reading around the world.

This past year my monkey has been to 8 countries... I've been to three of them with her - the one we're in right now plus 2 others. In all of those countries I've seen something rather familiar...

in the middle of a labyrinth.



outside an incredible palace in Vienna.

inside the National Portrait Gallery, London.

I don't think I have any of her reading here in Prague, as it's so normal and commonplace to see her hair halo-ing The Name of the Wind rather than her face, it doesn't strike me to take a picture. I know she read everywhere else she's been, but I wasn't there to take a picture - if you have one, send it and I'll throw it up here on the The kid reads around the world page.

----- funny side note - the bag she has in each photo is the same, it's just reversible. that's been her go to bag for a while now, but i think she's found a new one - you may see it soon, she calls it "Mushroom". You will love the mushroom.

the kid's choir

The kid's school has a few dances each year... the cool thing about them is that they're open to all the students, K-12, and the parents - it's great to see so everyone interacting and out their dancing - the families are for the most party close and you'll see any number of Moms and teachers out there shaking it up on the dance floor with their kids and students.

Today was the last dance of the year - a 50s themed sock hop. The really special thing about this was that most of the music, not all but quite a large percentage, was provided by the students - some just groups of students who had practiced and practiced in preparation, others by the choir students who had really worked hard organizing the various parts and harmonies. My kid is a member of her school's choir.

I wish I had a functioning camera so I could have taken photos for you, but she was beautiful! Maybe I'll be able to get a few from someone else that was there - if so I'll make sure to post them here.

These events are also really nice for me to have a chance to meet a few other parents - I'm not involved in the religous aspects of the school so we don't have any of the church or mission stuff to chat about or bond over - and we don't cross paths in an other aspect of life, either... sometimes when prepping for stuff like this I feel like the odd man out - but once I show up I am reminded that while we may differ drastically politically and religiously we're all connected in wanting the best of our kids and in being present and making our best efforts to ensure their happiness. It's nice to see the other adults my monkey interacts with regularly, and witness how much they care for her too. None of you need to worry about her - she is really well loved, the world over.

All about my monkey

She's been really focusing on her writing lately (believe it or not, this blog was a lame attempt to help further her regular writing routine... look at when she posted last!) and has earned a bit of praise in the writing groups in which she participates. Yesterday she received a notice that someone would like to use one of her poems in their journal - they selected one she's not particularly fond of, but the theme, HOPE, ties in to a humanitarian issue the journal supports... this means that come Christmas time little Miss Kidlet will be a published poet.

Today she left for Rome - most of last week she had a stomach virus - I managed to come down with it yesterday, right when I thought I'd somehow avoided it... that means, unfortunately, that shel got herself to the airport. I'd arranged an alternate companion, but she didn't want one... she didn't want a taxi, either, but preferred to take the metro alone and meet her friends at the Terminal. And she did just that... it's a little odd the leaps and bounds she's covered in her personal growth in the last few months - jaunty new haircut, makeup, new sense of style (she hit up Zara while out shopping yesterday and came home with quite a few cute new things) and the sky-rocketing self-confidence all while maintaining a fairly level head and a focus on school work.

She'll be back in the US for a few months this summer - looking at the end of June until mid-August... something like that.

And that's the Kid's update for today.

Her hair!

It's gone. She looks like a an edgy funky super cool woman and not a really cool girl. It's got me feeling a little bit of discomfort. Well, her hair combined with her new make-up skills and penchant for wearing dresses and skirts. My daughter has fully embraced her femininity. I still haven't done that.

Sparta v Slavia and a slightly distracted Mom

I spent most of the day out at the hospital, again, and left with less resolution than I'd hoped for. Taking that bit of unsettledness I headed in to school to take care of some of the many things hanging over me... it was during this state of exhaustion/distraction that I received a text from my young'un asking to go to a football match with her friend who is moving away from Prague after having spent the last few years here - his father's diplomatic mission has come to an end and so they're leaving this week.

