Monday, May 6, 2019

Birthdays and such

This is the second year of having my beloveds take a group birthday photo with me. The photo is always a little imperfect, nobody's ever quite ready, and you can see my husband concentrating of triggering the remote for his camera phone using his Apple watch. But it's a joyful photo, which capped a birthday gathering during which we re-watched the Battle of Winterfell episode of Game of Thrones (turning off all the lights since the action on screen was so poorly lit and hard to see), and everyone, throners all, animatedly shared memes and theories about the episode, and identified clues as to who will ultimately sit on the iron throne. I like to imagine this group as the years pass, having each others back, making sure the cousins grow up close, and becoming, in time, the sturdy trunk of a flourishing new branch of the family tree. 

Speaking of flourishing new branches, we attended the baptism of my son's girlfriend's nephew yesterday, and it was lovely. My son had to work, and it was intriguing to my husband and me to note how missed he was by his girlfriend's extended family, including her famously, um, eccentric grandmother, for whom, I am told, he is a favorite. Her family clearly sees the union of these two as a done deal, and our son as their soon-to-be in-law. They speak freely as if that is the case, with my son's girlfriend's mom saving spots for my husband and me at "the family table." We mothers dared to muse that our children's children would be adorable, and my husband laughed and shook his head ruefully, because we try to spare our children these kinds of conversations, though to be honest, he and have them with each other all the time. Not to put too fine a point on it, we're ready to be grandparents y'all, and it's good to have collegial relationships with all the people with whom we might share this journey. Our niece is now married, and our son and daughter both appear to be in the pipeline. We shall see.

There's my son's love and her sweet nephew, the younger one. 

And here's her adorable older nephew, who celebrates his third birthday this week. We attended his parents' wedding two years ago now. Time does go rollicking by.

You know, I've been swinging from wondering if I should stop blogging altogether, to wanting to make my blog public again, to realizing that I post more regularly and freely in this private space. Hmm.

And here another picture that the family sent us. My husband has a magic shoulder when it comes to babies. I think they get up there and are fascinated by the way the world looks from that great height. Plus they sense his good energy.




14 comments:

  1. Please keep posting freely in this private public space, she said, selfishly.
    Love
    Rebecca

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  2. Wondering. Wanting. Realizing. Mysterious the way our minds do their sorting work.

    Thank you for continuing to share your life in words and photos here in this newly private space.

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    1. am, you know, I didnt realize until you put those words together, wondering, wanting, realizing, how powerful a process they represent! You have such great insight!

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  3. What warm and tender photos here :)

    I hope you continue to blog in some form or another. But sometimes we need a break, and sometimes we need to change something. Only you know the answer. And the decision doesn't need to be final, you know? If you don't like how the new way works, you can always find another new way.

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    1. jenny, my birthday mate, i hope you are continuing to enjoy your birthday season. i have found as summer approaches each year, i contemplate taking a break from blogging, and then i dont, because i actually would miss the people i am in communion with here. i do think in time i will go public again. trying to asses when that feels right.

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  4. I like reading your blog but I feel the same way at times.

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    1. Lily, i find the connections we make here to be unexpectedly loving and supportive. Thank you for being part of that.

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  5. Lovely birthday celebration and family tree dreams. Yes, please keep blogging. I love reading about you and your beautiful family.

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  6. Oh please don't stop blogging! I love hearing all this news. And you becoming a grandmother is something that I'm certain all of us will look forward to!

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  7. Woman, in some ways you and I have it all because we have GOOD FAMILY. I love these pictures and the report that went with them. I love that you and your husband talk about how much you are going to love being grandparents. I love looking forward to meeting those grandbabies and watching them grow. I hope you continue to blog. Here, there, or anywhere. I somehow can't imagine life without you.

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  8. Happy belated birthday and please don't stop blogging!of course I'm being totally selfish and you must do what is best for you.
    Xoxo
    Barbara

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  9. I discovered your blog years ago through Ms. Moon and have loved your writing from the first post I read. A few weeks ago, to my dismay, a message came up saying it was now a private blog. Today, to my great delight, it became available to me again!!! I plan to go back to where I left off a few weeks ago and read every word as I would a compelling novel. I have missed you and your beautiful family and interesting life in the city and your way of weaving love into every post!

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  10. 1) happy birthday!!
    2) yes, you should definitely keep blogging. it's therapeutic and a great way for you to work out thoughts in your head with people who understand
    3) i've said it before, but you have such a beautiful family

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