We spent much of Saturday at the beach before Drew and I got up very early Sunday so he could drive me 21/2 hours to Rock Mount, NC so I could catch the train back to D.C. and work a late shift. (Next year, this will not happen. We will ALL drive back TOGETHER on Sunday or Monday of Labor Day weekend. Harummph. My fault.) Anyway...Rachel had such a great time catching waves, it was a joy to stand with her, her little hand curled in mind, while she screeched, "This is AWESOME!! This is the funnest beach EVER!!" and then she'd ask me or Drew to jump her over the waves, and she didn't even mind (too much) when a wave slapped her in the middle and got in her face. The water was absolutely the perfect temp -- cool enough to feel refreshing, but warm enough to want to play in again and again (I went in three times yesterday!) I also sunned myself on the beach while reading the newspapers and a bunch of old issues of the New Yorker. I got so tan, in fact, that a colleague of mine said to me tonight, "You look TAN! Where have you been?" She has fair skin and her sister is getting married next weekend, so I think she was a bit envious of all the color I've gotten this summer.
Drew reports that the water was calmer today (the waves were receding a bit toward the end of yesterday) and Rachel had fun again with Sarah (Mammaw's daughter), who kindly texted me a photo of Rachel on the beach; Chrissie (Sarah's partner) and their daughter, Kaia, who is two years older than Rachel. They had a sleepover last night in the living room and watched a T.V. show of cute kitties, puppies and duckies on Animal Planet -- they fell asleep to the T.V., in fact. Mammaw made an awesome rib roast and Yorkshire pudding, and we had a chocolate-chip cake that I had made and brought with us for dessert.
The great thing is that for years on, Rachel will always have fond memories of summers at the Outer Banks -- beaches, the aquarium (PopPop and Mammaw took both girls there while Drew drove up and back from Rocky Mount), picking honeysuckle along the path, the big crazy dogs that PopPop and Mammaw have that Rachel used to be scared of, but now she's just delighted that they keep wanting to lick her and she laughs nervously. Of such moments are lifelong memories made...
Sunday, August 31, 2014
Fabulous (too-short) vacation
So, we took a quick trip to the Outer Banks the weekend to visit PopPop and Mammaw. It was so great that we decided we are going next year at the same time -- only this time, for a week or so.
I was manic about avoiding traffic so I insisted we leave the house early Friday morning. We ended up leaving an hour later than I wanted -- 8 a.m. instead of 7 a.m. -- but it turned out fine because THERE WAS NO TRAFFIC! We couldn't believe our good fortune. We zipped down to Richmond in something like 90 minutes, grabbed a quick to-go breakfast at Panera Bread, then ended up in the Outer Banks around 2 or so. Stopped for lunch and Carolina bbq, then discovered a children's playseum near Nags Head that enchanted Rachel (after we all indulged in homemade ice cream with dipped cones). I had gotten home from work quite late Thursday night, between staying late and the train schedule, so I stretched out on an uncomfortable bench near the playseum and conked out for about a half-hour.
We had talked about stopping at the beach, but it was cloudy and getting late, so we headed over to PopPop and Mammaw's, then went for dinner at an Italian restaurant. I was so full from lunch and ice cream that I just ordered an appetizer and shared Drew's entree.
The restaurant was so close to PopPop and Mammaw's that Rachel and I decided to walk back together. We stopped in on a Manteo High football game, where Rachel danced to the band as we watched way back at the fenceline. Then we picked some honeysuckle bouquets growing wild along the road. For a minute or two, I didn't recognize where we were. "Call them!" Rachel insisted, and I almost did, but then I told her, very calmly, that the best way, when you're lost, is to be calm and try to figure things out. "We'll walk just past the next driveway, and if we don't see the road, I'll call," I promised. The next road was Arbor Drive, where PopPop and Mammaw live, and then I told Rachel that if she's ever lost at night to not panic and follow the North Star. "That's how the slaves found their way to freedom," I said, and then started telling her about Harriet Tubman -- "I've heard of her!" Rachel exclaimed -- and how she led people to Canada by establishing a network of safe houses, and that the North Star was their guiding light, and that "North Star" can also refer to someone you love, as in, "he's my North Star" -- my guiding light.
Heh, heh, heh. She thought she was just going to get a nice walk home. Instead, she got a lesson.
Oh, and after we put her to bed. Drew and I watched the first two episodes of "House of Cards" (the American version), and It.Blew.Our.Minds. Drew promised to order the first two seasons from Amazon because we are HOOKED.
I was manic about avoiding traffic so I insisted we leave the house early Friday morning. We ended up leaving an hour later than I wanted -- 8 a.m. instead of 7 a.m. -- but it turned out fine because THERE WAS NO TRAFFIC! We couldn't believe our good fortune. We zipped down to Richmond in something like 90 minutes, grabbed a quick to-go breakfast at Panera Bread, then ended up in the Outer Banks around 2 or so. Stopped for lunch and Carolina bbq, then discovered a children's playseum near Nags Head that enchanted Rachel (after we all indulged in homemade ice cream with dipped cones). I had gotten home from work quite late Thursday night, between staying late and the train schedule, so I stretched out on an uncomfortable bench near the playseum and conked out for about a half-hour.
We had talked about stopping at the beach, but it was cloudy and getting late, so we headed over to PopPop and Mammaw's, then went for dinner at an Italian restaurant. I was so full from lunch and ice cream that I just ordered an appetizer and shared Drew's entree.
