On the way south – a stop at Van’s Bar-B-Q for really delicious brisket served on waxed paper with onion, pickles and a jalapeno on the side.  Their heavily-grafetti’ed tin walls now sport a “Team Katniss” slogan.  As we approached Nuevo Progresso, Lois asked, “The beer billboards are all in Spanish now.  Does that mean we’re close?”

 The obligatory “between two countries” shot. 

“Bike Expo and Tattoo Convention” – two good reasons not to return on Cinco de Mayo. 

First great find of the day – purses for me.  For more than a decade, I’ve used backpack purses exclusively.  They’re hard to find.  Last month – while battling a migraine – I accidentally cut the straps of the purse I was using.  Dumb.  Lois was using her Vera Bradley backpack purse (left) which just happened to be in my favorite Yellow Bird pattern.  I sweetly asked her if I could borrow it until we went to Mexico.  Or maybe I dumped its contents into a Wal-mart plastic bag, shoved that at her and grumbled, “You wouldn’t mind loaning me your purse for a month, would you?”  Either way – she loaned me hers.  I bought three identical black leather backpack purses at $23@.  That should hold me a few years.  Normally, women buy knock-off Coach bags, and Juicy, and the like.  I don’t care about the label.  I care about the functionality.

Sweet Sop drink mix thrilled Keith and Hannah.

Begin fanned by an older sister?  Oh, no, Julia’s not spoiled.   After all…..

…she begged for a sword and didn’t get one.  You ever heard five people all shout “No!” at once?!

The most exquisite items we saw:  Collapsible tin nativity sets – but these were different than we’d seen before.  In addition to the holy family, they sported prop-up wise men and their transport animals, including an elephant.  The colors were jewel-brilliant

A great view of the main drag from the third-floor of Angel’s “Bar, Restaurant and Dental Clinic.”  Lunch for six with drinks, an appetizer and entrees:  $40.  Their warm salsa with salty chips – magnifico!  Try the cheese enchilladas and the chicken tacos.  Good store on the ground floor, too. 

Mexican dresses – a “must buy.”  Lois favors the wrap-around, wispy style; Rachel, Hannah and Julia are more traditionalists. 

Street vendors asked $5/pair for sunglasses – but we paid $4/pair, of course.

This is what a talavera elephant, manatee and bird look like in the store.

Box them with a talavera chicken, and they look like this, i.e., taking up most of the back of the Expedition.  Come by this summer and you can see what they look like in the backyard menagerie.  We drove by a “Rent-A-Tire” business and Lois asked, “Can you do anything with those tires?  Or are you limited to driving?”

For the first time ever – we crossed the border twice.  Normally, we are “go up one side of the street, down the other, and go home” people.  We were getting ready to leave Sunday morning when Lois realized she couldn’t find a $2 name bracelet she just had to have.  I stayed with the packed car while Keith took the girls  back across.  The good part:  We learned all the stores and the street vendors are open Sunday.  We’d always thought we had to shop Monday – Saturday.   This gives us a little more flexibility in scheduling family outings.

A spill of bright red soda on Hannah’s one remaining clean shirt prompted her to ask Keith for his last clean shirt – a spiffy blue Hawaiian number.  Rachel accused her of trying to “grab all the hot babes” with it.  Hannah was the only one who thought to bring movies to watch on the five-hour drive.  They watched “Halloween Town” on the drive down.  Rachel begged for a different flick on the drive home, so Hannah gleefully pulled “Halloween Town 2″ from her purse.

Lest we forget why the border agents have a tough job…..

Esperamos volver – we hope to go again next year.  Angel’s chicken tacos are calling……

Rachel has been our next gen early adopter of all shiny objects with buttons.  Here’s a four-minute jaunt through her technology graveyard.  Of course, she’s the one I took to the office at age 12 to help with a volunteer project -  mailing T-shirts.  At lunch she asked me, “Mom, have you ever heard of a typewriter?  It’s kind of like a printer but it’s just text.”

