Gratitude Abounds

 Ah yes.  The mad rush to finish documenting one month before the advent of the next. 

Coincidentally here I am writing about Thanksgiving (and the previous two weeks) on the third day of Advent.  We are hurtling headlong into the holidays and I barely have time to breathe much less type much less pause and reflect on just how incredibly grateful I am for every busy, breathless moment of this life. 

I am carving some time right now, the day before my birthday and two days before the wonderful sparkling madness of December, staying late at work to pick up the dog from the groomer before running off to WSC rehearsal... appreciating the quiet here in my classroom in this moment of pause.

Here- A summary of November 11- 24th, in photo-moments of things I am thankful for. 

Ivy discovered my Encyclopedia of the Horse book that has been in her room since she was 2.  Watching her pore over the breeds brought back memories of my endless hours perusing that book, and my "fantasy ranch" horse collection, and galloping around my neighborhood.... 

Game nights with friends.  Our casual Friday hangouts with our favorites are fewer and farther between these days, so we treasure them all the more.  Here is Naomi kicking our patooties at Set. I love watching my friend's children grow up brilliant and amzing like their mama. 

Cats.  They are a pain, these creatures, and make more messes than I'd like to deal with.  But they are so cute and funny and noodly and purry and our lives would be poorer without them.  Even if they do lay on my music immediately when I try to practice. 

Fun with Ski Patrol. ACTUAL fun now that the anxiety of the course and the testing are over.  We did a Lift Evacuation training and aside from being cold and muddy it was really great.  Got to use a giant slingshot, and belay people, and make silly jokes about tying people up and keeping burritos in our pockets, and go out for beers with our friends after.  This whole crazy thing might work out after all.

Broadway series!  I'm so glad I decided to splurge on season tickets all those years ago... I'm addicted now!  I am grateful I get to treat myself to one of my loves in life- and share the love with my family and friends.  This month was Cats and my new friend Holly kept me company when my family was busy / not interested in watching people dance around in cat leotards. No loge box upgrades yet this year but the season is just getting going. 

Speaking of new friends-  so grateful for my crew of Chorus besties.  We are regulars now at Bar Louie on Monday nights and we have a blast every time.  Here we are celebrating Claudia's birthday with free "starburst" shots from the manager, because they love us.  Monday is apparently the new Friday?

I've been feeling a lot of love for my little church recently.  Had the wonderful opportunity to sing with a trio for the congregation a few weeks ago, and my mom and Kirk were able to be there to hear me.  There's not a more supportive group of people to nervously sing on a microphone for.  And it's such a gift to work with Amanda Powell.  I miss our tiny choir singing every week, though I honestly don't have the capacity to do that right now anyways.  But I'd sing with Pam and Elise again anytime!

And... more singing!  Another one of my new activities that has become increasingly enjoyable over time.  I'm finally feeling at home in the COC, like I might be competent enough to belong.  Having friends sure helps!  And I've been on a mission to be more social with new people recently, which has been easier and more fun than I expected.   November 17-19 we finally performed the Adams El Nino.  Our mutual struggle to master this peice of music really served to bond us as a chorus, I think.  And most of us eventually came around to at least respecting the work, if not enjoying it.  John Adams himself was a delight, sprightly and positive and extremely complimentary of our accurate singing. It was a joy to sing for him.  And a joy to watch our beloved director's face light up in the company of and compliments from one of her idols. 

As if concert week was not busy enough, Nat also traveled to Denver for the NASSAR conference.  And on top of that, my mom had a fall on Thursday the 17th that resulted in a fractured hip and surgery the next day.  My time as a single parent/ singer also included a lot of time at University Hospital and a lot of anxiety.  Happily the surgery was smooth and recovery is proceeding within expectations.  Mom is out of the hospital and doing a rehab stay at The Gardens, where Kirk can walk over and visit her daily. It was a scary and sad week but we are learning that with a dementia diagnosis one should never expect things to stay the same.  I am hoping that she will recover enough mobility to get back to attending church and concerts, soon.