Without really thinking about the implications of the request I agreed - she's a good kid and I don't worry about her actions.

A few hours later I realized she was headed to the Sparta v Slavia game - think Giants/Dodgers if they were living in the same town... or take a look back to the East Coast where there are 2 dueling teams. And then add in European football hooliganism. Genius Mom move!

So, I sat at home and stressed and texted her a reminder to be careful, rabid fans, etc... and she told me they were safe in the neutral zone and not exposed to that sort of nonsense, but I still wasn't relaxed. I know the police presence in the metros and on the streets after a football match when it's not a major rivalry and have experienced it once, last year, when Sparta and Slavia played - even though my metro was peaceful I found the whole experience very intimidating.

So Coral gets home and we start talking... she expressed her frustration with Sparta setting up so many awesome shots and waiting too long to take them... with Sparta always moving the ball in to the corner and allowing themselves to get blocked in... with Sparta - you get the idea and can figure out who she was rooting for. They lost. Slavia scored in the first ten minutes with a penalty kick and it was the only score of the game.

Then she threw in how safe they were - behind the goal. I freaked a little inside as that's not typically a mellow spot, but she said they were in an area reserved for teenagers and it was a neutral zone. Then she mentioned how they were across from the Sparta fans and that they were a little crazy... I guess they set 3 fires during the course of the match. Shock and horror and incredulity were my reactions - and so Coral finds it appropriate to throw in that above them was the small section containing the Slavia fans - and they set about 6 fires - and one of those fires fell off of their level and started a fire on another level below.

SERIOUSLY?

As she was going to sleep she sorta added this one too... "It was pretty cold out and part of me was wishing someone would start a fire near us so I could warm up a bit."

Next time, in about 10 years when she's accompanied by bodyguards and equipped with a fire extinguisher, next time, I'm sending her with a blanket.

AND finally - she discovered she'd been "tagged" on her way home - someone slapped a TORPEDO HOOLIGANS sticker on the back of her sweatshirt. I'm unfamiliar with them, so some insight in to the Torpedo Hooligans would be appreciated.

This has been one of the more stressful parenting episodes yet. Maybe I should stop watching Elijah Wood movies.

Post-Easter glow... or shimmer - or is that just sweat?

So, we went to Vienna. I slept on the train, in the hostel, napped a few times each day, and slept on the train back. We did step foot out of the room and had quite a jolly time. However, even with the beautiful places we saw and the abundance of laughter we shared while out and about nothing, and I truly mean nothing will be such a lasting and laughable memory as our roommate.

The three of us girls shared a hostel room meant for four. We though we might be lucky and not have a fourth, but we were wrong. Just as Becky said something about there only being 3 pillows in the room in walks an Australian... guy. He was pretty cool, and along with this other guy we'd met on the metro, we all shared a few drinks (age and health appropriate ones) downstairs and played some foosball and shot pool before the healthy adults went out to a club - the kid and I retired to our room.

Before I go any further I must let you know that the Australian who shall forever be known as Vegemite laughingly, and in passing, mentioned to me that he used to sleepwalk, talk in his sleep, and sometimes get up and do things while he slept. In the past. Right. Wrong.

After safely returning to the hostel intact and unharmed Becky and Vegemite went to sleep - I was still awake as the stupid combination of opiate/amphetamine medication hadn't quite worked its way out of my system. I did manage to doze off however and was truly grateful for the rest... which lasted about an hour and a half.

At that point, Boy Wonder from Down Under fell out of his top bunk. In his sleep. Not being familiar with sleepwalkers, especially ones who claim to no longer sleep walk, I didn't understand the situation... and when he stumbled the few steps and sat down on the foot of my bed, doubled over, in what I perceived to be pain, I had no reason to think that in his mind he had just walked the distance from his bed to his bathroom. No reason at all until there was the sound of liquid steaming on to a hard surface.... actually, even then I didn't quite grasp the situation - I thought he was bleeding for an instant - but only an instant. I tried to reach out, find a light, check what was going on, etc, yet Becky warned me to be careful since he was still asleep - apparently she has a lot more experience with sleepwalkers than I have. We talked at him but he just mumbled at us to shut up, shut up, shut up without ever hearing us...

