Summer came and went so quickly. Now autumn is upon us: it's cooler, it's foggy in the mornings, the leaves have started to fall.
Last Friday was the one-year anniversary of my father's death. I was up very, very early, drinking coffee and remembering him. Now all those "firsts" have passed: the first Thanksgiving, the first Christmas, the first Father's Day, the first birthday.....and there's something healing about that. I miss him; we were such good friends. Sometime I will (slightly alter, for privacy) post his eulogy here.
A few days later I had a birthday! I am 46 years old, on the firm downhill slide to 50, which seems impossible. I told my children "I feel 20, but I look 46!" I am genuinely grateful for another year of life. This birthday was quiet and sweet, and felt more celebratory than last year-which I barely remember because, of course, it was only 3 days after my father had died.
Finn started 10th grade. Annie started what appears to be 7th grade. They are still homeschooled. I don't think that will change (until college!). Annie is now doing classical ballet 4 days per week, for about 13 hours total (that doesn't include driving time or rehearsal weeks). She just got her second pair of pointe shoes; we have to drive to the Big City 3 hours away for those fittings! Finn is singing in a local community choir, working 2 evenings a week at the local retirement home (he's a waiter in their fancy dining room-so cute), and speaking lots of French and Spanish--he's in year 4 for both.
(A thrift store painting for the laundry room.)
A few things I plan to write about soon, now that I'm turning my attention back to this space:
*Our kitchen backsplash!
*Our summer trip to Quebec City
*Wardrobing for autumn and winter (I'm determined to resuscitate my wardrobe; in the winter it dips sharply in the direction of jeans--which are really not that comfortable--or, worse, sweatshirts at home...which have a tendency to make me look frumpy)
*Grief and how it evolves
*Work and how I have tried, and am trying, to assimilate my (admittedly minimal) work life into the most important work I do--raising children, keeping house, cooking meals, being a wife......
*What my father's death reminded me about how to live
*Knitting hopes and dreams and plans--and realities
Life is full and beautiful and busy and quiet. And I love a new season!
