...long time gone...
Whew...things have been busy. I went back to Kansas City for the memorial. It was good. I love seeing my family. I really did not have any time to see any friends except Johnny. John took me out for a cup of coffee and some good conversation. He also showed me a witch's house, but that is a different story. It was nice to see a familiar face. I had a fun time with all of my family though. I got to spend the night in Piper and Nick's new house. It is very nice, and surprisingly set up for how recently they had moved in! I, of course spent plenty of time with my Ma. She is very funny and fun. I made her jaw hurt from talking so much! I saw my Dad not only at the memorial, but I took lunch to him one morning. We had a good time. Then I saw Daddad! Mom and I went over to his house to hang out for a while before going to dinner at Tippin's. Afterwards we hung out more, and I found old photo albums - one solely dedicated to photos of my Mom throughout her upbringing. A lot were of ones I had never seen before. It was great to visit with Daddad. He gets so forlorn when I leave...I just don't want too! I needed to come back to my other home here, though. I missed Jeremy so much. When I arrived home (NY), I was greated by more familial trauma...no need to go into it...things are better. So, life is semi-normal again. Whatever that means.
Monday, September 30
Saturday, September 21
...memorium...
My grandmother was a short stack of fun, intelligence, sassiness, and grace. She was always there with a pun, a piece of candy, listening ears, a coke, lots of love, etc. I will miss her greatly, but know that she is a lot happier wherever she is now.
As a young girl, she played lots of sports and ran - and won! - city races. She was a small girl with flaming red hair, and she beat those long legged girls! She appeared in a photograph in the June 1935 edition of National Geographic. It was an article about West Pointe, and she was a bridesmaid in her good friends wedding. Her friend was marrying a West Pointe graduate. People recognised her by her hair and beauty after the photo was published.
She attended journalism school briefly at Kansas University.
She worked in the offices of Alf Landen (as a secretary to his secretary I believe) while he was running for president, and made a lasting impression on every one there.
She married my Grandfather, a doctor, and they had a love that most people now never find.
They had two incredible children together, my father, and my aunt.
She used to buy all the chemicals for my dad's crazy science experiments, because he was to young to purchase such toxic materials.
She used to volunteer for the rehab in Kansas City.
One time, she was walking down the street in KCK carrying an umbrella, when a giant gust of wind came and picked her up. She paddled her feet furiously trying to reach the ground, but could not, and all the people on the street could not believe their eyes!
I loved spending the night at my Grandparent's home, because that meant we played Chinese checkers and other games, ate jumbo hot dogs, got our own room with our own TV and candy dish, told stories, ate giant cinnamon buns for breakfast, and had tons of other fun.
My grandmother was the sharpest dresser in the world. Always lovely slacks, skirts, and blouses. Always very high high heels. Her clothes and shoes matched perfectly and she had outfits of every color! She always had on great jewelry, and had a million different brooches/pins - some lovely, some silly. Sometimes for Halloween or other holidays, she would put seasonal stickers on her blouse collar, but it never looked weird.
She used to do needlepoint, and made some really incredible things.
She always had such nice, encouraging, honest things to say in cards and letters. She wrote me letters all through college, and also when we moved here.
Grandma loved to take you out to lunch, and I loved to have lunch with her. When we were kids, she would pick us up in her car and take us wherever we wanted to go - Tippin's, Houlihan's, Annie's Santa Fe, etc. - Sometimes we would run errands with her, and often she would swing by wherever to let us pick out a small present for ourselves.
Grandma knew all kinds of people and all of them absolutely adored her. She has so many stories, and always knew the latest about anyone.
She adored crossword puzzles and was good at them! Always did them in ink. She also devoured books, especially mystery novels. She always found time to read.
There are so many things that I could say about her...The words can't even come close to how awesome she was. She will be missed.
My grandmother was a short stack of fun, intelligence, sassiness, and grace. She was always there with a pun, a piece of candy, listening ears, a coke, lots of love, etc. I will miss her greatly, but know that she is a lot happier wherever she is now.
As a young girl, she played lots of sports and ran - and won! - city races. She was a small girl with flaming red hair, and she beat those long legged girls! She appeared in a photograph in the June 1935 edition of National Geographic. It was an article about West Pointe, and she was a bridesmaid in her good friends wedding. Her friend was marrying a West Pointe graduate. People recognised her by her hair and beauty after the photo was published.
