And in the end, the love you take/ Is equal to the love you make. — The Beatles One morning last week, I woke up before Sophie, who had made her way (as usual) into our bed sometime in the night. Typically, Sophie is a restless sleeper, except for when it’s time to get up. […]
I knew Sophie would not be disappointed to learn she needed glasses. But I was a little surprised when Annabelle asked, plaintively, “Can I have some glasses, too?” She’s not having trouble seeing. She’s just a slave to her own particular brand of fashion — inspired in part, she acknowledged, by Harriet the Spy. Turns […]
I’m a big believer in paper valentines — the kind that show up in your real mailbox, not your e-mail one – but since I don’t have your street address, I’ll have to send yours here. This is our family creation, circa 2011. Annabelle drew it, I stitched it, Sophie (and the Beatles) came up with […]
I got the best valentine from my mom: a photo album from her wedding. I’ve seen all the pictures — memorized them — and the book is falling apart, but still, it’s an awesome gift. It was a copy someone made post-wedding for my dad’s parents with a few images, and when my mom presented […]
On Sunday afternoon, our little family was invited to celebrate with a good friend of Annabelle’s. It was the best idea for a birthday party, ever, and the simplest. Play-Doh. That’s it. Just two huge tables and dozens of containers of Play-Doh. The adults had as much (more?) fun as the kids. I made a […]
The holidays are all about being with the ones you love. Who cares about gifts? Um, me! A couple of my favorite Christmas presents: Annabelle stitched me a strawberry. And Ray gave me both Lynda Barry books I asked for — “What It Is” (about writing) and “Picture This” (about drawing). Hope you got what […]
My feet will never be the same. But it was worth it. I survived four days at Disneyland — including two 12-hour-plus marathons — at a time when the Happiest Place on Earth was also the busiest, and felt like the coldest. Still, I can hardly complain; despite the forecast, it was sunny. We drove away […]
The other day I visited Sophie’s classroom. That’s not so unusual (though I’ve not been as good about it this year, I must admit). But I was halfway to the parking lot afterward when I realized that for the first time ever, my daughter didn’t sob when I left. It’s been a not-so-nice byproduct of […]
My dear friend Trish hates Christmas. At least she says so, and I’ll admit she does a pretty convincing job of it. But every year I drag her to the luminaria at the Desert Botanical Garden, along with her daughter Abbie, who is now 15-going-on-16. The two of them are actually on speaking terms, which is amazing […]