Oh!  And we had our first big snowfall of the year the night of the 19th!  And my long awaited day off from constant rehearsing and performing got to include a LOT of shoveling.  But also a lot of beauty. 

Here's Ivy with the first snowman of the season, who was constructed at Coventry park and transported to our yard in our neighbor's car.  My children were the most neglected things during that crazy weekend, but luckily friends and neighbors came through to give Ivy girl some fun.  And Jack kept busy with practice and Apush homework and a birthday party. And my chorus friends kept me company and distracted me from worry (Ivy is likely to remember when she stayed up too late with us, watching Veronica Mars while we drank all sorts of wine after the Friday concert...) and it really is a blessing to not have to go through this life alone.  That weekend was a whole lot- yet somehow my memories are not of stress and overwhelm, but of laughter and support and care.  Love my village...

Finally got my Thanksgiving decorations up on Sunday the 20th, so that they could enjoy a whole 5 days in the light...  I am grateful for candlelight and centerpieces and a family that indulges my festooning of the house for every holiday...

Ad then it was Thanksgiving week!

Grateful for the opportunity to go on a field trip with the second graders.  Such sweet beings of light.  And so fun to be with them outside of academic pressure for a minute, to just play and enjoy them.  A great way to end a 2 day week of teaching.  Which I was also very grateful for.  Especially coming on the heels of that previous weekend. 

First swim meet of the season!  I am so grateful for our swim team.  Such a supportive group of kids and coaches. This was our annual "Black and Gold" meet, which included the middle school team and the Tigersharks littles ones, and even some of our Heights High alumni, all swimming against one another.  Jack hit several new PR's and pretty much dominated his events, and Ivy did a great job and even survived swimming against her brother in the "siblings" heat of the 50 free. 

So very grateful for Wednesday off.  I love Wednesdays off. They are like bonus time.  Used this one well, with brunch and a walk by the river and visiting mom and frosting cookies while drinking wine with friends on Zoom.   

There's a lot to be grateful for wrapped up in that sentence, isn't there?

Off to Strasburg!

Here are my kids where they spent the first half of the holiday.  But you know what?  I'm grateful for their antisocial hiding because they were together, and not even fighting.  Solidarity through adversity. 

Also grateful to get to know Aunt Pat's boyfriend- and see just how happy he makes her.  

And grateful for our friendly little spaniel who charmed the whole crowd all day. 

I'm always so grateful to get to return to Grandma Gertie's house for Thanksgiving.  One glance at it's unchanged facade and I am 8 years old again, racing excitedly towards the magical toy closet.  The oak tree in the front yard is bigger and the kitchen is no longer it's green-enamel self, but the feel of the house, the pink and black bathroom, the breezeway...  all still there and a gift to my soul.

Grateful for my cousin Doug and his spark and his stories of adventures with my dad.  And grateful for my second cousins and their youth and beauty and energy, and how I get to share the joy and potential of one's twenties,  through them.... the babies, the house buying, the new relationships, the adventures.  

Grateful too for a husband who takes great photos- and a family who puts up with my intense desire for lots of photos. 

Grateful to be the shortest person in my family.  I love these tall humans and I am so glad my kids got the genetic mix that will allow them to reach items in high places all by themselves.  Sometimes I look at these giant people, in all of their robust beauty and personality, and I just cannot comprehend how they came from me.  I am astounded by them-- and so thankful for the opportunity to create and nurture and watch them with awe. 

Life is so beautiful, isn't it?  Gratitude abounds. 

November is my new favorite

 I am generally not the biggest fan of November, despite the fact that it's my birthday month.  Generally speaking, November in Ohio is a dismal month with few redeeming features.  

But one week into this November and I am singing a different tune.  There's been so much blue sky this week one might almost forget one lives in Cleveland.  Add to that a few significant celebrations and a the continuation of all of my regularly scheduled fun, and this month is off to a great start.

Behold.  November beauty. Pictured here:  Forest Hill Park, Wagar Beach, and Cumberland Park.

