December 11. 2009

My favorite uncle/my dad’s older brother died last Friday. They were gone within four months of each other. Yesterday I drove to NJ for a beautiful little service and to let my cousins know I understood how they felt. I didn’t know my uncle when I was a child. They lived hours away from us and money was tight on both sides. I think I saw the family maybe twice. But my dad kept in touch with his brother, of course.

Then, maybe 10 years ago (?), I started what would become an annual or bi-annual event. In March Joe and I would pack up a corned beef and cabbage dinner and drive to NJ, where we’d meet my dad and his wife, my uncle and a friend of his, and my twin cousins and their growing families to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day.

In those visits, I got to know my uncle and my cousins, but I also got to know my dad better. He had always very much admired his older brother, wanted to emulate him but just couldn’t. As my sister said yesterday, my uncle was the grasshopper, my dad was the ant. Apart they could be so different, together they were very much alike. So now I picture them forever, sitting around a kitchen table, drinking (good) beer and swapping stories. Slainte!

 

Chasing Summer

Ever since I left school all those years ago, I’ve been searching for summer. Grown-up World means that you don’t get those long empty days of boredom and potential. You never feel the release that the end of school gives you for minimum 12 years (and in my case 17, although I really shouldn’t count the summer after kindergarten—how seriously can you take half-day school that includes recess and nap time?).

Last summer I only remember sitting in front of our new house watching Hummingbird Theatre. We’d worked so hard for so long on getting into the house that we were not inspired to do much else. Summer was as close to sedentary as we could get.

This year the yearning for summer is particularly strong, probably in part because I’m looking for a structured full-time job right now and (unless it’s a telecommute) it will remove me from the summer that is wafting in my office door right now. I know the time grows short to appreciate this.

Two days ago I took a short road trip to Mount Gretna with Mary the Photographer for a travel blog entry. With the people walking along the road with beach towels, headed to the lake, and the Jigger Shop (ice cream!), and the tall, cool trees in the Fairy Garden, it felt like summer.

Last night Joe and I picked blueberries at a friend’s house (he’s on vacation and didn’t want them to go to waste). I’ve never done blueberries before, I would not go out of my way to do it again, but it needed to be done.  Neighbors were running lawn mowers, the friend’s son-in-law brought us cold beer while we picked, kids were running around yelling. Even though I’m not much of a berry picker, it was nice.

But the best part was driving home through the Valley at sundown in Joe’s Camaro with the top down and the Beach Boys singing “Darlin’.” That’s summer.

 

June 18, 2008

Last night was my final meeting as leader (president) of my writers’ group. To my delight we’re going on five years now and looking to continue. I awarded the prizes in the writing contest; it was fun to make some people’s days. The judge was a local professor and journalist who volunteered his time and did a great job.

Afterwards one of the leader emeriti and I walked downtown for a drink—al fresco because the evening was so nice. Every so often our incredibly intelligent conversation (“black bears really do eat people sometimes!” “When will someone finally hire me?”) was disturbed by some kid’s car stereo as he sat at the red light. Whumpa-whumpa-whumpa.

The drive home was 1.5 hours—usually that’s not long at all, but  I’d forgotten to take my cell phone so I couldn’t talk to anyone or let my husband know when I was on my way home. And Toronto radio was not coming in clearly, so I was mostly alone with my thoughts.

I need more evenings like this one.

 

June 1, 2008

As part of my “focus local” theme (food, radio, little museums, whatever), I must include local brew pubs. I’m not a huge beer drinker, but some food just goes better with beer than with wine and it’s all part of the experience.

I bring this up because on my recent trip to WY we stopped at Snake River Brewing Company and took a few six-packs with us when we left.

Then while we were traveling, we were introduced to two other beers, not local but new to us. I loved Fat Tire Amber Ale. As its website says, it has “toasty, biscuit-like malt flavors coasting in equilibrium with hoppy freshness.” Huh? It was just good. AND you can visit their Liquid Center if you’re ever in Fort Collins, CO.

Finally, a friend brought us some Cinder Cone Red. I liked this more than Joe did, but it was still very good. If we are ever in Bend, OR, we’ll look them up as well!