I wrote this post back in February 2014, just as we embarked on a two year adventure of a detoxification and healing program. Maybe someday I will blog about that experience. But for now, this is a little snapshot of our imperfect but charmed life.
Wow. For the first three hours of today it seemed like catastrophes and stress bombs were going off non-stop.
The year went by in a blink. I’m grateful for the photos and videos we captured to remember all that happens while we’re busy with life.
What Happened?
“What Happened?” Meme from Adam Bobrow.
This morning’s breakfast conversation before going off to school started with drinking my homemade broth that needed salt. Bruce remembered an incident on our trip to China back in 2018. He must have been seven years old then. Below is a paraphrase.
B: I’ll never forget eating that salt packet.
K: Without water.
B: No, I drank a ton of water and it didn’t help.
V: That was the second time.
Me: Second time?!
V: The first time we were in the back of the relatives’ van and I had no water. The second time was in the restaurant.
Me: I had to teach Bruce that just because your sister does it or tells you to do it doesn’t mean you should do it.
V: I was curious!
Me: With the soaps too?
V: I was only tasting it, not swallowing it.
Me: Says the girl who ate the whole sunblock chap stick when she was three.
V: Well, I stopped eating everything I put in my mouth after 2nd grade.
K: Yeah. the paper… and the (something-something), and the (something-something).
V: Post-it notes are hard to chew and swallow.
K: I think it’s funny you had to teach Bruce not to go along with it. I stopped trying soap with Violet after that one nasty one with the Hawaiian volcanic ash.
V: So bitter!
Me: You keep life interesting. And joyful!
My favorite Disney movie in their renaissance era was Beauty and the Beast. It’s because I’m too pragmatic for love at first sight and an effortless happy ever after. I’m grateful that Belle and the Beast grew to love each other through their story.
I’m delighted that the musical version of this story exceeded my expectations and am proud of the production that Lovegood showcased. The songs have been on loop in my household throughout the three-week run and we’ve quoted our favorite lines repeatedly.
Jenni encouraged me to take day off in the middle of the week so we could go on a date. With the kids in school, we enjoyed staying at each exhibit for as long as we wanted, or at least until the animal did something photogenic.
The weather was a cool autumn temperature. None of the animals were active but the smaller crowds also helped us stay with them without blocking other patrons.
My parents were my ride to a wedding that I was the photographer. None of us had visited Astoria Column before, so we arrived early to enjoy the tourist attraction.
My dad surprised me by climbing the 164 steps to the top of the column, happy to take on the challenge. Though I managed to snap photos of the view, my palms were sweaty looking over the edge.
The winding staircase was dizzying on the descent but had a beautiful symmetry to it. Every 20-30 steps, there was a plaque naming people who reached that point.
I’m glad they were able to ride with me to the coast. We don’t often get to travel together so I treasure each opportunity I get.
A coworker invited me to photograph her wedding in Astoria. She had enjoyed my photographic style for company events and I’m grateful she thought of me. Their wedding was low-key and casual but I could feel the warmth of the friends and family gathered to celebrate. The weather was windy, but the blue skies gave a beautiful backdrop at the Astoria Column.