The restaurant was so close to PopPop and Mammaw's that Rachel and I decided to walk back together. We stopped in on a Manteo High football game, where Rachel danced to the band as we watched way back at the fenceline. Then we picked some honeysuckle bouquets growing wild along the road. For a minute or two, I didn't recognize where we were. "Call them!" Rachel insisted, and I almost did, but then I told her, very calmly, that the best way, when you're lost, is to be calm and try to figure things out. "We'll walk just past the next driveway, and if we don't see the road, I'll call," I promised. The next road was Arbor Drive, where PopPop and Mammaw live, and then I told Rachel that if she's ever lost at night to not panic and follow the North Star. "That's how the slaves found their way to freedom," I said, and then started telling her about Harriet Tubman -- "I've heard of her!" Rachel exclaimed -- and how she led people to Canada by establishing a network of safe houses, and that the North Star was their guiding light, and that "North Star" can also refer to someone you love, as in, "he's my North Star" -- my guiding light.
Heh, heh, heh. She thought she was just going to get a nice walk home. Instead, she got a lesson.
Oh, and after we put her to bed. Drew and I watched the first two episodes of "House of Cards" (the American version), and It.Blew.Our.Minds. Drew promised to order the first two seasons from Amazon because we are HOOKED.
Thursday, August 28, 2014
Rachel's spiritual beliefs?
"Every time I walk up the stairs, I feel like I'm walking up to God," Rachel told Drew last night.
"Why is that, sweetie?" he asked.
Turns out that we have an African mask at the top of the stairs and Rachel associates that with God(?) and added, "It feels like God is in our house all the time."
She also assumes that God is a woman. And when we told her we were enrolling her in religious school, she was delighted and said, "THANK you! THANK you!" Unfortunately she won't learn Hebrew quite yet, but I'm sure she will quickly know more about Judaism than me. Or Drew.
"Why is that, sweetie?" he asked.
Turns out that we have an African mask at the top of the stairs and Rachel associates that with God(?) and added, "It feels like God is in our house all the time."
She also assumes that God is a woman. And when we told her we were enrolling her in religious school, she was delighted and said, "THANK you! THANK you!" Unfortunately she won't learn Hebrew quite yet, but I'm sure she will quickly know more about Judaism than me. Or Drew.
Rachel the playwright
So, last Shabbat, Rachel announced that she was going to put on a play using props. Turns out it was the same one she did months ago that I wrote about on the blog, about a camel and a zebra traveling in Africa together, and they meet some Petrushka dolls (Rachel calls them "tzedakah dolls," which I think is incredibly cute), and then...well, you'll just have to visit us to see her perform the play.
Here is how she opened the narration:
"Once upon a time in a faraway land, in a place called Africa -- where Mommy has traveled and my Daddy wants to -- a camel traveled, looking for some fun. And he saw his friend zebra..."
I wouldn't be surprised if she decides to do performance art for a living. She's quite good at it.
Here is how she opened the narration:
"Once upon a time in a faraway land, in a place called Africa -- where Mommy has traveled and my Daddy wants to -- a camel traveled, looking for some fun. And he saw his friend zebra..."
I wouldn't be surprised if she decides to do performance art for a living. She's quite good at it.
A readin' machine
Rachel checked out a great book called "The Thickety," about a girl and the power of magic. How did she decide to do so? Why, she read a review of it in KidsPost, the kids' page in The Post. (SO proud of her for reading a book review! Well, Drew used to write them for The Seattle Times, so I suppose I shouldn't be too surprised...)
Anyway, it's a 496-page book aimed at 8- to 12-year olds and she is DEVOURING it. She's almost at page 100. When I drove her to camp yesterday, she was completely silent in the back. "What are you reading?" I asked. "Thickety," she said.
A counselor at camp was so impressed, and probably disbelieving, that he pointed to random words in the book to see if Rachel new how to pronounce them. "She got every one right!" he told Drew when he picked her up that night.
I can't wait for winter evenings in front of the fire, when we all curl up with our books together...
Anyway, it's a 496-page book aimed at 8- to 12-year olds and she is DEVOURING it. She's almost at page 100. When I drove her to camp yesterday, she was completely silent in the back. "What are you reading?" I asked. "Thickety," she said.
A counselor at camp was so impressed, and probably disbelieving, that he pointed to random words in the book to see if Rachel new how to pronounce them. "She got every one right!" he told Drew when he picked her up that night.
I can't wait for winter evenings in front of the fire, when we all curl up with our books together...
Rachel's endless campaign to get Mommy to relax
Apparently Rachel has made up some sort of sticker chart and has pledged to give me stickers "if you relax and you don't get mad at Daddy."
Which is odd, because Drew and I don't fight a lot.
Anyway, whenever she registers tension in my eyes or face, Rachel warns me that I may not get that sticker. This morning, right before I drove her to sports camp, was a typical example. I had scheduled a phone interview for a magazine story I'm working on at 9:30 and I wanted to make sure to be back by then.
"Okay, Mommy." Rachel said sternly. "You're #1 in this household, so you have to relax. Otherwise, you won't earn your sticker."
Slays me every time, she does.
Which is odd, because Drew and I don't fight a lot.
Anyway, whenever she registers tension in my eyes or face, Rachel warns me that I may not get that sticker. This morning, right before I drove her to sports camp, was a typical example. I had scheduled a phone interview for a magazine story I'm working on at 9:30 and I wanted to make sure to be back by then.
"Okay, Mommy." Rachel said sternly. "You're #1 in this household, so you have to relax. Otherwise, you won't earn your sticker."
Slays me every time, she does.
