The closer we get to leaving for Colombia, the more I start to measure time in the things I use rather than the clock on the wall or the calendar on my phone.
We are leaving soon. I know this because I will only drink 17 more cups of coffee before I board the plane. I will still be using the same bottle of shampoo. I will fill the gas tank three more times. I will eat two more loaves of bread.
That’s how close I am to giving Diego a big hug and calling him my son.
Last night I found Grandma sitting next to the fire, watching Fox News, in pure melodramatic style, freak out over the bargain to avoid the fiscal cliff. I don’t get to watch much Fox News, not having cable, and most of my familiarity with the network is with the clips that make their way into the Daily Show App. Fox News is funny.
Me: “Grandma, you gotta take most of what they’re saying with a grain of salt. Half the stuff on here are pure lies.”
Grandma: “I don’t think so. I like what they have to say. You and I are of different opinions on a lot of those things.” Which is true. Part of the beauty of family is that you can have different views on things, but keep on loving each other all the more (and have the occasional fun argument over a Sunday dinner).
At that moment Darrel Issa appeared on the TV along with Charles Krauthammer.
Me: “But look at these guys. You have two super conservative, right wing fellas spouting shady talking points without any counter points being mentioned. Aren’t you worried you’re only getting one perspective, one point of view?”
Grandma: “Not if I’m right.”
At which point I had to laugh. Touché, Grandma. Touché
We went to my mom’s house tonight to hang out with the family. It was a short visit, right after dinner, and we only planned to stay for about an hour. Near the end of the night, we were getting ready to take a family photo with all the children and grandchildren and then we were going to head home. Monica quietly came up to me and asked if we were going to have any ice cream. I said no. “Or cookies?” “No.” “Not any dessert?” “Huh-uh.” “Then why did we come to grandma’s?” she asked. It was cute and we all laughed. And yes, we let her have a cookie.
The girls and I went on our first hike of the year today at Winton Woods. It was just us and the dogs. Zach was home sick. It’s been a beautiful break with lots of snow and silence. Our family loves to hike. We dragged Kelly and Monica along with us when we first got them 3 years ago. I remember having to carry Kelly quite a bit because she was so little and couldn’t walk that far. But, over the years they have built up quite an endurance for going on longs walks and hikes through the woods.
Our walk around Winton in the snow today reminded me that this is only the second season that Kelly and Monica have experienced snow. The year we brought them home there was enough snow to build an igloo at our neighbors house. Last year, I bought snow suits and snow boots for the girls and they didn’t have a chance to slip them on even for an hour. This year, the girls had their first real snow ball fight behind snow walls that they built up with Ava and Jesus. And, they got to build a snow man with a kit that our neighbors gave us.
Even so, snow etiquette is still new to the girls. For example, today I had to tell Kelly not to wash her mittens off in the mud puddle. She was trying to get the snow off after picking up huge snow mounds and dropping them like bombs along the path. Of course, it did get the snow off. But then she had wet, muddy mittens. So much to learn.