She attended journalism school briefly at Kansas University.
She worked in the offices of Alf Landen (as a secretary to his secretary I believe) while he was running for president, and made a lasting impression on every one there.
She married my Grandfather, a doctor, and they had a love that most people now never find.
They had two incredible children together, my father, and my aunt.
She used to buy all the chemicals for my dad's crazy science experiments, because he was to young to purchase such toxic materials.
She used to volunteer for the rehab in Kansas City.
One time, she was walking down the street in KCK carrying an umbrella, when a giant gust of wind came and picked her up. She paddled her feet furiously trying to reach the ground, but could not, and all the people on the street could not believe their eyes!
I loved spending the night at my Grandparent's home, because that meant we played Chinese checkers and other games, ate jumbo hot dogs, got our own room with our own TV and candy dish, told stories, ate giant cinnamon buns for breakfast, and had tons of other fun.
My grandmother was the sharpest dresser in the world. Always lovely slacks, skirts, and blouses. Always very high high heels. Her clothes and shoes matched perfectly and she had outfits of every color! She always had on great jewelry, and had a million different brooches/pins - some lovely, some silly. Sometimes for Halloween or other holidays, she would put seasonal stickers on her blouse collar, but it never looked weird.
She used to do needlepoint, and made some really incredible things.
She always had such nice, encouraging, honest things to say in cards and letters. She wrote me letters all through college, and also when we moved here.
Grandma loved to take you out to lunch, and I loved to have lunch with her. When we were kids, she would pick us up in her car and take us wherever we wanted to go - Tippin's, Houlihan's, Annie's Santa Fe, etc. - Sometimes we would run errands with her, and often she would swing by wherever to let us pick out a small present for ourselves.
Grandma knew all kinds of people and all of them absolutely adored her. She has so many stories, and always knew the latest about anyone.
She adored crossword puzzles and was good at them! Always did them in ink. She also devoured books, especially mystery novels. She always found time to read.
There are so many things that I could say about her...The words can't even come close to how awesome she was. She will be missed.
Friday, September 20
...september, i'll remem-ember...
So...this week has been kind of glum, for reasons that I will be talking about in the not too distant future. But for now, other things.
Jeremy showed me some action...that is, the action in our piano! He had his first two classes this week and is on his way to being a fantastic piano tuner. I'm very proud of him. There's a lot of stuff going on, on the inside of a piano. Man, who invented them? Who thought up all those intricate parts? Who discovered/invented anything? Phew...it makes me wonder sometimes...I'm not sure if I have ever discovered anything new. I'm not exactly the inventor type, though I can build/create lots of different stuff. When I was a kid, I wanted to be McGuyver really bad and make explosives from paper clips and erasers. I could never quite get it to work...then again, I used to play QVC when I was alone sometimes. I'd get a ring or something and do my best pitch as to why all my imaginary viewers needed this item and FAST. It's not like my Mom, or anyone in my family, were QVC people either... It's amazing I made so many friends.
So we'll end with...an ode to things, by none other than Pablo Neruda. I just feel in the mood for this, so indulge me. I'm only doing the English translation though. This is one of my all time favorite poems, so enjoy.
I have a crazy,
crazy love of things.
I like pliers,
and scissors.
I love
cups,
rings,
and bowls-
not to speak, of course,
of hats.
I love
all things,
not just
the grandest,
also
the
infinite-
ly
small-
thimbles,
spurs,
plates,
and flower vases.
Oh yes,
the planet
is sublime!
It's full of
pipes
weaving
hand-held
through tobacco smoke,
and keys
and salt shakers-
everything,
I mean,
that is made
by the hand of man, every little thing:
shapely shoes,
and fabric,
and each new
bloodless birth
of gold,
eyeglasses,
carpenter's nails,
brushes,
clocks, compasses,
coins, and the so-soft
softness of chairs.
Mankind has
built
oh so many
perfect
things!
Built them of wool
and of wood,
of glass and
of rope:
remarkable
tables,
ships, and stairways.
I love
all
things,
not because they are
passionate
or sweet-smelling
but because,
I don't know,
because
this ocean is yours,
and mine:
these buttons
and wheels
and little
forgotten
treasures,
fans upon
whose feathers
love has scattered
its blossoms,
glasses, knives and
scissors-
all bear
the trace
of someone's fingers
on their handle or surface,
the trace of a distant hand
lost
in the depths of forgetfulness.