Monday, August 25, 2014
Vacation, Part 2
More random observations:
--Rachel is a fantastic travel companion. One day in Portland, Drew got up crazy early to register her for fall after-school activities online, and he asked if he could sleep late while Rachel and spent time together later that morning. She and I went downstairs to the hotel breakfast area and had a lovely time talking over our food while sitting outside and watching the activities on the Willamette River. When we were done eating, we went to the pier and watched a tourist steamboat dock, and walked around a bit before we decided to go back upstairs to see if Daddy was awake (he was, and was in the shower.) On the last day of our trip, we headed to Sea-Tac to stay at what turned out to be an incredibly crappy hotel, but Rachel never complained -- she laid out all her clothes so we could leave bright and early the next morning, and was chipper throughout the plane ride and the layover, never whining about being tired or not in the mood to do something. I hope this lasts into her teen years. I'm starting to think she may be ready for us to take her to Europe or someplace equally compelling.
--Portland has suddenly become choked with traffic. What gives? It was probably true while I was there, but as I pointed out to Drew, he and I never drove around during the day because we were working. It took us almost two hours to get from Southwest Portland to Southeast Portland one day, and I really felt the whole stress of driving since I drive so little of it in D.C. That would definitely kill my desire to move back to PDX, unless we were in a situation where we could rely solely on the city's public transportation system (but D.C.'s beats it all to hell.)
--We saw way too many people. Drew was right -- I should have left us time to see Mt. Hood, Multnomah Falls, Cannon Beach -- but I was so focused on visiting Rachel's little friends (and mine, too), that after a while it felt as if we were running from house to house and meal to meal. We did get to spend some time at a barbecue that some of my chorus buddies threw for us, then raced to meet a friend of Rachel's at Salt & Straw, a novelty ice cream place, and then we had an afternoon playdate the next day with Rachel's friend Lila Anne (her mom, Suzanne, and I used to work at the Oregonian together), and then dinner with my friend Amy and her sons Jake and Tony (I work with Amy's brother, Jay, at The Post), and earlier in the week we met Rachel's friends Tessa and then Devin for pizza both times...I really want to maintain contact with folks there, if only to hold out hope that when Drew and I retire (if that ever happens:)), then we'll be able to spend summers in the Pacific Northwest with people we know and love and are comfortable with. In many ways it was an easy vacation -- we knew where things were, we knew we could buy things we forgot to bring, if necessary -- and so it's tempting to return there every summer.
--We are foodies! We brought back so many treats -- Moonstruck chocolates, Missionary Chocolates (a great vegan chocolatier I discovered at the Portland farmer's market), six slices of cake from Konditorei, the world's best cake shop in Salem, big cookies that Drew likes from the farmer's market...too bad we couldn't bring back the fruit. Maybe next time...
--Rachel is a fantastic travel companion. One day in Portland, Drew got up crazy early to register her for fall after-school activities online, and he asked if he could sleep late while Rachel and spent time together later that morning. She and I went downstairs to the hotel breakfast area and had a lovely time talking over our food while sitting outside and watching the activities on the Willamette River. When we were done eating, we went to the pier and watched a tourist steamboat dock, and walked around a bit before we decided to go back upstairs to see if Daddy was awake (he was, and was in the shower.) On the last day of our trip, we headed to Sea-Tac to stay at what turned out to be an incredibly crappy hotel, but Rachel never complained -- she laid out all her clothes so we could leave bright and early the next morning, and was chipper throughout the plane ride and the layover, never whining about being tired or not in the mood to do something. I hope this lasts into her teen years. I'm starting to think she may be ready for us to take her to Europe or someplace equally compelling.
--Portland has suddenly become choked with traffic. What gives? It was probably true while I was there, but as I pointed out to Drew, he and I never drove around during the day because we were working. It took us almost two hours to get from Southwest Portland to Southeast Portland one day, and I really felt the whole stress of driving since I drive so little of it in D.C. That would definitely kill my desire to move back to PDX, unless we were in a situation where we could rely solely on the city's public transportation system (but D.C.'s beats it all to hell.)
--We saw way too many people. Drew was right -- I should have left us time to see Mt. Hood, Multnomah Falls, Cannon Beach -- but I was so focused on visiting Rachel's little friends (and mine, too), that after a while it felt as if we were running from house to house and meal to meal. We did get to spend some time at a barbecue that some of my chorus buddies threw for us, then raced to meet a friend of Rachel's at Salt & Straw, a novelty ice cream place, and then we had an afternoon playdate the next day with Rachel's friend Lila Anne (her mom, Suzanne, and I used to work at the Oregonian together), and then dinner with my friend Amy and her sons Jake and Tony (I work with Amy's brother, Jay, at The Post), and earlier in the week we met Rachel's friends Tessa and then Devin for pizza both times...I really want to maintain contact with folks there, if only to hold out hope that when Drew and I retire (if that ever happens:)), then we'll be able to spend summers in the Pacific Northwest with people we know and love and are comfortable with. In many ways it was an easy vacation -- we knew where things were, we knew we could buy things we forgot to bring, if necessary -- and so it's tempting to return there every summer.
--We are foodies! We brought back so many treats -- Moonstruck chocolates, Missionary Chocolates (a great vegan chocolatier I discovered at the Portland farmer's market), six slices of cake from Konditorei, the world's best cake shop in Salem, big cookies that Drew likes from the farmer's market...too bad we couldn't bring back the fruit. Maybe next time...
