Seven Months

I didn't get a six months letter written to puppy but I have gotten a seven month letter written. Here goes...

Oh Puppy,

Tomorrow will be your seven month birthday and I can't imagine life without you. I am so fortunate to have you in my life, you bring me so much joy!

The past seven months have been such big months for you, Daddy & I. Daddy & I have struggled to learn how to care for a helpless creature from our loins, we've had to abruptly and happily adjust our lives to fold around yours, to protect you and support you. You, my son, have had to adjust to life outside of my womb, you are learning things every day - Every Day! You've had to learn how to eat and sleep, you are learning about heat and cold, how fascinated you are by the wind, watching leaves as they sway in a breeze! Just two nights ago you were crawling, really crawling on your hands and knees. You were so intent to reach Dante, the cat, your tongue was sticking out and the look on your face was focused but so, so pleased that, yes, now you could move!

You are an international traveler already. We had to get you a passport so when you were around two months old we took you to the office. We waited two hours and you were hungry by the time we were next in line. As a result, you are crying in the picture on your passport. Your first passport is good for five years. You will be identified by this two month old, crying picture for five years.

In September we took you to meet your very large Costa Rican family. There was so much love for you there, the leaving was very difficult. We were all very sad to go, even Juanho was triste.

I am so going to miss nursing you when you eat solid foods exclusively. I never imagined I would get such fulfillment from feeding you from my breast. I will cherish these memories forever, you nursing, me holding you close to my body, feeling your little hands scratching and pulling at me.

I look forward to speding every minute I can with you. I am so very excited to watch and support you as you grow into the fine, upstanding and sensitive man I know you will become.

Happy Birthday, Puppy, know that I love you so very much and that I want all the happiness of the world for you.

With all the love you can ever imagine,
Mommy

Stitch & Sew

The handmade burp cloths I wrote about in my previous post have made me want to sew again. I signed up for a course at the local community college which has totally awakened the demon within! I have since made several burp cloths, have fabric for more, made a small quilt from a kit, made a table runner in class & we are making pajama bottoms in class.

I forgot how satisfying making something from scratch can be. Memories of my mother, staying up all night to complete a project run through my mind. I feel more connected to her, my seamstress mother. I am also really enjoying myself, immensely.

9.24.09

Eeek! I got my period again! Fourteen months later, cramps, greasy skin, tears & everything!

Johnny go Ska!

At the festival, not understanding the language,I look around & watch. As I'm checking out the
people & surrounds I see this notice.This drew my attention instantly & while I was nursing
puppy I was able to read it & remember.


Ska! Latin Ska!
There was a time in my life when I would have done a lot just to see this show Just for the novelty of seeing a ska show in another country.

Quite a few times my friends & I would drive
from Atlanta to New Orleans, Athens or Augusta
to see a show, then drive back to see the same show in Atlanta. How we did it, I don't know. The drive to New Orleans was 9 hours, then we'd
watch the show, party all night, pass out & then awaken, drive back to Atlanta to do it all again.

Alas, there wasn't a date on the flyer & it did look a tad old. I didn't get to see the show but it's better this way. A ska show is no place for a 41 year old lactating Mommy.

Rockers

I've always been the one on the outside looking in. It fascinates me to watch people in a crowd.



Recently, on a trip out of the country I was at a celebration - Heaven for a people watcher like me! There were a lot of typical looking people

around but the ones that fascinated me the most were on the fringes. Go figure. I'm sure this doesn't surprise some of my friends.



There were many different groups of young

men, basketball players, motorcycle riders, etc. Then there was the group I'll call "Rockers".



It's so interesting how some styles cross international lines so completely. There's one guy
(on the right in the goofy position) in this photo that I swear lived in Atlanta when I did. He even has the low cut tank top on that I distinctly remember (why do they wear these shirts?). It's hard to tell in the pic, since I was trying to be slick, but the hair is the kicker. I remember in the lat 80's, early 90's seeing Rocker boys with this same exact hair style. The lame ponytail with the shiny, limp hair in front, hanging in his eyes. But really - everything is there - the big black (ill fitting) boots, blue jeans tucked in the boots, the low cut shirt(really, what is up with these shirts, anyway?) & the hair. He is the tops.

His friends have the rocker look, too - but not as severe. Look at the 70's long hair (fro?) stuck under the ballcap. That ballcap barely contains that fro! The jeans & cords, Dickies style work clothes & logo shirts are Rocker all the way.

If I were 18 or 19 again I'd be in Heaven, devil horns all the way! Rock on!

He whose feet haven't touched ground in two weeks

Is not a happy boy.

It's like being on a rollercoaster ride & I'm not behind the controls.

I feel like Dooce!

Just like Dooce, I recently has an air travel celebrity encounter. Moving quickly through Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston, TX saturday, running between customs & the departure gate for the flight to Baltimore, it happened.

I almost ran right into Russell Simmons, brother to Reverand Run (of Run DMC) and cofounder of DefJam Records.

I stopped square in his face & said, "Hi Russell", he looked at me, raised a finger, a huge grin rising up his cheeks and finally asked me, "Where do I know you from?". LOL! I told him he didn't know me & he replied that he thought it was something like that. I kinda kept going but turned around before I was too far away & said to him, "By the way, great thing with the yoga.".

He stopped & asked me if I practiced & I replied that I did, Iyengar, to which he replied that that was good, we all need good alignment. I moved on.

What a cool cat! I think he would have talked to me more about yoga if I had had the time, he was very laid back & seemed interested in talking about it.

I bet you're wondering how I know he practices yoga, aren't you? Well, I watch Cribs ya'll, and he & Kimora Lee Simmons house was featured on the show (when they were still together) and he spoke of yoga then. Since I'm old enough to remember the beginnings of Rap and grew up in the Northeast I knew who Russell Simmons was.