I pause in houses,
streets and
elevators,
touching things,
identifying objects
that I secretly covet:
this one because it rings,
that one because
it's as soft
as the softness of a woman's hip,
that one there for its deep-sea color,
and that one for its velvet feel.
O irrecvocable
river
of things:
no one can say
that I loved
only
fish,
or the plants of the jungle and the field,
that I loved
only
those things that leap and climb, desire, and survive.
It's not true:
many things conspired
to tell me the whole story.
Not only did they touch me,
or my hand touched them:
they were
so close
that they were a part
of my being,
they were so alive with me
that they lived half my life
and will die half my death.
So...this week has been kind of glum, for reasons that I will be talking about in the not too distant future. But for now, other things.
Jeremy showed me some action...that is, the action in our piano! He had his first two classes this week and is on his way to being a fantastic piano tuner. I'm very proud of him. There's a lot of stuff going on, on the inside of a piano. Man, who invented them? Who thought up all those intricate parts? Who discovered/invented anything? Phew...it makes me wonder sometimes...I'm not sure if I have ever discovered anything new. I'm not exactly the inventor type, though I can build/create lots of different stuff. When I was a kid, I wanted to be McGuyver really bad and make explosives from paper clips and erasers. I could never quite get it to work...then again, I used to play QVC when I was alone sometimes. I'd get a ring or something and do my best pitch as to why all my imaginary viewers needed this item and FAST. It's not like my Mom, or anyone in my family, were QVC people either... It's amazing I made so many friends.
So we'll end with...an ode to things, by none other than Pablo Neruda. I just feel in the mood for this, so indulge me. I'm only doing the English translation though. This is one of my all time favorite poems, so enjoy.
I have a crazy,
crazy love of things.
I like pliers,
and scissors.
I love
cups,
rings,
and bowls-
not to speak, of course,
of hats.
I love
all things,
not just
the grandest,
also
the
infinite-
ly
small-
thimbles,
spurs,
plates,
and flower vases.
Oh yes,
the planet
is sublime!
It's full of
pipes
weaving
hand-held
through tobacco smoke,
and keys
and salt shakers-
everything,
I mean,
that is made
by the hand of man, every little thing:
shapely shoes,
and fabric,
and each new
bloodless birth
of gold,
eyeglasses,
carpenter's nails,
brushes,
clocks, compasses,
coins, and the so-soft
softness of chairs.
Mankind has
built
oh so many
perfect
things!
Built them of wool
and of wood,
of glass and
of rope:
remarkable
tables,
ships, and stairways.
I love
all
things,
not because they are
passionate
or sweet-smelling
but because,
I don't know,
because
this ocean is yours,
and mine:
these buttons
and wheels
and little
forgotten
treasures,
fans upon
whose feathers
love has scattered
its blossoms,
glasses, knives and
scissors-
all bear
the trace
of someone's fingers
on their handle or surface,
the trace of a distant hand
lost
in the depths of forgetfulness.
I pause in houses,
streets and
elevators,
touching things,
identifying objects
that I secretly covet:
this one because it rings,
that one because
it's as soft
as the softness of a woman's hip,
that one there for its deep-sea color,
and that one for its velvet feel.
O irrecvocable
river
of things:
no one can say
that I loved
only
fish,
or the plants of the jungle and the field,
that I loved
only
those things that leap and climb, desire, and survive.
It's not true:
many things conspired
to tell me the whole story.
Not only did they touch me,
or my hand touched them:
they were
so close
that they were a part
of my being,
they were so alive with me
that they lived half my life
and will die half my death.
Monday, September 16
...where the heart is...
The other day I was walking down fourth avenue (the one in Brooklyn, by our place) thinking about how for the first week or two when we moved here, how I barely left the apartment, especially alone. I had never thought that I would be even slightly scared of a place I live in. It's not like I had been used to living in the best neighborhoods in Kansas City. Maybe I was afraid I might actually like it here. Now of course, I walk down the street like nobody's business. People recognize me, smile and nod. I am familiar.
I think walking and taking public transportation make you much more a part of your community. You begin to notice patterns, especially if you are doing things at the same time each day. I like walking into my favorite corner store on fourth, or the mexican grocery, or flowers and coffee, or our bank, or aniello's, or taco nuevo mexico, and they know us. I can weave easily through the people on the street, and I know all the characteristics of each street and sidewalk. It's a different experience than what I was used to in K.C.
