Archive for May, 2009
A Missing Mommy Mothers Day
If I were to be honest, I’d have to confess that this has not been my best week. And while this blog hasn’t been the gut-spilling venue that it was this time last year, I am still very much compelled to present the naked truth, as I call it. So I will.
I have been depressed for a few days. I got back from vacation with Olivia late Tuesday night and started work Wednesday morning. These past three days have been perhaps the least productive days of my recent few years. I would stare at my computer in work just wishing the day were over (this started at about 10am)….and I have no energy to stay up past Olivia’s bedtime to work on anything else, like Anthem of Hope. I would prefer McDonald’s to just about anything under the sun, except chocolate (yes, I eat my feelings as well). Now, there is nothing anyone can do here….I’m not looking for anything. I’m really just making sure it is clear that I’m not superman. Sometimes I get accused of that…or at least of playing him on a blog. And for the record, if this continued I’d see a counselor, as I recommend any of us should. BUT, its not, I’m fine today :)
Well, mostly fine. I’m not depressed….but I do miss Misty. And contrary to popular belief it has nothing to do with Mothers Day, or anything else. It’s just been 8 months since I held my best friend in my arms. And a handful of months more since she was well enough to reciprocate much affection back to me. I just burn to be with her.
Today however, was really lovely. I did get to visit my mother and my mother-in-law (both of whom, I am unable to imagine life now without – they are huge parts of day to day life with Olivia – Happy Mothers Day!!), but Liv and I also took a trip over to Monmouth Memorial Park to visit Misty…or her grave, however you prefer. Misty’s life was a fairly unique journey and I think her funeral/memorial service was quite unique as well. In keeping with that, I really wanted to make her cemetery marker equally unique so I searched for months to find the right place to have it custom made. I’m pretty happy with the way it came out. Olivia was happy to see Mommy’s picture on the stone and she got down to touch her face when we first got there. I asked her if she wanted to say anything to Mommy:
“We miss you Mommy”
“I miss you so much”
“I love you, Mommy”
then, turning to me…
“Mommy’s not sick anymore…she’s happy”
Yes, yes she is my dear.
If you want to visit the photo gallery, click HERE or click the picture below.
Lastly, I also have to wish a Happy Mothers Day to Ann Parker…who with my mom and my mother-in-law share responsibilities for watching Olivia when I’m at work. I’m so incredible blessed to have 3 women/mothers that I trust with my life being part of Olivia’s life each week.
PS: mistyleblanc.com isn’t made yet….but someday it will be.
Olivia goes to California
I took a break. It was in some ways, the first break I have had in quite a while. It was nice.
Olivia and I went out to San Francisco to visit my cousin Chad and his wife Shawna. I turned off the blackberry, ignored email and basically left my phone in the bag. Despite some pretty bad weather (especially for May in San Francisco) we had an incredible time. Here are a few anecdotes:
FLIGHT
The flight out was Olivia’s first flight. She did great for the whole first 5 hours and 35 minutes. The last 20 minutes had her a little upset with the normal ear pressure issues. “Daddy, I have to get out of here before my ears pop!”
RAIN
It rained everyday we were there, which from what I’m told is very unlikely for this time of year. Strangely enough though, it seemed that the rain just worked out perfectly, we did mostly everything we would have wanted to do….EXCEPT, take great pictures of the city (i occasionally moonlight as a photographer…haha). And to be honest, that was probably a blessing as well. Instead of my incessant shooting, I actually did a bit of relaxing. We also got to visit some great places, like the Bay Area Discovery Museum and the new Academy of Sciences. The rain broke long enough each day for aus to visit a park, or take a nice hike as well.
FRIEND #1
Olivia’s first friend of the trip was definitely baxter (the dog). She is in love with animals and took to him pretty quickly since he is markedly less moody than our dear marmalade (the cat). The highlight of most days was getting to walk “baxtah”.
JAPANESE TEA GARDEN
The rain broke just long enough for us to walk through the Japanese Tea Gardens in Golden Gate Park. We had Jasmine tea and hot chocolate together. Well, my little girl decides to pick up the tea pot and pour a glass of tea while I was taking this first picture. Then as I was cleaning it up, she managed to spill the hot chocolate all over herself. After the delectable cocoa when down her front we actually just looked at each other and laughed.
Napa Valley
After the tea incident, we got in the car and just drove. She napped in her car seat while I toured the american wine county….or at least drove its roads. Here is one I snapped from the car while my little lady was snoring (she does that often in car seats).
FRIEND #2
When we got to the airport we were greeted with a lovely 3 hour delay. Well, thank God that we ran into this lovely family from CT that was on our flight. Their little 4 year old and Olivia became best friends and played for hours in the airport. Then they couldn’t stop visiting each other on the plan. It was quite cute.
Anyway, I’m back now….but kinda wishing I could “vacate” for a little longer. You could tell my brain was still on vacation today… I’m not sure I have ever had such an unproductive day at work :)
Thanks so much to my cousins, Chad and Shawna!
Chad works for Apple by day, and is a time lapse photographer and a wine maker by night. Shawna is a respected Life coach and a beautiful expectant mother!
By the way, you can visit the full gallery HERE. I added captions so it all makes sense. But in case you don’t feel like loading another page, here are a couple more pictures…
Sorry for my lack of posting this week. Was kinda busy down in atlanta speaking at a conference. Today though is a great day and I just wanted to tell everyone…
Olivia and I are sitting on a plan about to take off for San Francisco. We are visiting family for a few days. You’ll see pictures soon. Ok, “the cabin doors are shut” gotta turn the phone.
