Purple haze blessings

I am missing out on a huge family event this weekend -- my cousin, who's like a brother's wedding. It was so difficult to make the decision to not attend his festivities. But we are the parents of an almost two-year-old, so that shifts our priorities a bit (not to mention the financial blow we had to take from an unexpected and forced termination of our adoption process). I highly doubt N. or we would've survived the 8 to 15-hour trek, including stops because there were no direct flights and on top of that, the costly travel expenses. 

Wishing so much we could have celebrated with them in person, I have spent the last few days scanning facebook and their wedding app to remotely participate in their once-in-a-lifetime party. While we can't be in Puerto Vallarta at the moment, I am so heartwarmingly delighted to see that M. & B. have had the time of their life. I am so proud to witness their courageous and whopping love in a world where it's not always easy to learn how to love ourselves or others, let alone feel loved. 

Dedicated to my dearest ading Mitch & Ben:
May you continue to love deeply,
May passion and patience be your guides 
in this adventure called Life,
May your purple hearts always bedazzle
like paper lanterns aglow amidst twilight's orchid haze.

Lovelovelove to you both.

Dance with spring

spring has moved in
along with the swing, slide and merry-go-round
go . . . go . . . go . . . to the park where
the breeze along the lake calls us in
for afternoon merienda
the ice cream truck is our very own music box
as she twirls around . . . and around . . . and around
she dances with spring

To the edge of wavelets

We're on vacation for the first time since N. was born. She's 19 months old. So far, so good. Having had to pass on a family, international destination wedding in a couple of months that included non-direct air travel and two stopovers -- one of which was an overnight, we'll see how this week away from home, a couple of states away, fares.

Slow paced, not doing anything major. Just the indoor pool and a few local day trips. It's what I love most about the New England shoreline. Nice and easy right along the Water's Edge. 

Have my eclectic (enough for me) Pandora shuffle on -- a mix of Dar Williams, The Carpenters, Jake Shimabukuro, Annie Lennox and Aloha Ka Manini. As I look out past our cottage balcony, freezing rain continues to fall, ice storm leavings along the ground where the resident geese cast their droppings. The water of the Long Island Sound totes a muddy gray that complements the oyster clouds. Winter just refuses to let go.

Still, it's a most welcome getaway. Just the three of us. Our humble family. Every day, I remain in awe that the Universe gifted N. to us. I know that A. agrees with me -- it can be hard to remember what life was like before N. -- staying at B&Bs along the Jersey and Connecticut shores (so thankful we treated ourselves to those!), going to the movies, dining out. Yet not too difficult to recall in the midst of toddlerdom! Now it's all about visiting Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood, reading favorite books over and over (and over) again, and figuring out meal variations of applesauce, bananas, blueberries, butternut squash, chicken, eggs, english & sugarfree muffins, fish, mango, peas, pasta, sweet potatoes, turkey, and yogurt.

While we're on vacation, I indulge in my share of seafood as well as ice cream and wine in front of a modest sea of flames crackling in the fireplace. Despite the required polartec gear, we trek downhill beyond the bare stone wall to the edge of the wavelets. N. delights in the brisk coastland air and does her celebratory happy dance.  

Taking it nice and easy. Certainly a most cherished spring break.