In the Kansas City area (Lawrence included) it is a understanding of the landscape from the perspective of a car. I do know parts by foot, very well actually, but the majority is taken in from the driver's seat preferably. I love cruising around. Some routes are like my favorite pair of pants, that pair you never want to wash because they would have to be off of your body. I knew exactly where you could or could not take a left turn, where cars would be parked at any time of day on various streets, almost to the minute how long it should take me from point a to point b, etc. I also know my car, and how it handles every situation.
Thinking about it, people knew us in Kansas City too. It just was not necessarily at strictly neighborhood places. My neighborhood was all over that town.
The other day I was walking down fourth avenue (the one in Brooklyn, by our place) thinking about how for the first week or two when we moved here, how I barely left the apartment, especially alone. I had never thought that I would be even slightly scared of a place I live in. It's not like I had been used to living in the best neighborhoods in Kansas City. Maybe I was afraid I might actually like it here. Now of course, I walk down the street like nobody's business. People recognize me, smile and nod. I am familiar.
I think walking and taking public transportation make you much more a part of your community. You begin to notice patterns, especially if you are doing things at the same time each day. I like walking into my favorite corner store on fourth, or the mexican grocery, or flowers and coffee, or our bank, or aniello's, or taco nuevo mexico, and they know us. I can weave easily through the people on the street, and I know all the characteristics of each street and sidewalk. It's a different experience than what I was used to in K.C.
In the Kansas City area (Lawrence included) it is a understanding of the landscape from the perspective of a car. I do know parts by foot, very well actually, but the majority is taken in from the driver's seat preferably. I love cruising around. Some routes are like my favorite pair of pants, that pair you never want to wash because they would have to be off of your body. I knew exactly where you could or could not take a left turn, where cars would be parked at any time of day on various streets, almost to the minute how long it should take me from point a to point b, etc. I also know my car, and how it handles every situation.
Thinking about it, people knew us in Kansas City too. It just was not necessarily at strictly neighborhood places. My neighborhood was all over that town.
Thursday, September 12
...just slide...
Everyone is so quiet on the subway in the morning. People are either absorbed into their various papers (or pretending to be,) or sitting there with their eyes closed. No one wants to be singled out and noticed. This morning on the C train there was a woman a year or two older than me who was silently crying. I did not even notice until the woman in the seat across from hers handed her a tissue. When the tissue lady got off a few stops later, the crying one smiled and gave her thanks. The other woman leaned down and whispered something...It was very touching in many ways. First, that something could be so wrong or sad that it would make you cry on the subway, and second, a stranger's compassion. That simple exchange filled me with happiness and hope. It seems so much here (probably every where) that people avoid unnecessary contact.
On the way home in the late afternoon, people are again quiet, though not as much as in the morning. So many look like they are lacking iron and sunlight. It's not even winter yet! I think too many people are working jobs that do not satisfy them. My jobs now require me to spend much more time on public transportation than I normally enjoy, but I also get to walk about three miles a day. This rules! I have to be in a hurry, but it feels good. It is a positive tired at the end of the day.
Everyone is so quiet on the subway in the morning. People are either absorbed into their various papers (or pretending to be,) or sitting there with their eyes closed. No one wants to be singled out and noticed. This morning on the C train there was a woman a year or two older than me who was silently crying. I did not even notice until the woman in the seat across from hers handed her a tissue. When the tissue lady got off a few stops later, the crying one smiled and gave her thanks. The other woman leaned down and whispered something...It was very touching in many ways. First, that something could be so wrong or sad that it would make you cry on the subway, and second, a stranger's compassion. That simple exchange filled me with happiness and hope. It seems so much here (probably every where) that people avoid unnecessary contact.
On the way home in the late afternoon, people are again quiet, though not as much as in the morning. So many look like they are lacking iron and sunlight. It's not even winter yet! I think too many people are working jobs that do not satisfy them. My jobs now require me to spend much more time on public transportation than I normally enjoy, but I also get to walk about three miles a day. This rules! I have to be in a hurry, but it feels good. It is a positive tired at the end of the day.
Tuesday, September 10
...lap it up...