Lately, I’ve been reading about “nomophobia,” or the acute fear of being out of cell phone contact.  At first I thought, “That’s just one more twitch of the psyche for people without enough real problems.”   But Hannah’s question made me think, and I see that I, too, have succumbed to nomophobia. My AT&T iPhone is either in my purse, in my hand, on my desk or charging on the kitchen counter.  I’d be lost now without it – literally, and figuratively.

Last month, I represented AT&T at the Ft. Lauderdale  She Streams vlogging conference.  I shot this picture with my iPhone.  From a cab window!  In years past, I would have taken a camera with me.  Photobucket has a lovely app for direct upload.  You don’t lose your pixel quality like you do emailing and then uploading shots from a p.c.

My phone is my entertainment (Words with Friends).   Before I get to work in the morning, I’ve scanned my office and personal email using the WI-fi on the bus.  If I’m lost, I either use its GPS, or call Keith to direct me from his.  I use a credit card at Sam’s for the rebate, but don’t like the big bill at the end of the month.  Before I leave the store, I’ve logged into my bank account and sent a payment to cover the charged amount.  One of my older girls has an unexpected expenditure – I can move money to her account.  I don’t carry my bible to church any more – I use the app.  I text my “MyCokeRewards” now.  Heck, I text with my older girls all day.  Keith gave me directions within a building once using Facetime – I could show him where I was.  We’ve stopped printing Groupons, etc. – we use our phones.  The trip to Ft. Lauderdale was the first time I used an electronic boarding pass – swiped my phone, got on the plane.

I am not a fantasy book lover.  Hardly ever read the stuff.  But I did read Stephen King’s “Dark Tower” series, and there was a recurrent phase that totally resonated with me:  “The world has moved on.”

Our world really has moved on.  I have noticed that those most folks contemptuous/suspicious/irritated  of or by wireless smart phone (smart phone + has an operating system, uses a data plan) usually live in a very well-defined niche.   That’s not saying a niche is “good” or “bad” – simply that “it is.”   When we lived in Houston, I was more “niche-y” than anyone I know now.  If you’re in a niche, you know that one place to stop and get directions.   Email is something you might check daily – or not.  You carry paper pictures tucked in crevices of a wallet still sporting a check book.  You don’t shop much – if ever – online because you go to the same stores which likely feature paper coupons.   Your friends may be in the same type of niche, which works well.   The rub, of course, is that tricky next generation, and the one after that, and the one after that.  Because the next generation never goes backward on connection methods, and they don’t wait.  The world keeps moving on.

Because the world keeps moving on, I’d watch for nomophobia to become more and more prevalent – in fact, I think it’ll be the norm.

You could call your doctor about it, of course.

Just don’t try to use a pay phone to do it.

Red velvet, too – yum!

Sarah always makes us very welcome, which is fortunate – since we’re coming to her house regardless.  With all our bags.  And pillow pets.  And 12-packs of Diet Coke.  Which everyone will have to step around in the entry way, so sorry, really, Clark, we’ll be taking it with us when we leave here next month.

Couch Fulla Cousins:  James, 5; Rachel, 20; Julia, 12; Lois, 18; Hannah, 16; Laura, 8.  Strange to think this may be our last spring break with a full house, since Lois leaves for A&M in the fall.

We spent Monday the Houston Livestock Show.  I don’t like animals, but I love the fair atmosphere.  Plus we got a free koozie for checking in on Facebook, and I’m all about the $Free.99.

Julia’s first candy apple, inspired by cousins Laura and James.  Sarah and I swore we were going to devour fried Milky Way bars, but when we got to the concession stand, we were just too hot and tired to think about them.  Neither of us had sense enough to wear shorts instead of jeans.  We slurped multiple bottles of cool water instead of licking gooey caramel deliciousness from our fingers.  Next year, Sarah – next year.

Don’t let these babies get your goat, girls.