After he finished tinkling he stood up, stumbled back in to the lockers, knocked the fan across the room, threw open the bedroom door and started pacing the hostel hallway, mumbling to himself, until he finally turned in his tracks and disappeared.

A few moments went by with the three of us in a state of shock. It was all quite a bit surreal. And then we got up, not the youngster, she stayed safely tucked in bed, and surveyed the damage... the edge of my duvet was damp, the Kid's shoes were wet, a strap on our large pack, and a giant puddle of sterilized beer was on the floor. At about this point Vegemite walked back in, climbed back in to his bunk, and was out - again.

This time, since he was no longer walking/talking/peeing we woke him and explained what had happened.... he seemed a little unclear about the extent of it all, however, and buried himself in his pillow, quite clearly expressing he just wanted to die at that exact moment. We found his towel to clean up, I stripped my bedding and switched it out for his dry stuff, and after he promised to buy her new shoes and us all breakfast we all went back to bed.

Well, when we woke up he had to have it all explained to him all over again as he'd jumbled it up in his head and wasn't quite sure it had happened... he was quite rightfully mortified but carried it off like a champ - finished dealing with his mess, and even though he forgot about treating us all to breakfast, we did in fact all eat together - actually he spent the day with us, rested in the later afternoon, and then joined us for a dinner out, too.

Before he left he did give the Kid 50 Euros for new shoes - but being the honest and frugal person she is she gave him 20 Euros back, telling him that since the shops were closed both Sunday and Monday she'd have to buy her shoes in Prague and she could get what she wanted for 30.

We went to some palaces, took lots of goofy pictures, took lots of naps, saw some amazing places, walked over the Danube, and came back home. I'm still sick, still on a ridiculous amounts of stuff, and being treated, again, for pneumonia. I have to wait another week for more breathing tests as the doctor wants a better baseline to work with - right now I'm too asthmatic for anything useful. I'm super glad I went - the air was a bit cleaner and a little easier to breathe in Austria - and the company was excellent. The Kid is a champ and Becky is.... well, Beckomo. Vienna is beautiful.

uff, and thanks kiddo

Yesterday was I had some meetings and had committed to attending the opening of a new art space. I got dressed knowing my plans for the evening and the fact that I wouldn't be returning home before going out... so I put on some heels that complemented my outfit.

Then I went outside... where it was snowing - and things sorta came to a halt. I ended up rushing all morning long, despite having gotten up early - but the tram was 30 minutes late and then got stuck in traffic. I was running late for a meeting. Getting off the tram at my final destination, it was curved away from the curb and I stepped on to the street, rather than the sidewalk, even thought I had the intention of stepping on to the sidewalk, and somehow I stepped wrong and did something odd to my back.

Now - after 30 hours of spasms and such, I'm stuck at home, unable to get fully upright and/or make it down the 3 1/2 flights of stairs to the street.. which doesn't matter much as I'm not walking all that well either so if I got downstairs then what? Turn around and come back?

On the weekends we usually do a major grocery shopping. That means, by Friday we're pretty short on food... as in, we don't have much, if any. Coral is a lifesaver right now and heading out to the grocery store for me. Thank you CORAL!

Later - we're going to watch 3 movies - Lost Boys, Silver Bullet (both part of our Corey Haim tribute - my first real movie-star pre-teen crush) and then Highlander per Coral's request. I can't do much else, the weather is miserable, and her friends are busy so it's gonna be a movie weekend.

lovely wonderful doctor lady and gratitude for Jill

Today we went to the newest doctor's appointment for my monkey... and I have so much appreciation for the doctor, the office, and one of the monkey's friend's Mom, Jill.