Memorable Rachel quotes of the past two weeks
The first one was while I was driving her to camp last week. I believe the subject of the conversation was the 1-year birthday of Bao Bao, the incredibly cute panda cub at the National Zoo, and I may have remarked that a lot of folks would probably go to see him.
"I don't like being huddled up with a lot of people," Rachel said. "I like to run free. I'm a independent girl."
"Well, I'm an independent mommy," I said. "So you're just like me."
***
"You're the best parents in the world!" Rachel exclaimed last Friday as I was putting together Shabbat dinner and she was setting the table.
"What makes you say that, sweetie?" I asked.
"Because you let me do things that other parents don't let their kids do, like sweep under the table and scrub the dishes," she replied.
Child from outer space. As long as she keeps thinking that chores are fun and not drudgery, then we're ahead of the game.
"I don't like being huddled up with a lot of people," Rachel said. "I like to run free. I'm a independent girl."
"Well, I'm an independent mommy," I said. "So you're just like me."
***
"You're the best parents in the world!" Rachel exclaimed last Friday as I was putting together Shabbat dinner and she was setting the table.
"What makes you say that, sweetie?" I asked.
"Because you let me do things that other parents don't let their kids do, like sweep under the table and scrub the dishes," she replied.
Child from outer space. As long as she keeps thinking that chores are fun and not drudgery, then we're ahead of the game.
Sunday, August 24, 2014
Vacation, Part 1
So, we went to Seattle and Portland for a visit Aug. 9-16. We had a great time. I had visions of writing on the blog every night from our hotel room, but we know how that turned out, don't we? Some highlights:
--The Pacific Northwest is having a hot summer. A VERY HOT summer. Well, what's hot out there felt delightful to me because there was no humidity. (Parenthetically: Everyone in D.C. keeps saying what an unusually cool summer this is. If this is cool, I dread what a normal summer is like because I have had a lovely time of it and I can't stand the thought of being soaked in sweat for four months out of the year as opposed to, oh, less than a week this year.) We went to a Renaissance Fair in Washington state, which was not at all the cheesy production I expected it to be, then spent Monday at Sammamish Lake, swimming, building sandcastles, reading, lying in the sun, rinse, wash and repeat. That day broke the heat record for Seattle -- it was 96 degrees -- but I could have stayed there all day and camped overnight, too. It was hot when we were in Anne and David's house, but fans took care of that.
--I really miss Seattle. We spent late Tuesday morning walking around Pike Place Market and buying lunch -- I got fresh Dungeness crab with cocktail sauce and lightly fried oysters with French fries and a coffee-flavored pastry form a great French bakery, and I was in my happy place. Really, I didn't need to eat anything more the entire vacation, even though I did. The views of the water, the greenery, the people walking around, made me realize that I'd love to retire to Seattle -- or at least spend large chunks of rain-free time there. Maybe spend summers there and the rest of the year in D.C.?
--Drew felt weirded out in Seattle because he left so abruptly and didn't have time to process it; I got weirded out being a tourist in Portland, scene of so much of my unhappiness in my 30s and early and nmid-40s, and yet also a place I really did love. We went back to Rachel's preschool, and all the teachers remembered her (Teacher Erin made sure to say that she misses Rachel because she no longer gets her mom's chocolate chip CAKE) and hugged her, and said they miss her. They've gotten new furniture but it was still the slightly shabby, well-worn place that gave Rachel such a great start in life. We ran into one of her teachers at the Wednesday farmer's market; I ran into a former colleague of mine from the Oregonian who is now a book author and private investigator, and we got some fabulous cookies to bring home (and I tried some vegan chocolates, which were FABULOUS.) When I think of our trip to Oregon, I will think of the food.
--The Pacific Northwest is having a hot summer. A VERY HOT summer. Well, what's hot out there felt delightful to me because there was no humidity. (Parenthetically: Everyone in D.C. keeps saying what an unusually cool summer this is. If this is cool, I dread what a normal summer is like because I have had a lovely time of it and I can't stand the thought of being soaked in sweat for four months out of the year as opposed to, oh, less than a week this year.) We went to a Renaissance Fair in Washington state, which was not at all the cheesy production I expected it to be, then spent Monday at Sammamish Lake, swimming, building sandcastles, reading, lying in the sun, rinse, wash and repeat. That day broke the heat record for Seattle -- it was 96 degrees -- but I could have stayed there all day and camped overnight, too. It was hot when we were in Anne and David's house, but fans took care of that.
--I really miss Seattle. We spent late Tuesday morning walking around Pike Place Market and buying lunch -- I got fresh Dungeness crab with cocktail sauce and lightly fried oysters with French fries and a coffee-flavored pastry form a great French bakery, and I was in my happy place. Really, I didn't need to eat anything more the entire vacation, even though I did. The views of the water, the greenery, the people walking around, made me realize that I'd love to retire to Seattle -- or at least spend large chunks of rain-free time there. Maybe spend summers there and the rest of the year in D.C.?
--Drew felt weirded out in Seattle because he left so abruptly and didn't have time to process it; I got weirded out being a tourist in Portland, scene of so much of my unhappiness in my 30s and early and nmid-40s, and yet also a place I really did love. We went back to Rachel's preschool, and all the teachers remembered her (Teacher Erin made sure to say that she misses Rachel because she no longer gets her mom's chocolate chip CAKE) and hugged her, and said they miss her. They've gotten new furniture but it was still the slightly shabby, well-worn place that gave Rachel such a great start in life. We ran into one of her teachers at the Wednesday farmer's market; I ran into a former colleague of mine from the Oregonian who is now a book author and private investigator, and we got some fabulous cookies to bring home (and I tried some vegan chocolates, which were FABULOUS.) When I think of our trip to Oregon, I will think of the food.