Cabrito on the hoof!  Hannah was smiling a lot more Monday than she has been today.  She had six (count ‘em – six!) wisdom teeth removed this morning, plus an oral cyst.  Glad we went to Houston earlier because we’ll sure be staying close to home the remainder of spring break.

Julia spent about 10 minutes in front of the bee exhibit, trying to locate the queen.  I joked, “She looks a lot like me!”  But alas – my humor was lost on her.  Sigh.

So Happy Pi Day – and Spring Break!  Hope you have a sweet to celebrate – maybe even a fried Milky Way.

Rachel, Lois and Hannah each got a special trip for their ninth birthdays.  I took Rachel to American Girl Place in Chicago.  Keith took Lois whale watching in Seattle, and Hannah to San Francisco.

Keith took my very favorite picture e-v-e-r of Hannah on her special trip.  He had a full day planned, but she saw the Pacific ocean and begged to stop.  That’s where they spent most of the day.  This pictures captures “her” – joy and abandon.

But for Julia’s ninth birthday – the trip just didn’t work out.  We had first-year college expenses for Rachel, plus we were saving vacation time and every dime for the family cruise in December.  Julia wasn’t home to hear about the trips of Rachel, Lois and Hannah so I’m not sure her being shorted was bothering her as much as it bothered me.

One day, Keith and I would like to take her back to Russia to visit.  Let her see the beauty of St. Petersburg.  But that is a few years away, sooooo….

To celebrate her recent (12th) birthday, I took Julia to Space Center Houston to have lunch with an astronaut.  Rachel and Hannah couldn’t afford to miss work, school, Girl Scouts, etc. but Lois – grinning wickedly about “senior spring” – tagged along.

Julia’s fifth grade teacher  has their room decorated in “Early NASA.”   They’ve held several video conferences with NASA’s educational staff, and next week – they’re studying the moon.  Great timing for this trip, no?

When we lived in Houston, we visited often.  Lois (center) was only five years old in 1998 when “Space Family Woodworth” shot their Christmas card photo on site.

The three-story playground – a huge hit.   I, however, preferred the stairs to return to the ground level.

The older girls tease Julia about having a “six pack of abs,” but those weren’t much help lifting a planetary-adjusted weight.

While Julia spun around 360 degrees in this capsule….

…Lois and I could watch her on this exterior screen.  Omigosh!  Good that we did this before lunch.

Before enjoying lunch with astronaut Ken Cameron, we heard him speak for 30 minutes in the Blast Off Theater.  He spent a year training in Russia with cosmonauts.  My favorite Russian had a million questions for him – until he sat down at our table.  Then it was all “nodding of the head” and “chewing of the chicken strips.”

One small girl; one giant Saturn V rocket – part of the tram tour.  You may be asking, “Where are all the other people?”  Answer:  We went on a rainy Friday.  We had the place virtually to ourselves.  We never waited in line,  or had to elbow someone at a display.  It was awesome.  The perfect time to go!

The Saturn V building made great use of QR codes.  Lois and I got a huge kick out of scanning the codes for more info like…..

….a photo of and links to more info on the third stage.  Don’t have the AT&T scanner?  Well, heck - get it now!

The magic of a green screen!

We ended the day (5 p.m.) where we began (10 a.m.) – in the play area.  Julia absolutely loved building motorized “lunar rovers.”   This is my favorite picture of the day because it captures her fascination and concentration.

Next year, Julia will be a teenager and we’ll start those delightful adolescent experiences.

But for this year – I’m glad to still have a child to enjoy an out-of-this-world birthday.

My sister Judy (pictured), my brilliant niece Sarah and I did quite a bit of thizzzz.  We are always ready to settle down for long winter’s naps.

This was my usual view of the kids this week – the backs and sides of heads clustered around whatever iPod, DSi, Nook, Android, iPhone, etc. was handy.  Laura – age eight – picked up Rachel’s Android tablet for the first time and had pulled up Netflix in moments.  They all amaze me.