The regular doctor was on vacation but the woman who filled in was just lovely. She was quiet and calm and peaceful and not only listened, but checked the parameters of our insurance and had prepared a list of potential appropriate contacts for us in advance of our coming. Then, she contacted one of the people her contact had referred her to (stronger English skills) and scheduled the appointment for us. She checked to make sure that the kid had everything she needed and was so pleasant and helpful and doctorly yet listened - it was truly a world of difference.

And Jill - she had called and scheduled the appointment, met us at the metro, walked us to the place, dealt with the Czech speaking staff, and then offered to come with us to the next appointment too. Her presence is so bright and cheery and friendly and helpful and Czech-competent... I'm truly grateful.

The plus - in addition to finally getting on the right track for the appropriate care, my monkey has also been having a little bit of a reduction with her headache pain.

YEA!

sometimes, moms are right :)

Last night, as she was pulling back her blankets, getting ready for bed, my kid stopped what she was doing, and stood still for a moment with a somewhat disgruntled expression and a handful of her comforter, and said, "You know, Mom, as much as I hate to admit it, ever since that foot massage my headaches have been a lot better."

We were not talking about foot massages or headaches at the time. It was a little late night personal reflection moment and the truth came out.

She will be going back, again, soon, to get her feet poked with a stick. This time, she goes knowingly, if a bit begrudgingly, and we'll see if she is able to maintain, or even improve upon the improvement she's had. She doesn't like the shoulder massage at the end, so she can skip it or she can ask that they be a little gentler. Hopefully this time she'll relax a bit, as it won't be all new, and even, maybe enjoy the odd moment or two.

don't poke her foot with a stick

We're still waiting for a new doctor to see Coral, and her head isn't getting any better. I've been trying to think of alternative ways to help reduce her headaches and thought I came up with one - till I remembered that Coral has it in her head that she hates massages. Then I remembered the Thai massage place around the corner does a foot massage targeted at the points connected to your head and the rest of your body.

Today Coral and I were both feeling pretty lousy. I decided, spur of the moment, to get us both massages. Coral was less than thrilled. I got an oil massage (quite different than any other oil massage I've ever received) and she got the foot massage.

They poke your foot with a stick to stimulate the points - I know this cause I've done it and it's crazy cool. Coral knew this cause I told her. She didn't like it. I asked why and she said it was too hard... yet we shared a room and not once did she mention to the lady that it was too hard. Coral disliked it so much she's now considering my first proposal, acupuncture. She really dislikes needles but apparently she really, really dislikes having her foot poked with a stick. I happen to think it hurt because it was stimulating the areas that need some attention, and helping her headaches... and yes, a little bit cause it's a freakin stick they're poking you with... that will rarely, ever, be comfortable.

Fencing... and maturing

Coral and I found the fencing school today... we sat in and watched a lesson to get a feel for it. At first it was rather daunting, lots of people running around in an obvious order but completely undecipherable to our English-only minds, but then the mass broke down in to groups based on skill and things started to look manageable. It reminded me of beginning the violin - not a lot going on but learning the perfect form which requires physical correction and lots and lots of repetition.

The teachers don't speak English, but one of the adult students did and came and gave us a brief overview shortly after we arrived. Midway through the group practices she came back and let us know a young boy was a native English speaker who also doesn't speak Czech... as he was doing pretty well it was nice to know. After the group practice it was interesting to see the one on one workouts... from absolute beginners in t-shirts and leggings and without a foil, to the more advanced students in the full body suits, masks, and electronic training set up - they were sparring for points on the far side of the gym.

About three quarters of the way through I asked Coral what she thought of it. Her response? "I don't think I'm going to like it all the time, but, I think it will be good for me." She goes back on Wednesday.

The kid and the hulk

The kid hates going to bed. Seriously hates going to bed. She's a lot like me in that she has a hard time going to sleep. She's created this nightly routine, which is rather sweet for a sixteen year old - part of it involves me tucking her in. The tucking in usually involves a bit of silly banter and she tries to knock me over or something with a hug... and then she'll talk for a bit too.

