Happy Birthday to ME!

JKirlin Photo

This year brings a much quieter birthday. Not sure why or if I like it, but "it is what it is." I've just been deep in thought these past several months. There's been a lot of changes in the past year... (deaths of loved ones, friends with new babies, the start of a business, etc.) and many changes are still ahead (moving to a new apartment, continued refinement of my teaching practices, beginning a masters program, as well as thoughts about starting a family of our own). Who knows how these will play out and in what order... it seems like, the more I plan, the less things go as I had originally expected.

Last Project

Jason and his father worked on this project during Jason's stay in Idaho. Norm got up one morning, thinking that he wanted to make a wooden ball. They started with a block of wood and worked on it for days (weeks). Their initial idea just kept evolving. The project wasn't finished before Jason returned to Maine, but it was sent in the mail about a week later. It is a treasure in our home... Jason truly cherishes those last memories with his father.

In Loving Memory

blessing the boats
by Lucille Clifton

may the tide
that is entering even now
the lip of our understanding
carry you out
beyond the face of fear
may you kiss
the wind then turn from it
certain that it will
love your back may you
open your eyes to water
water waving forever
and may you in your innocence
sail from this to that

Blog Vacation

It's been a while, I know, loyal viewer(s). I haven't purposely been ignoring this blog... it's just that there's been some technical (photoposting) difficulties. Plus, the life plate has been so full, that I've forgotten "myself" again. I'll be figuring this out soon.