And now we’re on countdown for the happiest of birthday parties.

Merry Christmas!

Highland Lakes is really gorgeous.  Lots of trees, sports equipment, worship center and – of course – the gift shop!

The Highland Lake is way, way low.  See all the brown dirt at the water line?  That’s supposed to be under water.  Boat launches everywhere are high and dry.  The nearby rivers are more like streams – if that.  Please, Lord – send rain.

The happy camper and her parental units.

Four camp workers share a very “compact” room with two sets of bunkbeds.”  Notice Rachel’s Nemo blanket, which she swindled me out of talked me into in Mexico.  Hannah sent her the stuffed porpoise she’s clutching.

The wall behind her bunk bed, filled with cards and notes.  Thanks to everyone who sent her a 20th birthday card.

I purchased a box of “camper candy” in the gift shop, mostly so Rachel could check me out.   I’ll slip the box into Julia’s suitcase when she heads to children’s camp at Camp Tejas next month.   Hannah is on the church bus right now, set to return from Snowbird Wilderness Outfitters in North Carolina tomorrow morning.  Lois leaves tomorrow morning for the Latin Junior Classical League competitions in Kentucky.  My children have far more glamorous social lives than do I.  I always wanted to go to church camp and we couldn’t afford it.  It means a lot to me that they can go.

Rachel will be home in a few weeks, but visiting her room made me think of how I’ll behave when I visit my girls’ more permanent domiciles in years to come.  Hmmmm – let’s see:

      -  I’m flipping off my shoes wherever I want.  And leaving them there.  In fact – I’ll step over them.

     -  Coasters?  Tell me again – what are they?

     -  I’m coming into their rooms to “borrow” socks, shoes, pantyhose, jewelry - whatever isn’t nailed down.

     -  My dishes?  Anywhere is fine.   Especially on the “rinse” side of the sink.  Just sitting there.

     -  If I see a full trashcan in the kitchen – I’m shoving my empty Sonic cup down into just as hard as I can.

     -  Every one of my hot showers is going to last at least 45 minutes.  And require a quart of shampoo.

And finally…..

     -  If the home phone rings – I’m not answering.  It’s not for me.

Hannah, 15; Julia, 11; Lois, 17.  More room in the car without “the one,” but still – kind of odd.  I’m used to counting noses and I was one short.

A water-filled sand hole is great for cooling feet.  I’m paranoid about everyone wearing beach shoes but really – I saw not one sliver of glass.  Not one.  Lots of trash cans, too, and families picking up after themselves.  Very nice!  The girls and I caught 1,000+ little clams our last afternoon and set them free while Lois sang, “Carry On My Wayward Son.”

Hannah of the “Watch this!” fame…..

In the car, Hannah and Keith were arguing one of the finer points of a Harry Potter novel when Lois said, “This family couldn’t be any nerdier unless we were discussing Dr. Who.”  Keith’s response – “Which version?”

We all loved Sea Turtle, Inc. - South Padre’s sea turtle rescue center.   We texted pictures to Rachel, who had to give away her getting-too-big turtles before she left for the summer.

We had to hurry home Thursday in time to unload the car, eat, nap and be ready for the midnight opening show of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows:  Part 2.   We bought our D-box tickets within an hour of their going on sale several weeks ago.  Keith and I each checked the movie sites 10 – 20 times daily for months to better our chances of getting D-box seats.  We bought eight tickets, so each daughter could take a friend.

Hannah and her friend Dani; Lois and her boyfriend Alex (who flew in for the occassion from Dallas, where he’s spending the month with his dad); Julia and her friend Alliyah.  Lois and Hannah spoted Harry Potter-themed shirts.  In preparation for Part 2, we watched the first seven movies in the last 10 days.

My favorite wizard, in his Father’s Day shirt.  Lots of people in costume – Death Eaters, Quiddich players, students – I was a little jealous in my Muggle-esque shorts and T-shirt.