Tonight I was tucking her in when she noticed, through the gap in the bottom of the shade and the window ledge, that the constructions workers working on a full floor in the building across the street had left the lights on. She was griping about is as the light both shines in her bedroom window, right in to her eyes, and is quite wasteful. She was really irritated. So irritated that, as she put it, it makes her "Hulk on the inside."

My kid and the clumsy not so good weekend.

Two weeks ago I went to Berlin and the kid passed for a school trip to Budapest. I know she regrets that a bit because I had an awesome time and she did not.

Starting with Friday - somehow my elegant and graceful child managed to fall down a flight of stone stairs in the dark. She didn't break her ipod but did lose her headphones... that was the least of it though. She also managed to cut up her hands, her stomach and her legs as well as sprain her knee. She went back to her teacher's house, as the family was kind enough to care for her while I was gone, and slept on the floor in pain after a thorough checking over by the mother who is also a nurse.

This was within a few hours of our landlord coming over and telling us he had sold our flat and contrary to our written agreement, and Czech law, he was breaking our lease, not with the required 3 months notice, but with 3 weeks notice.

Saturday she had a birthday party to go to - she limped all over and managed to find her bus only to get off at the wrong stop in middle of the wrong nowhere... and some creeper got off at the wrong stop and waited there with her too.

Sunday they went to Budapest, did their thing, and she sat in the car for 3 hours at the end of the trip while her classmates sang worship songs. When they drove home (6 hours) the van started breaking down so they had to make a detour and find alternate vehicles and additional drivers.

By the time she made it home, nearing 1 am, she'd also developed a full blown cold.

Apparently, in her fall she also rattled her brain a bit - which isn't good when you're dealing with post concussion stuff... and has had some pretty icky pretty bad headaches ever since. Back to medication for her brain and head pain.

She's off crutches now but still limping and slowly getting over the cold but still has a headache. We've found a new place and will move next week... but that's a whole other story.

the kid's cultural update.

The kid has a choral performance in December and a hip-hop dance performance in January. She has just asked me for piano lessons.

big time... birthday blues

This weekend... this weekend marks a few milestones. Sixteen years ago today my brother was in a plane crash, two days later I had my birthday, two days after that my one and only child was born. This is the first year I will not spend this time with my family. Even then, when my brother had made it home, broken, and battered, he rested but was there through my birthday and then he made my parents bring him back to the hospital to see his niece.

The kid and I always have a week long celebration - indulgent but fun, it is full of love and affection. She is in the US and I am missing her terribly. Fortunately, on her end, she is surrounded by her family and friends and will have plenty of love headed her way.

I opted to stay here in Prague, take summer courses, and continue work at school. As it turns out - due to circumstances beyond control - those whom I care for most here will be gone. In fact, almost all the people I consider good friends here will be out of the city. And a few people, who I had considered good friends, are no longer the people I want around me... and the people I would really like to get to know better are also gone...so it will be a rather solitary experience. One I've not had. Ever. I don't mean I will be a hermit, there are things to do, events planned and such, but I usually spend my birthday, and hers, with the people who matter most... my family and a few close friends. And that is not an option this time around.

The closest is 16 years ago when I celebrated my birthday by going in to labor. I was home resting most of the day, and in the evening my water broke - but I wasn't in any discomfort, so we had my birthday dinner (I was told to abstain so I watched everyone eat)and then went off the the hospital. I came home later that night, but went back the next afternoon - and she showed up right after midnight on the 28th.

That was the most hectic of all birthdays - and the highlight. I can't think of anything that could top that as a birthday gift, belated, but miraculous and wonderous and continuously giving more and more and more...

Happy Birthday kiddo. I love you.

another departure

The kid's leaving again. I'm not really cool with that. Her flight's Tuesday morning, pretty early. She's in the other room doing laundry right now, and just called out "I don't think I've really realized that I'm leaving." I haven't really processed it either.