Rainy Saturday
I realize these posts are a little disjointed, but I'm all over the map tonight as I try to update how this month has gone. Yesterday, Saturday, we ended up visiting Aunt Beryle and Uncle Dan. It was a good day to visit -- cloudy and rainy, a lot like Oregon, which probably explains why I was slightly depressed. Seeing them both cheered me up a lot. (Could have been crabby because of the zillions of errands I had to run, I only got to accomplish two of them because everything in Arlington is top #@$%! far away and I still haven't figured out all the established places close to home, plus I am trying to accomplish stuff that has needed doing for, oh, years now.)
Anyway...
We had a lovely visit, and ended up driving back through Alexandria because I had to drop off a watch for the second time at a watchmaker's. We got to walk around Old Town a bit, which I LOVE -- so many good places to eat; so many cute shops; I could spend an entire weekend just wandering there. (Lucky Drew, he got to live there before Rachel and I arrived!) We ducked into a French bakery and bought a baguette and some leek and goat cheese tarts; picked up cupcakes for dessert from Alexandria cupcakes; then went home. I helped Rachel with her American Girl doll crafts while Drew picked up Chicago-style pizza from Pizzeria Uno, which we are happy to have found in Falls Church; and then we all watched a pretty good American Girl movie. Altogether, a really relaxing day!
Anyway...
We had a lovely visit, and ended up driving back through Alexandria because I had to drop off a watch for the second time at a watchmaker's. We got to walk around Old Town a bit, which I LOVE -- so many good places to eat; so many cute shops; I could spend an entire weekend just wandering there. (Lucky Drew, he got to live there before Rachel and I arrived!) We ducked into a French bakery and bought a baguette and some leek and goat cheese tarts; picked up cupcakes for dessert from Alexandria cupcakes; then went home. I helped Rachel with her American Girl doll crafts while Drew picked up Chicago-style pizza from Pizzeria Uno, which we are happy to have found in Falls Church; and then we all watched a pretty good American Girl movie. Altogether, a really relaxing day!
Mad SCIENCE!!
Camp season is slowly winding down. It will be a relief to be able to walk Rachel to school instead of driving her clear across Arlington, but I'll miss hearing about all her adventures in the various camps we've enrolled her in. This week it's sports camp; last week it was Mad Science.
She was in the science camp with Simone (the other smart kid in her kindergarten class; Simone is known as G.G. -- gorgeous genius, according to her parents; Rachel is G.G.2) and Simone's brother, Elias. So it was a reunion of sorts, which was nice. Rachel made all kinds of cool stuff -- a birdhouse (with birdseed that I really need to hang from a tree outside), poison (made with antifreeze), crystals, and a bug catcher (with a net, that she left open at the bottom, which she said was a fire escape so the bugs could get out in case of a fire. I'm laughing as I write this).
One of the days when Drew went to pick Rachel up, he ran into one of the counselors, a retired medical school professor named Roger, who the kids called "Mr. Roger." He said some quite flattering things about Rachel -- that she really stood out, even among members of her peer group (i.e., the smart kids) -- he said she was very mature, perceptive, and sensitive. He said she's unusually expressive and perceptive and you really see that when she's around kids her age and added that she she has a very vivid personality. When he sees that in a kid, he said, he wants to tell the parents so they can nurture that.
"Yeah, we do," Drew replied, saying that we read to her regularly.
"I'd really like to see her in 20 years and see how she turns out," Mr. Roger replied.
On Friday, I met Mr. Roger -- when I picked Rachel up from camp, she was snuggled up next to one of the junior counselors, Anna, who looked like she was in high school, listening to Mr. Roger tell them the story of Gilgamesh. I came in at the end. "We HAVE Gilgamesh at home," I said to Rachel, and Mr. Roger said most people don't even understand the reference. He and I had a nice talk about our jobs and about science camp, and that night Drew brought out our copy of Gilgamesh, retold in prose, and I started reading it after dinner, and got very deeply into it. I'm considering bringing it on vacation to the Outer Banks next weekend.
She was in the science camp with Simone (the other smart kid in her kindergarten class; Simone is known as G.G. -- gorgeous genius, according to her parents; Rachel is G.G.2) and Simone's brother, Elias. So it was a reunion of sorts, which was nice. Rachel made all kinds of cool stuff -- a birdhouse (with birdseed that I really need to hang from a tree outside), poison (made with antifreeze), crystals, and a bug catcher (with a net, that she left open at the bottom, which she said was a fire escape so the bugs could get out in case of a fire. I'm laughing as I write this).
One of the days when Drew went to pick Rachel up, he ran into one of the counselors, a retired medical school professor named Roger, who the kids called "Mr. Roger." He said some quite flattering things about Rachel -- that she really stood out, even among members of her peer group (i.e., the smart kids) -- he said she was very mature, perceptive, and sensitive. He said she's unusually expressive and perceptive and you really see that when she's around kids her age and added that she she has a very vivid personality. When he sees that in a kid, he said, he wants to tell the parents so they can nurture that.
"Yeah, we do," Drew replied, saying that we read to her regularly.
"I'd really like to see her in 20 years and see how she turns out," Mr. Roger replied.
