Social Saturday

Drew was in Seattle working a weekend shift, so Rachel and I had the day to ourselves. I raced her to swim lessons because I got up late since I was up until 1:30 a.m. today mopping the kitchen floor (it was a mess, and I didn't get to it earlier because when I got home from Swan Lake, my friend Julie, who had babysat Rachel and said she was "the easiest kid to babysit in the world" wanted to stay and talk a while, and I didn't feel I could say no because she essentially babysat for free and on a Friday night, no less, so...by the time she left it was 12:30 a.m.) and so I was grumpy this morning. We got to swim lessons only 10 minutes late and ended up at ballet lessons on time, so it all evened out. I got a chance to ask Miss Lauren, Rachel's ballet teacher, what she thought of Rachel. (I had meant talent-wise, but she said she LOVES Rachel). As for her development, she said she was "right where she needs to be" ballet-wise, which is good, because I'd love it if she continued into pointe work.

We had two playdates after dance class -- Bridgette, who is Rachel's age and lives three blocks away; I met Bridgette's mom, Max, in a mom's class after I gave birth. We have gone to Max's cookie-making party for the neighborhood kids every October and last time Rachel and Bridgette really hit it off, so I thought it was time to invite them here. The girls had a ball running around, trying to build a pillow fort (Rachel's latest obsession these days), pulling out all of the castle/princess/pony-themed toys that Rachel has, and finally settling down to watch "Barbie in Swan Lake" huddled under a blanket while I lay on the futon and caught a 15-minute nap (Dad, now I understand why you napped so much when Daniella and I were kids, and Mom, I have no idea how you managed on so little sleep. Take a bow, both of you. I only have one girl, not two, so I really shouldn't complain).

After Bridgette left, Sunny and her Mom Erica came over. I met them a few weeks ago at "A Jewish Night at the Museum," where the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry (OMSI) opened their doors to a mostly Jewish crowd at night; I met Erica, Sunny (who is a few months older than Rachel) and Erica's husband, Jeff, as we were pulling into the parking lot. They just moved here from Long Island, and Erica grew up in Englewood. The girls really liked each other and I liked Erica and Jeff, so I called Erica up on Friday and asked if she was free today. As it turned out, she was going to call me anyway to see if we planned on going to a Purim carnival this weekend (we are, at our synagogue, tomorrow morning).

Anyway....the girls disappeared into Rachel's room and Erica and I started talking...and talking...and talking. (I had made gingerbread for Bridgette and her mom, and also for Erica and Sunny, and both kids got to take some home). I also decided to take advantage of the time at home and started making challah.

Turns out Erica has gone through a nightmarish past few months. The house she and Jeff bought at the height of the market in Long Island was underwater financially BEFORE Hurricane Sandy hit. Sandy took all their possessions; their house was three feet deep in raw sewage and they lost everything except a bunch of photographs, a few changes of clothing, Jeff's photography equipment (he works in insurance during the day and is a photog on the side) and all of Sunny's toys and bedroom furniture. Jeff got a job offer out here and they moved a couple of weeks ago. They are still trying to deal with FEMA and the insurance folks back East (they were interviewed by Newsday and Jeff's video of the exploding sewer line, totally the fault of the sewer department and not Hurricane Sandy), settling in here where the rental market is very tight although they just signed a lease on a house -- and yet Erica remains positive and focused on building a life for themselves out here. I was awed by her confidence and composure and kept telling her how sorry I was that she had to go through all of that, and she responded that it wasn't really the stuff she cared about. It sounds as if she just wants to make the best of it and move on, and I silently resolved to help her do so.

Then we went to dinner at Laurelwood Brewpub, which has a great play area that Rachel loves, and the kids had a good time until Erica and I realized it wast past 9 and we really had to get the girls home. I gave Erica a list of furniture stores she should check out (she's looking at consignment furniture and IKEA) and told her we'd have them over in March. I think they'll turn out to be good friends.