildlife all in one weekend.  It was great!

Happy Birthday Mom

Circa 1953 when she must have been about 19

Ceiling: 1 Patty Anne: 0

Jim's field hockey field

The water is out of bounds -- see the lines?

OK, I'm down by 1 and we haven't even had a full day of school yet!

Every now and again, we (and by that I mean ME) have to make new rules around the house.  I'm sure it's the same at your house.  Last week, Jim took the air conditioners and the fans from the windows and put them away.  It wasn't even September yet, but I could see some sense in taking the air conditioners out. I mean, winter seems to come along the same week as the Walton Fair every year.  But not the fans!  I usually take that stuff out at the end of September but keep the fans on hand.  Sure enough, we (and by that I mean I) had to drag the fans out again last night.  Yikes it was humid!


So here's the new rule:  The fans can be put away when I stop shaving my legs with the straight razor for purposes of wearing shorts.  There.

My new "rule" for the upcoming school year is based on the Staples Back to School supply commercials.  There's an elementary teacher needing glitter and tape that sticks; a music teacher singing about denim needs; and a gym teacher swinging down from the ceiling with a jump drive.  He says he doesn't know what a jump drive is, but those kids are going to be jumping.  He tells us that our kids will be having "a year long tug-of-war with the ceiling".  And therein lies my new daily motto.

I will face each crazy new initiative or state guideline or administrative directive with the resolve it takes to play tug-of-war with the ceiling.  For some of these challenges, I may decide to just bat the rope to the side and move forward.  I may decide to climb that rope (however long it takes) just to touch the ceiling.  Seems like a logical enough motto for my 33rd year of teaching.

Last Rose of Summer

I guess these are my last roses of summer 2011.  This is a rose bush I don't pay too much attention to but the pink flowers really "popped" in the hours after the winds and rains from Hurricane Irene passed our way.  I am impressed by their resiliency, especially since they are basically neglected.

Labor Day weekend always presents an opportunity to think about the past summer.  "What summer?" is my first thought, but that's just because I haven't really stopped to think about the last 12 weeks or so.  It's been filled with family events (a Long Island wedding, Pam's shower); home improvement projects; visits from family; Charlotte NC; and generally more relaxed days and nights.  It's hard to see it go.  I love the fall but it's hard to say good bye to summer.

Today I had the chance to participate in some hurricane relief efforts to benefit those east of us in Delaware County so badly affected by the storm.  It was a VERY small effort on my part and the level of appreciation far outweighed my actual participation.   The leader there made note that everyone deserves a chance to be part of the recovery.  It was good to help even in a very small way.  It was good to be reminded how generous people can be if you give them the chance.  New beginnings for the affected families as there is a new season on our doorstep.  Gotta admire that resiliency too. 

(Not the last rose of summer 2011)

There's your sign

This Lucy episode was on the TV at work yesterday (well, we had no internet so I had to do something).  The tech guy comes in to work on one of the laptops and says to me "So, what's her name again?"  YIKES! I'm not really sure when Lucy died, but it might be possible that she's been dead longer than he's been alive.

It seems to me that I've watched Lucy always--and I guess I have.  I remember Dad just getting so mad that we were watching Lucy again.  He didn't get it.  Neither did I--I mean, did he want us to learn humor from watching The Monkees instead?  And he hated them too, now that I think about it.  I have lots of Lucy videotapes and we've played them lots and lots of times.  At least my children know Lucy--and I daresay I'll bet they Love Lucy.

What television or pop culture icon will live on for our children the way Lucy has?  Will Seinfeld still be funny in 50 years?  Maybe--it was about everyday stuff so I guess it's possible.  Some of the characters have become part of culture:  Kramer and the Costanza wallet.  Will Lady Gaga still be Gaga in 2040? 


But still, I did not think there was much of anyone who didn't know Lucille Ball.  Or I Love Lucy.  He asked me when that show was on and I told him mid to late 50s and realized that makes the show just about my age. And there's your sign.  Guess I've got some 'splainin to do with anyone who doesn't Love Lucy.

The Nights are Long but the Years are Short

We have all experienced long long nights.  Usually it's because we are worried about something or someone.  Sometimes it's just because you can't sleep very well.  I had one of those long nights this past week.  Wide awake in the middle of the night thinking about everything from Irene to Ryan.  These are lyrics from the Red Hot Chili Peppers:  the nights are long but the years are short.

New parents often have long nights--and so do the children.  The kids can usually sleep it off during the next day, but the parents can't.  Parents of teenagers have REALLY long nights, especially that first summer they have their drivers license.  Curfews don't matter, only the sound of the car in the driveway brings peace and the chance for sleep.

But, at the same time, the years are very very short. As you know, we just celebrated the 20th anniversary of buying our house and Judy and Patrick celebrated their 20th annivarsary too.  Where did the time go?  The years are such brief images flashing by that they seem to blend into a seamless dream. 

Ryan went back to Cortland yesterday to start his sophomore year.  What a difference 12 months makes!  Ryan has grown so much in the last year and I'm very proud of him.  Much of the worry I lost sleep over a year ago melted into minor anxieties this summer.  He seems confident and happy and now I can rest easy.  Well, easier.  If only the damn hurricane winds and rain would stand down.........