This morning, in my kitchen, coffee brewing, I looked out our window to steal a glimpse of the neighbors bursting garden, and I spied Mama cat on her side with her three kittens drinking. The almost all black one finished first, and bounded away to hide underneath the squash plants. After awhile, Mama decided the other two had enough...the grey and white one kept trying at it. Soon they were all wrestling, while the Ma daintily perched on a bucket type thing to help herself to a drink of water. It was beautiful.
This morning, in my kitchen, coffee brewing, I looked out our window to steal a glimpse of the neighbors bursting garden, and I spied Mama cat on her side with her three kittens drinking. The almost all black one finished first, and bounded away to hide underneath the squash plants. After awhile, Mama decided the other two had enough...the grey and white one kept trying at it. Soon they were all wrestling, while the Ma daintily perched on a bucket type thing to help herself to a drink of water. It was beautiful.
Monday, September 9
...not much action...
I've been viewing everything from the inside lately, even though the outside feels fantastic! I've been inside the apartment, work, the subway, a taxi, other people's apartments...Not much time to lazily stroll about.
We celebrated Rosh Hashanah on Friday with dinner at Peter and Joanne's. It was great! Bea was there, and Brian, and Chris. Joanne and Peter made a WONDERFUL meal (all vegetarian!- that's so nice,) and then we just talked, and gossiped, and laughed a lot. Jeremy and I had a really great time. I miss my family a lot, but I am so glad that we are near some of Jeremy's relatives.
Yesterday a piano entered our midst. It's begging to be tuned...
The cats enjoy rolling all over it. Frank looked very startled when Jeremy started playing it while he was on top. They have never lived with a piano before!
Piper and Nick have bought a house!!! By the time we visit K.C. next, they should have been moved in for months. That's so nice for them. They have been in the apartment for so long. I don't get to say goodbye to it...(oh, it's not that tragic!) I wish I could help decorate it...not that Piper would agree with all my suggestions:) A house...sigh.
I've been viewing everything from the inside lately, even though the outside feels fantastic! I've been inside the apartment, work, the subway, a taxi, other people's apartments...Not much time to lazily stroll about.
We celebrated Rosh Hashanah on Friday with dinner at Peter and Joanne's. It was great! Bea was there, and Brian, and Chris. Joanne and Peter made a WONDERFUL meal (all vegetarian!- that's so nice,) and then we just talked, and gossiped, and laughed a lot. Jeremy and I had a really great time. I miss my family a lot, but I am so glad that we are near some of Jeremy's relatives.
Yesterday a piano entered our midst. It's begging to be tuned...
The cats enjoy rolling all over it. Frank looked very startled when Jeremy started playing it while he was on top. They have never lived with a piano before!
Piper and Nick have bought a house!!! By the time we visit K.C. next, they should have been moved in for months. That's so nice for them. They have been in the apartment for so long. I don't get to say goodbye to it...(oh, it's not that tragic!) I wish I could help decorate it...not that Piper would agree with all my suggestions:) A house...sigh.
Tuesday, September 3
...on a plane...
A year ago, today, we were headed back to Kansas City from visiting Jeremy's Great Aunt May here in New York City. We knew this was most likely the last time that we would be seeing her, and she had that feeling as well. It was a really wonderful weekend though...After dinner one night, we sat around her table talking, when we noticed that a HUGE full moon was on the rise. It moved so quickly! May lifted out of her seat to get a better view. The three of us just sat in silence for a minute.
May gave us an engagement card and present that weekend. She told me how happy she was that I was joining the family. She said lots of great things, as I know some of you out there know.
So, we kissed her goodbye on Tuesday, and her sitting at the table is the last we physically knew of May. I can't really express through words on a blog what she was like...
That's it...luckily, we weren't on a flight a week later...
A year ago, today, we were headed back to Kansas City from visiting Jeremy's Great Aunt May here in New York City. We knew this was most likely the last time that we would be seeing her, and she had that feeling as well. It was a really wonderful weekend though...After dinner one night, we sat around her table talking, when we noticed that a HUGE full moon was on the rise. It moved so quickly! May lifted out of her seat to get a better view. The three of us just sat in silence for a minute.
May gave us an engagement card and present that weekend. She told me how happy she was that I was joining the family. She said lots of great things, as I know some of you out there know.
So, we kissed her goodbye on Tuesday, and her sitting at the table is the last we physically knew of May. I can't really express through words on a blog what she was like...
That's it...luckily, we weren't on a flight a week later...