Birthday Party #2

on Feb. 3, 2010

Measure in Love

My son is one year old today - a toddler, a little man.

He's moved on from crawling to taking several hurried steps from object to object.  He says "mama" although not "dada" yet.  He is stubborn and curious.  He bites you to make you listen to him.  He shows affection by wildly waving his arms and hitting you in the process.  He likes to touch your face.  He loves people except when they are gathered in large groups.  He's a bit of a bully with other kids his age.  His naps have vastly improved and he continues to sleep through the night.  He has memorized every inch of our apt and in any moment that I'm not paying enough attention, he will take off for one of his favorite things, such as the diaper pail or fan in his room, the toilets in the bathrooms, a wall hanging in the hallway, the nightstands in the guest room, the closet in the master bedroom, or the cabinets in the kitchen.  He is adorable.

My favorite song from the musical Rent (I've seen it twice) is "Seasons of Love."

525,600 minutes, 525,000 moments so dear. 525,600 minutes - 

how do you measure, measure a year? 

In daylights, in sunsets, in midnights, in cups of coffee. In
inches, in miles, in laughter, in strife. In 525,600 minutes - 

how do you measure a year in the life?
How about love? How about love? How about love? Measure in love. 

Seasons of love.

Birthday Party #1

on Jan 30, 2010

Engagement Story and Mark Twain

My engagement ring against the grass at the Mark Twain house

My husband and I became officially engaged in Rocky Hill, CT.  I say officially because it wasn't a surprise and we were effectively planning the wedding before a proposal took place.  I helped pick out the ring and in order to save thousands of dollars in taxes, we had it mailed to my friend in CT.  We stopped by her house to pick up the ring and then continued on.  We had a lovely dinner at the Saybrook Fish House in Rocky Hill and then returned to the hotel where my husband gifted me with my engagement ring.  I surprised him with a Cartier watch for his engagement gift.  He knew he was getting the watch and had picked it out but it was a surprise that he got it that night.   As you can tell, we're very practical people.  It works well for both of us.

The next morning, we stopped in Hartford to see Mark Twain's house that has been converted into a museum.  Although we had randomly chosen to stop there, I would recommend it as a great place to visit.   The house would be considered a Victorian mansion even by today's standards.  Louis Comfort Tiffany supervised the interior decoration and one of the earliest telephones was installed in the entrance hall.  Mark Twain resided there from 1874 to 1891 and during this time he wrote The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, Huck Finn, and The Prince and Pauper - three excellent reads.  Hartford was a publishing center back then and many authors lived there, including Harriet Beecher Stowe who lived next door.

Below are select Twain quotes.

 "A man cannot be comfortable without his own approval."

 "The lack of money is the root of all evil."

  "Always respect your superiors...if you have any."

  "Travel is fatal to prejudice."

Mark Twain said of Hartford: "Of all the beautiful towns it has been my fortune to see, this is the chief... You do not know what beauty is if you have not been here."  And he was right.  I have wonderful memories of Hartford.

Mother to Son

In 11th grade, I developed an interest in poetry. I admired the works of several poets - Poe, Wilde, Frost, Neruda, and Dickinson. I wrote a few pieces and even won honorable mention in a poetry contest. And that was the end of that. I still appreciate poetry, though, even if I have not written a poem since then.

The title of this post is from Langston Hughes' work and I'm borrowing it in honor of my son's upcoming first birthday.  Hughes writes from the perspective of a mother speaking to her son about life's hardships by using the appropriate metaphor of life as a climb up a staircase.  There are many difficulties and struggles in life, but it is important to keep going and move beyond these obstacles and keep living life.  The moral is that life is tough, but you shouldn't avoid it.  I can't think of a more important lesson for a mother to impart upon her son.

Mother to Son

by: Langston Hughes

Well, son, I'll tell you

Life for me ain't been no crystal stair.

It's had tacks in it,

And splinters,

And boards torn up,

And places with no carpet on the floor --

Bare.

But all the time

I'se been a-climbin' on,

And reachin' landin's,

And turnin' corners,

And sometimes goin' in the dark

Where there ain't been no light.

So boy, don't you turn back.

Don't you set down on the steps

'Cause you finds it's kinder hard.

Don't you fall now --

For I'se still goin', honey,

I'se still climbin',

And life for me ain't been no crystal stair.