On Friday, I met Mr. Roger -- when I picked Rachel up from camp, she was snuggled up next to one of the junior counselors, Anna, who looked like she was in high school, listening to Mr. Roger tell them the story of Gilgamesh. I came in at the end. "We HAVE Gilgamesh at home," I said to Rachel, and Mr. Roger said most people don't even understand the reference. He and I had a nice talk about our jobs and about science camp, and that night Drew brought out our copy of Gilgamesh, retold in prose, and I started reading it after dinner, and got very deeply into it. I'm considering bringing it on vacation to the Outer Banks next weekend.
Go 'Cats!
We took Rachel to a picnic this afternoon (before I went to work) hosted by the Northwestern Alumni Association. It was a welcome for entering students; Drew and I used to go to these all the time in Portland (including Rachel's first one when she was six weeks old and we looked like deer caught in the headlights.)
It's clear that the NAA is bigger and richer here: There was swag (keychains and cloth to wipe eyeglass lenses) and many, many alums. Plus the food was really good -- I filled up on lunch and we brought home a bunch of desserts that no one wanted (our contribution was Drew's fabulous homemade chocolate-chip cookies, only two of which were left by the end of the picnic).
Drew and I had a nice time talking to folks, including one woman who moved to D.C. from Dallas, Tex. without a job and ended up at the Pew Research Center; and our friend Tomoko Hosaka, with whom I worked years ago at the Oregonian before she began a storied career with the Associated Press in Japan before returning here, divorcing her husband, falling in love with a guy from Facebook, getting pregnant and then giving birth to an adorable baby named Kipling (yes, after Rudyard). They were at the picnic and Kipling was in a very cute NU onesie. Rachel was thrilled to see the baby and even got to hold him (with my help) and I thought, once again, what a wonderful big sister she'd be.
Drew and I played "cops and robbers" with Rachel on the play structure (love that she's not into princessy games) until we got tired, and then she asked me to spot her on a shaky part of the play structure. She tipped backwards suddenly, and, thinking she was playing around, I yelled, "Rachel! What are you DOING?" Then she fell forward and landed, hard, and cried. "I want a MOMMY CUDDLE!" she exclaimed, and then she stayed in my lap for a minute, demanded to see Drew, then came back to my lap and said she had tried to be brave, and just couldn't, and I could see she was frustrated. Before I could say anything, she said, "I want to be like YOU. You're brave."
I was so touched that I started tearing up and I looked her in the face and said seriously, "Rachel. You are the bravest kid I know." I repeated that a couple of times, then she got up from my lap and ran back to the picnic. I was so stunned to hear her say that. I hope she listens to me.
Then, as everyone was cleaning up, she grabbed a pompom and a balloon and raced around the picnic shelter hollering, "Go, 'Cats! Go 'Cats!" (NU's mascot is Willie the Wildcat). Turns out she had charmed the NAA officials; Rachel helpd them make up name tags, and one of them said to me, "Is that your daughter? She was so helpful! And her handwriting is so good! And her vocabulary!" She seemed to find it hard to believe that Rachel is only 6.
It's clear that the NAA is bigger and richer here: There was swag (keychains and cloth to wipe eyeglass lenses) and many, many alums. Plus the food was really good -- I filled up on lunch and we brought home a bunch of desserts that no one wanted (our contribution was Drew's fabulous homemade chocolate-chip cookies, only two of which were left by the end of the picnic).
Drew and I had a nice time talking to folks, including one woman who moved to D.C. from Dallas, Tex. without a job and ended up at the Pew Research Center; and our friend Tomoko Hosaka, with whom I worked years ago at the Oregonian before she began a storied career with the Associated Press in Japan before returning here, divorcing her husband, falling in love with a guy from Facebook, getting pregnant and then giving birth to an adorable baby named Kipling (yes, after Rudyard). They were at the picnic and Kipling was in a very cute NU onesie. Rachel was thrilled to see the baby and even got to hold him (with my help) and I thought, once again, what a wonderful big sister she'd be.
Drew and I played "cops and robbers" with Rachel on the play structure (love that she's not into princessy games) until we got tired, and then she asked me to spot her on a shaky part of the play structure. She tipped backwards suddenly, and, thinking she was playing around, I yelled, "Rachel! What are you DOING?" Then she fell forward and landed, hard, and cried. "I want a MOMMY CUDDLE!" she exclaimed, and then she stayed in my lap for a minute, demanded to see Drew, then came back to my lap and said she had tried to be brave, and just couldn't, and I could see she was frustrated. Before I could say anything, she said, "I want to be like YOU. You're brave."
I was so touched that I started tearing up and I looked her in the face and said seriously, "Rachel. You are the bravest kid I know." I repeated that a couple of times, then she got up from my lap and ran back to the picnic. I was so stunned to hear her say that. I hope she listens to me.
Then, as everyone was cleaning up, she grabbed a pompom and a balloon and raced around the picnic shelter hollering, "Go, 'Cats! Go 'Cats!" (NU's mascot is Willie the Wildcat). Turns out she had charmed the NAA officials; Rachel helpd them make up name tags, and one of them said to me, "Is that your daughter? She was so helpful! And her handwriting is so good! And her vocabulary!" She seemed to find it hard to believe that Rachel is only 6.
Wednesday, August 6, 2014
Camp story
Rachel is in a traditional summer camp this week, where they do outdoor activities, arts and crafts, etc., and when I came home from work last night, Drew told me that Rachel demanded she go up to the camp counselor, Miss Angie, and hear what Rachel had done that day.
Turns out that one of the campers had burned themselves with a hot iron, and Rachel ended up comforting her and asking the counselor if she could do anything more to help. Then, Rachel looked at the counselor and piped up, "Miss Angie, you need a vacation!" and dug into her pocket to pretend to hand her money.