We had a (wizards) ball at the movie, but it was also a little sad.  It’s the end of an era for us.   Keith, Lois, Hannah and I have all read the books – they multiple times, me just once.  Julia is reading them now.  We’ve all seen the movies opening night at midnight, except for Rachel this time, and me in 2007 when I needed to stay home with Julia.  Hannah wasn’t quite six years old in 2001 when we all went to see Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone – she slept in my lap for all but the first few minutes.   Just kind of hard to realize – Yep, it’s over.

And the days of our family easily going on vacation – or even a long weekend – together are over, too.  Rachel’s gone this summer – has a part-time job during the school year – has responsibilites at church.  Lois is a senior this year and who knows what she’ll be doing next summer?  Her grades are excellent and she wants to go away to college (and she should.)   Plus she and Hannah – who will be a sophomore this year – are immersed in Latin and its competitive practices.  Hannah has worked at Girl Scout camp part of this summer and is talking about working all of next summer.  Julia is still around, of course, but even so – this is her last year of elementary school.

Our family is changing – growing up – pulling away.  It’s normal, of course.  It’s what parents want.  I sure don’t want our girls living at home indefinitely. 

I’ve been thinking about this a long time, as they’ve matured.  Babysitting jobs – then real part-time jobs.  Report cards and tests and then the grades that really count.  Driver’s Ed and then car insurance and then worrying every time they’re late.

There’s an exchange between Harry and Dumbedore in Part 2 that spoke to me:

     Harry:  Is this real?  Or has this been happening inside my head?

     Dumbledore:  Of course it is happening inside your head, Harry, but why on earth should that mean it’s not real?

Change is happening in my head, and it’s real.

And there are definitely things I’m going to miss.

Our dear family friend Jean was coming to visit.  Jean was at the hospital the day I was born and holds in place in my heart like no other.  She arrived a-okay and that – at least – went according to plan.

Jean and me today.  She’s recently moved to Mexico and – at age 87 – is learning Spanish so she can minister to those near her.  We spent part of yesterday afternoon in search of new walking shoes because she doesn’t use a car in her community.  Why exactly do I whine about church committee meetings and having to drag myself through Costco?

Part of our plan was for Keith, Lois, Hannah and Julia to go visit Rachel yesterday at Highland Lakes, the summer camp at which she’s working. Keith – knowing her passion for all things tie-dyed – bought white T-shirts and fresh color kits so they could create custom shirts to wear for the visit.   They did get to go – that part of the plan went well.

Me thinks she was surprised when she opened the door and saw their tie-dyed shirts.  They brought two new ones for her, too.

They spent the day together messing around Austin.  Keith planned to leave by 7 p.m., but here’s where the plan crumbled.

Highland Lakes is gorgeous.  And Rachel was in no hurry for them to go.  So they tramped around until 9 p.m.

Mighty pretty scenery!  Julia – 11; Lois – 17; Rachel – 20; Hannah – 15

In the meantime, Hannah got a email.  If she wanted to volunteer the next few days at Girl Scout camp – which she did – she needed to be there by 1 p.m. today (Sunday.)  If we had known that earlier, Keith and the girls definitely would have left Highland Lakes earlier.

They got home after 11 p.m. last night.  Hannah had to get packed for camp.  Keith had to leave with her by noon today.  So —–

      We didn’t eat breakfast together.  Oh, sure, I made Keith’s favorite quiche, but he and Hannah were up late getting her somewhat ready so they slept late. 

      We didn’t go to church together.  Hannah and Keith stayed home – she to finish packing, him to get lunch ready so he could leave by noon.  This was particularly disappointing.   He missed (the most excellent) Father’s Day sermon, plus acknowledgement with the other fathers by the congregation.

      He had to rush opening his gifts after lunch.

