Firsts

Feb 4, 2012 by

While we were sunning and funning in Cancun, my sweet mother-in-love was mourning the loss of her furry companion of ten years, Amos.  Amos was an 8-poundish yorkie terrier who sort of weaseled his way into all of our lives.  Barbara bought Amos home and the first night we met him as a family he sized us up as much as we did him.  Only around 4 pounds then, he rebuffed every overture we made toward him by barking as loud as his quarter-sized lungs could manage and sticking as close to underneath to Barbara as he could.  Over the years and through many antics though, Amos was as much a part of our family as anyone else walking on two legs and sharing the same DNA. I often teased Marc by calling Amos...

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A Birthday Wish

Feb 3, 2012 by

I’ve had the pleasure of spending the past several days beneath the sunny skies of Cancun. I’ve enjoyed the beach and the breeze with three of my favorite people, my husband, obviously, included. He and I have woken early each morning, to catch the first breezes of the day and walk the shore. We call those moments, whether on vacation or back at home in Seattle, our “walk / talks”. I like . . . no, I LOVE our walk/talks.  As our thoughts turn from those we love to situations that concern or challenge us to our dreams and hopes for our futures, our time – step by step – becomes a moving meditation, prayer in motion. Yesterday, my birthday eve, Marc and I walked Cancun’s shoreline, enjoying the expansive and picturesque view. We...

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Permanent Ink

Jan 2, 2012 by

My earliest memory of Marc Walters happened somewhere around the 3rd grade. He and I sat next to one another in Mrs. Coleman’s class where, on this particular day, she gave a lesson in cursive writing. Standing over our shoulders, she critiqued our efforts. After looking at the either too big or too little loops that shaped my p’s, b’s, or q’s, she pointed to Marc’s paper as an example of how alphabets could look, of how alphabets could be. Taking a long, slow look at the paper next to mine, I recall laying aside my elementary pride and, reluctantly, agreeing with her. Though I can’t remember what the words were on the page, I remember that they were written incredibly well, with a care and embellishment beyond our 7 or 8 years.  I...

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When Life Gives You Lemonade . . . Share It....

Dec 31, 2011 by

For the past few days I have had the privilege of having my family under one roof. Given that, at other times of the year, we live across three states, being together is not at all something I take for granted . . . not like I used to when we all four occupied the same square footage. This heightened awareness of gratitude never fails to open my eyes to things that might have otherwise gone unnoticed; a loving touch shared between my son and his wife, absentminded wrestling between siblings, spontaneously erupting laughter at nothing in particular. These moments of ordinary living become precious, shiny things when we choose to let them, to see them. Looking back over all the meals shared, gifts exchanged and memories made, it’s become clear to me that...

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