There is the logical side of me that understands why she's leaving - her Dad is back in our town... not that she'll be staying with him, other than the odd night here and there, but her brother will be visiting him as well and she would really like to see her brother. I get that.

She'll also spend a good deal of time with her aunts, uncles, grandparents, and cousins. People she loves who love her back and who actively work to maintain a loving supportive relationship despite the distance. Her friends, she'll get time in with them.

I get all that.

But I don't really understand why it feels like she has to rather than that she wants to leave on Tuesday and be gone for the next two months... that feels more artificial to me. Forced. It's longer than either of us would choose, but is at the same time the appropriate time frame. It just feels like she's leaving her home to go spend her free time someplace that's not her home. And that while she'll be gone and enjoying herself she should also have more time here, with her Mom, her friends, her city, her home.

I hate it when she leaves. It's odd because we have grown closer and further apart at the same time. In CA we have been so much a daily part of most aspects of each other's life that she knows and is friends with all of my friends (we have 68 shared FB friends) and yet here we rarely go to the movies together, run errands together, socialize together, go shopping together... all these things we'd do together before we now do separately - which is good as she's matured and developed her own interests and aspects of her personality and is unknowingly preparing for university in two short years when we will no longer be living under the same roof... but also makes me sad a bit as she's not around as much as I've been accustomed to and I miss our shared experiences and frame of reference and her company and humor.... I miss her immediately knowing the personality and quirky aspects of whomever I am referring to... and I miss knowing each and every friend she has and their quirky personalities... And yet, despite this natural and evolving distance I'd like to think that we've also grown closer - in that we're both becoming close and closer to our authentic selves and are therefore more and more able to be present in our relationships as well as genuinely present who we are.

I am truly blessed, so incredibly fortunate to have a child who is not only a good kid, but an awesome and honorable person and a true friend. I enjoy her presence, her company, her input, her humor and am not looking forward AT ALL to her extended absence.

Maybe next year it'll be a shorter summer break, or I'll come home too. Two months is too long. And this is coming from a mother/daughter duo who were preparing for boarding school. What in the world were we thinking?!?

The kid's rather busy

in the lead-up to her departure the kid has a few things going on:

tomorrow - last few finals, last day of school, attend friends' graduation

next day - school party/picnic, knee football, and then slumber party

next, next day - still at slumber party, head straight to a goodbye party, then straight to a formal banquet on the river - fyi this day requires 2 separate dresses!!! one is super formal, too... someone will be taking pictures but not me as i'm not invited

the following day - she comes home and cleans as she wants to have a party here - and must pack... maybe getting her ears pierced... have to wait to see if she's sure about it this time

the last day - finish packing and any other last minute hang out things... flight is at 8 am the next morning.

my schedule -
tomorrow - work, decorate for the graduation, school
next day - work, picnic, school
next, next day - attempt to cross paths while we attend the same goodbye party
the following day - clean and prepare for a possible party
the last day - work, work and then home to hang out with my kid before we have to go to bed early as her flight is at 8 am

i think i'm forgetting some of her plans, but regardless of what may have been left off - she has a far more interesting life than i.

thoughts on summer and stuff

It just turned midnight, the kid is sleeping and I have finished editing my work for the night... I have more new assignments to work on but am taking a bit of a break.

For nothing new happening I have a fair amount to say... first - she is only here for a few more days and then has a flight back to CA... and I'm not ready for that. I actually had a daydream last night about being home during the summer, driving to Blockbuster on Yulupa and picking out movies then walking in to Whole Foods for some fresh fruit and for a fruit and movie dinner.... which is rather odd as we don't use that Blockbuster, ever, but the feeling behind it - the normalcy of our summer time evening - lots of fresh juicy berries and melon and a movie in a nice cool house late at night... that isn't something I get to be a part of this summer. No DDR competitions, no Wii marathons... no fireworks and BBQs at Emilies, no sushi or Wednesday Night Market with D, no RRBC with Jodi and BR and Scott and Mike and Becky, no Health and Harmony, no fair, no horse races, no trips to the beach, girls night at the ocean, no Grandma Julie in August, no August grandparents' birthday parties, no day trips to Calistoga or Harbin, no birthday baseball games - no Giants at all, no San Francisco for that matter... none of the things that mean summer to me. And most of all - no kid.