Miss Angie was apparently so impressed by Rachel's thoughtfulness and helpfulness that she gave her a prize -- a small magnetic fishing kit. Drew repeatedly told her how proud he was of her, and I told her that this morning. She is, indeed, quite a kid.
Turns out that one of the campers had burned themselves with a hot iron, and Rachel ended up comforting her and asking the counselor if she could do anything more to help. Then, Rachel looked at the counselor and piped up, "Miss Angie, you need a vacation!" and dug into her pocket to pretend to hand her money.
Miss Angie was apparently so impressed by Rachel's thoughtfulness and helpfulness that she gave her a prize -- a small magnetic fishing kit. Drew repeatedly told her how proud he was of her, and I told her that this morning. She is, indeed, quite a kid.
Weekend Getaway, Part 3
...we woke up on Sunday and I was STILL sneezing and feeling crappy, and of course I had to work. We were set to go out on the lake in Charon's boat, but just as we got there the skies opened up and it started to rain. We decided to part ways, and Rachel kicked up such a fuss at leaving Cameron, you would have thought they were siblings. (It was very sweet this weekend; Rachel said she wished Cameron was her brother and they both said they loved each other.)
She cheered up, though, when we stopped at a cheese store we all had noticed in -- not kidding -- Accident, Maryland. (How's THAT for a name?) Picked up some nice cheese and crackers that we are looking forward to serving to company if I don't dive into them first. Then we found a great little diner on the way back that made an excellent BLT sandwich and fries; Hershey's ice cream sundaes with REAL hot fudge, and incredibly slow service but it was worth it, so we'll probably go back. The restaurant, Barbara Fritchie's, was named for a woman who defied the Confederacy by flying the Union flag from her house despite Confederate soldiers' orders to take it down. History everywhere, this part of the country has.
And then I went to work, still incredibly sick and miserable but managed to make it through a shift and edit a front-page story AND a foreign story for the World section of The Post. I guess when there's a will, there's a way.
...And today, when I sent Charon a thank-you note for the great time (except for my allergies, of course), she sent me a reply that Cameron is experiencing the same symptoms so she thinks it's a cold. Which makes sense, because my throat feels sore and I'm waking up coughing and I just want to get better so I can go on vacation Friday with out being sick, for Gawd's sake.
She cheered up, though, when we stopped at a cheese store we all had noticed in -- not kidding -- Accident, Maryland. (How's THAT for a name?) Picked up some nice cheese and crackers that we are looking forward to serving to company if I don't dive into them first. Then we found a great little diner on the way back that made an excellent BLT sandwich and fries; Hershey's ice cream sundaes with REAL hot fudge, and incredibly slow service but it was worth it, so we'll probably go back. The restaurant, Barbara Fritchie's, was named for a woman who defied the Confederacy by flying the Union flag from her house despite Confederate soldiers' orders to take it down. History everywhere, this part of the country has.
And then I went to work, still incredibly sick and miserable but managed to make it through a shift and edit a front-page story AND a foreign story for the World section of The Post. I guess when there's a will, there's a way.
...And today, when I sent Charon a thank-you note for the great time (except for my allergies, of course), she sent me a reply that Cameron is experiencing the same symptoms so she thinks it's a cold. Which makes sense, because my throat feels sore and I'm waking up coughing and I just want to get better so I can go on vacation Friday with out being sick, for Gawd's sake.
Weekend Getaway, Part 2
...boy, I really know how to write a cliffhanger, don't I?
So, I woke up on Saturday morning with the most awful stuffiness in my head and sneezing uncontrollably. It was awful, and I mean AWFUL. Charon had a big day planned for us -- I gulped down breakfast, then we went to the Garrett County Fair to look at the animals (and I fell asleep while sitting in a chair, because I assumed I had allergies, which were exhausting me, but the bunnies were SO CUTE), then we went to lunch and then a go-Kart place where Rachel and Cameron had a blast going around the track -- Rachel looked so adult in the car (even though it was clear her feet couldn't reach the pedals) -- and then back to the fair, where the kids rode on some of the rides and we paid an outrageous amount of money for them to win prizes at games on the midway, and THEN we went to a local beach where I lay my towel in the sand and fell asleep in the sun. It was as if my body was shutting down and demanding that I relax.
I awoke to find a wet Rachel shivering and saying that she wanted to curl up against me. We had gone to a beach on Deep Creek Lake, and she had gotten herself quite wet (though not from swimming), and it was wonderful having her little body against mine and getting to kiss her head multiple times and wrap my arms around her. We stayed like that for a little while until she asked if I could bury her feet in the sand. Which I did, and then we decided to bury Cameron's feet, and then they all buried MY feet, helped by generous heapings of sand-bucket sand. We dashed to get ourselves ready for what turned out to be a fantastic dinner at the Savage River Lodge about 45 minutes away, tucked in a beautiful forested setting. Charon and I had white wine and excellent meals and we even ordered dessert, and Drew was kind enough to watch the kids when they decided to go outside and play "sharks and minnows." (I still do not understand how this game is played.) Then we all went back to the cabin and crashed. I was pretty cranky by this point because my nose was raw from sneezing.