It occurred to me that while we had plans for Father’s Day that were derailed – they were changed only because Keith is a real father.  He wanted to visit his eldest child and surprise her with tie-dyed shirts for the whole family – neat!  They stayed longer than expected because Rachel didn’t want them to leave – sure.   He stayed up with Hannah last night, then shepherded her this morning – fine.  He made lunch for all of us so we could hurriedly eat and he could transport Hannah – uhhh, okay.

So instead of getting fussed over all day today – Keith spent most of it ensuring his family had what he wanted them to have.

Happy Father’s Day to the man who knows that his children replace our ”plans” in any equation for celebration.

Rachel is leaving Friday to work at Highland Lakes Camp this summer, so we decided a quick trip to the border in 100 degree heat was the perfect send-off.  It’ll make her appreciate the shade of all those pine trees ringing that shiveringly-cool body of water.

Snap!  I always make  ask the girls stop in front of the U.S./Mexico boundary crossing sign so I can take a picture.  They humor me.  Not too gracefully.

Beer - it’s not just for breakfast anymore.  Though at 10:30 a.m., it qualifies.  This brew was “Indio,” a new one for Keith who loves to sample the local cuisine.

Buying movies off the street is always a crapshoot.  Hannah’s copy of “New Moon” was perfect.  Last year, though, her “Twilight” was in Chinese with Spanish subtitles.  Rachel’s “Precious” was shot with a hand-held camera (complete with shaking) and you could hear a guy speaking Spanish in the row behind.   I am sad to say X-rated trash is also being sold now. 

The Great Physician

Much lovely Talavera for sale, including some really large pieces like this moon face.  At Julia’s request, Keith brought back a bending flamingo to keep our original upright flamingo company.  He also got a cow skull for the fence and a roadrummer for the yard.  The only piece that broke:  a new spoon rest for the kitchen.  I saw more lovely Talavera dishes than ever before, and those would have fed my terrible dish weakness.  I think Keith would have endured (yet another set) of dishes at home, but the thought of lugging them across the border convinced me to be sensible.  Those plastic-handled shopping bags grow heavier with each step taken.  As Rachel groaned, “My shoulders are coming out of their sockets.”

We’ve never gotten a “service” before – no manicures, pedicures, or sweet tats – but Rachel wanted a hair wrap.  So we waited while she got a hot pink string woven into her hair.   Hannah took the opportunity to order seven matching name braclets ($3@) for her “seven pack” of friends at church.  When Rachel’s hair was done, so were the bracelets.

Time for a candied pecan break.  Sadly, the one restaurant we trusted had closed (in fact, many businesses had closed since last October) so we didn’t eat lunch in Mexico.  It was too hot to eat much anyway. 

I’ve said for years – if it’s got a screen, Julia is in love with it.  When we stopped for Cokes, she immediately plopped herself in front of this tiny TV with a talent show playing.  Mind you, it was in Spanish -which she does not speak.  And the performers were singing, which is generally not to her liking.  But she was mezmerized. 

Rachel’s prize of the day – and also the last one for the family - a ”Finding Nemo” blanket which Rachel desperately wanted to take to camp with her.  “Finding Nemo” is her favorite movie and it always makes her cry….of course, so do many commercials.  She was out of money, of course.  I vacillated, since the only blankets we buy are the lovely cotton Mexican weaves and  she was supposed to stay within her budget.  What sold me – its clear plastic packaging denoted it as part of the “Rachel Collection.”  “Mom, it’s meant to be!”  I suppose so since I got it for her as a have-fun-at-camp gift. 

We had a lot of fun this weekend.  Julia would live in a hotel if we’d let her.  Just the experience of a room key, little shampoo bottles  and a TV at the foot of her bed thrills her.  She’d be just as happy at the Courtyard a mile away as she was in Weslaco.  Rachel, Lois and Hannah love trolling for bargains.  There is just no such thing as too many purses, head bands and skirts as far as they’re concerned.   Keith and I enjoy a break from the daily grind.  I think anything I don’t have to cook and clean up is delicious. And let’s face it – there’s a bit of excitement to going somewhere a passport is required.

