Heading Back

I've been smoking pipes with the Pennsylvanians.
Soon to be sleeping in the midnight midst of Massachusetts.

No matter where I may roam,
Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, and finally Massachusetts
lead me home, sweet home.

Ho. Ho. Ho.

Here's a pic from last year when I was more or less a sack of baby flesh that could only cry, salivate, and smile. . . I've come a long way.
And yes kids, that's the real Santa Claus. I was his helper last year. I'm laid off this year (you know, the recession has really trickled into all areas of life).

Merry Christmas Family and Friends!

SNOW STORM!

Truckin'

So sorry for the delay

I am sorry for the delay in writing blogs this week. I've been skiing at Mt. Snow, Vermont and drinking hot chocolate with the T. A. S. P. I. T. group ( a.k.a. Toddlers for the Advancement of Ski Programs for Infants and Toddlers).

My ski instructor said that I'm ready for the black diamond slopes this week so I have my new goggles and threads for the challenge. Mom and Dad said they never saw infants with such dexterity as they saw at out last meeting on the slopes. We've had some setbacks with injuries this year, but it looks like Bobby's vision won't be impaired after the surgery and that Susy's earmuffs just need to be cut out of her hair.

The lodge serves great corn dogs, sushi, and sweet potato pie. I like to mix the three together.

Happy Skiing.
Merry Christmas.

some tears for you

here's a smile for ya

The art of humour

My parents continue to educate me in the art of being so ridiculous, you get someone to laugh. Here's me, making my eyes bulge. Mom taught me this one, but dad got it on the camera.

Stress Baking

Ever stress baked?
Mom does.
We're okay, but things have been a bit more stressful than normal. Since Mom was home today as Dad took the car to get checked out, she has made chocolate chip cookies, a steak roast, blueberry oat bread, and a blackberry pie....and it's only 3:00pm.
I'll be eating good tonight!
-Sim

Some of my Schamley

Here's me with my Great Mom Mom, cousin Sara, cousin Paul, and cousin Timothy. They rock my face off.

My X Wing

Beethoven and the Vet

Today Mom drove our old car (“Goldie” which was short for “The Golden Girl”) to be traded in because the cost to repair the car is far beyond the car’s worth in its old age. Goldie is getting taken to the junk yard.

Know that sinking sad feeling of letting something go?

Mom said that she drove the car in a quiet solemness, not quite sure how to let go of this rather inanimate object that she somehow felt connected with.

Mom isn’t one for classical music, but she found herself listening to a live performance of one of Beethoven’s sonatas as she drove. It seemed appropriate that the moment be coupled with a strong, beautiful sound.

My mom had a childhood dog (“Ezzy” which was short for “Esmeralda”) and her dad had to put the dog to sleep when she was in fourth grade. Her dad told her when she was older that he yelled (the dog was now deaf) “good dog” as loud as he could, over and over again, as he drove the very faithful dog to the vet.

And that dog was much more than a car could ever be.

And mom remembers when she was at her great-grandmother’s funeral (Her name was “Mame Mame”, which was short for “Helen”). She watched her great-grandfather stand at the open casket for what seemed like a very great deal of time just staring at the body of the lovely woman he had been married to for over 60 years. He just stood there, trying to let her go.

How can any human let go of something like that?

Mame Mame’s love and commitment to her husband makes a dog’s love look like junk.

May you live today in such a way that you notice the people around you. Who’s casket would you just stare at, waiting and hoping for them to come back and be beside you again?

May you appreciate what it means to say hello to those people, and not just goodbye.

May you encourage them and love them very well.

And for those of you who have never known what it means to be loved by God, (which is far deeper and stunning on all accounts than mom’s great grandparent’s love), may you come face to face with your Creator. May you fall before Him in humility and begin to trust His strong arms. He is offering a love that does not fade or leave you.

Good night.