So, I woke up on Saturday morning with the most awful stuffiness in my head and sneezing uncontrollably. It was awful, and I mean AWFUL. Charon had a big day planned for us -- I gulped down breakfast, then we went to the Garrett County Fair to look at the animals (and I fell asleep while sitting in a chair, because I assumed I had allergies, which were exhausting me, but the bunnies were SO CUTE), then we went to lunch and then a go-Kart place where Rachel and Cameron had a blast going around the track -- Rachel looked so adult in the car (even though it was clear her feet couldn't reach the pedals) -- and then back to the fair, where the kids rode on some of the rides and we paid an outrageous amount of money for them to win prizes at games on the midway, and THEN we went to a local beach where I lay my towel in the sand and fell asleep in the sun. It was as if my body was shutting down and demanding that I relax.
I awoke to find a wet Rachel shivering and saying that she wanted to curl up against me. We had gone to a beach on Deep Creek Lake, and she had gotten herself quite wet (though not from swimming), and it was wonderful having her little body against mine and getting to kiss her head multiple times and wrap my arms around her. We stayed like that for a little while until she asked if I could bury her feet in the sand. Which I did, and then we decided to bury Cameron's feet, and then they all buried MY feet, helped by generous heapings of sand-bucket sand. We dashed to get ourselves ready for what turned out to be a fantastic dinner at the Savage River Lodge about 45 minutes away, tucked in a beautiful forested setting. Charon and I had white wine and excellent meals and we even ordered dessert, and Drew was kind enough to watch the kids when they decided to go outside and play "sharks and minnows." (I still do not understand how this game is played.) Then we all went back to the cabin and crashed. I was pretty cranky by this point because my nose was raw from sneezing.
Monday, August 4, 2014
A lovely weekend getaway, Part 1
...so, no sooner had Auntie Rachel left than we had to start thinking about our own visit, to our friend Charon's cabin in the mountains of Maryland. Charon was my apartment-mate in college and has a son, Cameron, who is 8 and by turns rambunctious and polite.
We left on Friday morning -- Drew followed us later in the day -- and the trip up was pretty smooth. The cabin is in a gorgeous setting, with the twinkling lights of a town far below -- and the cabin itself is absolutely charming, thanks to Charon's great decorating skills. We had snacks on the way and then, after we got there, the kids paused to build a fort in the upstairs loft where Drew and I were going to sleep. Then we took a quick tour of a local park and a little island-like outcropping (I noticed there were campgrounds, which gave me an idea that we may want to return on our own one of these days.) The kids got along famously -- skipping rocks, complaining that the mommies were walking too far ahead, but then they followed us through the underbrush, hatching schemes for building a booby trap in the pillow fort when we got home.
We went to an all-you-can-eat buffet at a restaurant called Penn Alps, and unfortunately I couldn't eat much because it was Shabbat, but I did manage some fried chicken and corn, and I sampled most of the dessert (most with a Pennsylvania Dutch influence.) Drew met us there after the poor guy spent FIVE HOURS in traffic for a 2 1/2 hour trip, which was good, because Rachel had turned quite moody and emotional for some reason -- she was blowing hot and cold all day -- and then we all headed home.
Cameron and Rachel were extremely upset that we made them take down the pillow fort because the last thing I wanted was to have them wake us up at 6 in the morning, which is about the time that Cameron gets up. (He goes to bed at 7:30, which clearly wasn't happening on this trip.) Then we suggested they sleep on a mattress on the ground floor, which Rachel wasn't keen on, and then we finally took the mattress from the ground-floor pullout couch, dragged it upstairs to the living room, and the kids shared it. Rachel was by this time sobbing for a reason that I can't remember, and Drew finally told her to CALM DOWN -- I believe she may have been scared of bears, because Charon told her that she couldn't leave any food outside because they'd come and get it. Anyway, we all finally got to sleep after Drew opened the windows in the loft to help the air-conditioning start circulating.
And that is when my nightmare began.
We left on Friday morning -- Drew followed us later in the day -- and the trip up was pretty smooth. The cabin is in a gorgeous setting, with the twinkling lights of a town far below -- and the cabin itself is absolutely charming, thanks to Charon's great decorating skills. We had snacks on the way and then, after we got there, the kids paused to build a fort in the upstairs loft where Drew and I were going to sleep. Then we took a quick tour of a local park and a little island-like outcropping (I noticed there were campgrounds, which gave me an idea that we may want to return on our own one of these days.) The kids got along famously -- skipping rocks, complaining that the mommies were walking too far ahead, but then they followed us through the underbrush, hatching schemes for building a booby trap in the pillow fort when we got home.
We went to an all-you-can-eat buffet at a restaurant called Penn Alps, and unfortunately I couldn't eat much because it was Shabbat, but I did manage some fried chicken and corn, and I sampled most of the dessert (most with a Pennsylvania Dutch influence.) Drew met us there after the poor guy spent FIVE HOURS in traffic for a 2 1/2 hour trip, which was good, because Rachel had turned quite moody and emotional for some reason -- she was blowing hot and cold all day -- and then we all headed home.
Cameron and Rachel were extremely upset that we made them take down the pillow fort because the last thing I wanted was to have them wake us up at 6 in the morning, which is about the time that Cameron gets up. (He goes to bed at 7:30, which clearly wasn't happening on this trip.) Then we suggested they sleep on a mattress on the ground floor, which Rachel wasn't keen on, and then we finally took the mattress from the ground-floor pullout couch, dragged it upstairs to the living room, and the kids shared it. Rachel was by this time sobbing for a reason that I can't remember, and Drew finally told her to CALM DOWN -- I believe she may have been scared of bears, because Charon told her that she couldn't leave any food outside because they'd come and get it. Anyway, we all finally got to sleep after Drew opened the windows in the loft to help the air-conditioning start circulating.
And that is when my nightmare began.
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