And that's the hardest part. She has grown so much I wish I could be there as you all become reacquainted with her. She has such a full life here and is so busy that it feels like I hardly get to see her anymore - it's a lot of conversations in passing or when one of us is half asleep - or should be sleeping....

I've started wondering if staying here for the summer might have been the wrong decision for me. To be quite honest I miss my Dad. We don't always talk a lot, but I love him a lot, and I like being around him. Obviously I miss my Mom too, but we have an email/phone tag connection and can talk to talk and feel connected and find things to talk about for an hour to two - literally. Not everyone can do that - nor would I want to do that with everyone. I miss by brother too - and he's going to be back in town for the summer. My other brother and his wife are expecting their newest child any day and their oldest is a full-fledged communicating person now, which he wasn't when we left (person yes, freely communicating, not so much)- and I am obviously missing those too. And my sister will be back and forth visiting with her little boy who is nearing 1 1/2 and growing faster than I can remember being possible.

Not quite home sick - but maybe family sick... however that doesn't look a thing like what I mean...


Second - in my writing class we've been lucky enough to go to the Prague Writers Festival... and once again I'm smitten by someone unexpected - in case you forgot, last time I went to one of these big lecture event thingys I came away with a huge crush on Gary Kasparov... this time there are two.... they shall remain unnamed for now... as you who have been there may mock me - relentlessly and rightfully so. My crushes are insignificant... they're temporary infatuations with people who have struck me as stunning in one way or another... in this case, strong bold and brave men ready and willing to speak their minds and share their thoughts and who choose to do so with grace and dignity. If you were at the events I was at you may have a clue... if you weren't there you wouldn't know who I was talking about anyway... I didn't until fairly recently (not as recent at yesterday or even last week but still relatively recently). Anyway - it's nice to once again have exposure to stunningly creative and aware people. More of what I crave, more of why I'm here.

Third - I had a blast in pre-school today and so did the kids. We played charades... or rather, they did. I gave them each cards with animals that we've been studying and then they got to act out the animal... and we'd have to guess what they were. They had a blast - and it was fun. Always nice when those two go hand in hand. We also learned the names of the playground toys and played a racing game - I'd call out the equipment and they'd run, jump, walk, skip, go backwards as fast as they could to get there - and then they could play on it until I called out the next piece of equipment and the next little instruction on how to get there... again, cute kids having fun and learning. It was a good day.

Fourth - i'm enjoying my class and wish it was longer and more in depth. really wish that.

Coral Chorale Coral

Here's a clip someone took of the CISP choir's performance in Thursday. I took pictures and an even shorter video before my battery died and will post those after I unpack them after the move (which is tomorrow btw).

Coral is wearing a black skirt and bright blue top but you won't really see her as she is standing directly behind the choir director.



It was a wonderful, wonderful night, although I will say that for me, sitting in the audience, waiting for it to begin, it was feeling a little bittersweet. I was rather sad that noone else was there to share the experience with, to be a part of that moment, and lend Coral support through their presence. And that, for an instant, made me question what I'm doing here, raising her away from the physical presence of all you other people who love her. And then, afterwards, I met all the other parents and students I've been hearing about for months... and came to recognize that Coral has a much larger family here than I was aware of. She is loved and cared for by so many other people than just you and me. And that is a truly wonderful thing.

Am I a WHAT???

The kid was just remarking that most of my friends here are younger while most of my friends in the US are older than me.... I mentioned two male friends by name - one born in the same year but a few months after me, and one a few years younger....

And she said,

"ARE YOU A COUGAR MOM?"