(how lucky am I, that I get to spend time in these places on a regular basis?) 

Ivy met a new friend-  This is Mr. Big, Mallory's third horse who is currently boarding with a trainer.  Because he's kind of insane.  But so gorgeous, and friendly and funny.  I'm in love.  Ivy swears she will never ride him. :) We also went to a tack swap, because apparently that's something I do in my life now.  Life is so unexpected sometimes-- but I am absolutely loving being on this adventure with my girl, and so grateful to my friend for this opportunity.

We celebrated the birthday of these two wonderful humans on Saturday.  Officially teenagers!  I treasure these kids- and their continuing friendship with Ivy. Second generation besties.

In news of our increasingly photo shy son:  Had his annual well visit.  He is 5'11 3/4 " tall and weighs 161 pounds.  Needs to sleep more and get more protien but otherwise in perfect healthy.  We just had his conferences and overall he was termed a delight, except in his engineering class where he is refusing to do his work because he "just doesn't like it."  He's put all his academic eggs into the APUSH basket and has raised his grade from a D to an A- and I'm proud of him for learning how to work at school, for pretty much the first time ever.  He's renamed the kitten "Shmeigelton" and he is generally hilarious and now that swim team is starting I hardly see him at all.  But I love him so. 

The big celebration of this week-  Completion of our OEC training course! Nat and I are official members of the Boston Mills/Brandywine/Alpine Valley ski patrol!

Taking this class was legit one of the hardest things I have done in a long time.  I've made it a practice for so many years to simply not do things if I am not already good at them.  Starting at point zeros with learning the full gamut of skills needed for an Outdoor Emergency technician...  I was not already good at this.  Then the full blown stage fright that kicked in every time we did a scenario-  I hate improv!  And I hate not knowing what to do! I have not cried in front of so many people for many years.  Saturdays on the hill just shattered me for a number of weeks and I came very close to dropping out of the class.  But once I start something I finish it.  So I kept coming back for more torment...

Nat was a constant support on this journey.  He too went through some anxiety as we traveled this steep learning curve (we all did, even Tyler, the "principal's award" winner!) but was always ready to encourage me and accept me with out judgement after I broke down.  And my dear classmates did too.  This group of people- they are so extraordinarily nice.  They were gentle and encouraging and funny and kind and never made me feel like a failure for being emotional.

And this guy- Chris- one of our instructors-- he's probably the single person I can credit with me eventual success.  He knew instantly how to to treat me when I froze up-- a tiny bit of scaffolding, a bit of push, no pity-  and after having him as our group leader for a couple of weeks I was able to get my shit together and start having some success.  I  only cried 4 times on exam day so I count that as a win! :) 

These are the faces of people who have just made it through an intense and stressful day together.  While I am not going to miss driving down to Brandywine twice a week (and not even skiing!) I am going to miss seeing these faces all the time. 

Got another big stressor out of the way this weekend:  singing on a microphone!  (this is a very scary photo for me...!)  Luckily it was at church, in a trio, singing Wailin' Jenny's songs, so it was the best possible way for me to have to sing on a microphone.  And I survived, though with a lot of nerves and a few vocal flubs.  By the end of service I was actually enjoying myself- it is fun to lead music with our sweet, appreciated congregation.  I'd missed it.  I almost hope Amanda asks our group to perform again (who even am I???)  But I'm also glad to have this one performance (and the extra rehearsing for it) out of the way before the next few weeks of COC insanity (pretty much a full week at Severance for the Adams, Thanksgiving off, then the 12 nights of Christmas). Life just does not slow down!

In the midst of the craziness, I do manage to slow time a bit, when I'm out in my kayak. This unseasonably fabulous weather has let me get Betty out on the water not once but twice this month.  I am pleased as punch.  And sad that my trip out yesterday (November 9th) may well be the last one, as we will be in the 30s with snow for the next 10 days.  All good things must come to a pause, I suppose.  (not an end!  Just a little time away from the water while I busy myself with holidays and snow.  I'll be back on the waves again before I know it...)