But as much fun as it was – there’s no place like home, especially when you live in a country that allows you to visit another and return of your own free will.

 God bless the U.S.A.  Thanks, veterans!

We’ve not traveled for Sisters Day since our first celebration in 2007.   Five years home – it was time.   So at the girls’ request, we had a weekend in Austin – about 90 miles north of us, but oh-so-different.

“Keep Austin Weird” is more than a slogan – it’s a commitment.  Often described as “Texas’ Left Coast” or “The Third Coast,” Austin is a mecca for aging hippies, today’s hipsters, UT students in shorts, lawmakers and lobbyists in suits – and all manner of folk in between.   Julia didn’t really care about the slogan.  She just likes tie-dyed clothes. 

As we’ve done before – everyone got to pick out a new book but this time at Book People – the largest independent book store in Texas.  Hannah surprised me with an autographed copy of Connie Rice’s  autobiography for Mothers Day – score!  Hannah – “Twilight – The Official Illustrated Guide.”  Rachel – “My Booky Wook” by Russell Brand.    Lois – “This is a Book” by Demetri Martin.  Julia – a book about crystals and gems, which I am hoping she can use to develop her fifth grade science project next year.   

A little iPod action while awaiting our lunch from Flip Happy Crepes, the trailer the girls and I visited last June sans Keith.   Everyone got something different, but mine was the best – fresh spinach with feta and garlic.  So, so good.  We also hit Cornucopia Gourmet Popcorn.

Trailer eateries have mushroomed in Austin.   This one – Hey Cupcake – sported a funny sign on its back door.

We took a two-hour cruise around Lake Lady Bird arriving back on shore with pink noses.   Julia was disappointed we weren’t kayaking with all the college students and their dogs.  The most interesting part of the cruise…

 ….was definitely passing under the Congress Avenue bridge, where 750K pregnant bats currently live in the cracks.   We couldn’t see them, but we could hear them “cheep,” and the smell?  Sort of like spoiled corn tortillas.  The tour guide warned us to keep our mouths closed.  The colony will grow to about 1.5M bats before they migrate in October, as they’ve done each year for decades.   We were interested because we knew we were coming back at dusk to see them fly out.  What a rush!

Not the world’s greatest video, but after all, it was dusk.  The swirling mass at the top of the tree line that looks like mosquitoes?  Those are bats.  Watch carefully for the flying specks as they come out from under the bridge.  They eat about 30K pounds of insects each night. 

 Really like this pictures.  I used the flash on my little waterproof Olympus and it highlighted their fluttering silhouettes.

I am fearful of Sisters Day become just “one more thing” with no real meaning.  So, through the weekend, I tried to spark some conversation with the girls about what was happening five years ago.  “This is the day Daddy and I left for Russia to get Julia.”  “Julia, do you remember the Neva River in St. Pete?”   “Hannah, you taught Julia to count to 10.  Do you think that’s why she’s so good in math now?”  Pretty much – that fizzled.  The girls are way more interested in what is than what was.   Julia usually acts politely bored when I bring up Russia, her birth mother, how she rolled her r’s when she came home, her asking for “cheese y bread,” etc.   From what I’ve read and the parents to whom I’ve spoken, that’s pretty normal.  The pendelum has swung one way; it’ll swing another in a few years (those delightful teen ones), then someday – if we’ve done our jobs right -  it’ll stop somewhere in the middle.

While the girls were celebrating Sisters Day, we squeezed in Mother’s Day, too.  It all goes together.  Without those sisters, I’m not a mother.   They’re talking about a “Ssisters Cruise” in several years, once college is behind them and – please Lord – they’re all gainfully employed.  Maybe I’ll be invited for that.  I would like that.  Because what I really want is for them to want to celebrate Sisters Day when I’m not around to remind them of it.  There is so much unhappiness in this world.  You have to take time to celebrate the happy things.

And celebrating the happy things are what sisters do best.