Busy weekend!

Today we're meeting with my cousin Becky and her husband, Edwin. They're in town for a conference and have never met Rachel, so we should have a fun time. We plan on going to a nice restaurant for dinner called Luca. Drew and I used to go there a lot pre-Rachel, and there is a wonderful dessert place across the street called Pix Patisserie. It will be interesting to see if Rachel behaves herself. Cross your fingers!

Then tomorrow I plan to drive to Eugene to hang out with our friend Molly and her three kids, leaving Drew at home to take care of some personal and house errands. I'm working unexpectedly on Monday and will probably take next Friday off.

I went to a going-away party for a colleague last night while Drew stayed home with The Little Girl. They had a great time laughing and playing together. She woke up once, around 10, but he was able to soothe her back to sleep. We don't know why she does that; it's an on-and-off thing these days.

At the party last night I had a long talk with Kathleen, a former editor of mine whose husband of 30 years died of cancer earlier this year. Her daughter has been having troubles and Kathleen, of course, is suffering the anxiety all of us are over the state of the newspaper industry. But she told me that she feels so fortunate that she had so many good years with Pat, her late husband, and that his illness really taught her to live in the moment. Look around you, she said, at the way the light reflects off the glasses, all the colleagues who were here tonight, etc.

I started crying, realizing how much I truly have. Yes, we really need to make more money and I am scared we won't be able to afford college for Rachel (and a sibling, if we are lucky enough to produce one) and a decent retirement. But my baby is healthy, my husband and I are employed and we live in a wonderful city with relatives close by. Really, life is good.