My, How You've Grown

A good snapshot stops a moment from running away.

Eudora Welty

I've spent some time the last couple weeks gathering childhood photos of my future daughter-in-law and son. My friends are hosting a wedding shower for them and my job is to put together photos of their lives.

Once upon a time I put all photos into albums as soon as they came back from the store. Then somewhere around the third child, boxes became the holding place for those captured memories. Pulling out box after box, I cursed my neglect. But I found myself lingering over the photos of each son, my mind tracing the timeline of each photo as I recalled the exact moments the shutter clicked on the camera.

And, then, reminded of the purpose, choosing the photos of my oldest son. That boy who was just born a couple years ago, or so it seems.

Fall Has Arrived in Central Texas

Autumn is a second spring when every leaf is a flower.

Albert CamusChinese Tallow Tree

The Bald Cypress tree

Chinese Tallow

The mix

Greetings to all. I took these pictures weekend before last. Wished I had better shots as the hillsides are still truly beautiful right now. Don't you love it? Telling, rather than showing.

Saturday brought the best day. Rain, cold, rain. All our plans to cut a tree and set up Christmas inside and out escaped our memory while Bob, Ian, and I lolled about in sweatpants, warms socks, and sweaters. We took naps, watched football. Went to our favorite Mexican restaurant dressed as is. Left all our chores for Sunday - in the rain again. More later on the annual tree cutting trek complete with Texas BBQ. Next post.

Much too much going on to talk about midlife jobhunting.

Busy week here. The Bunco Bitches are due at my house Tuesday night and my book club arrives for Thursday night. Somewhere, way back nine months ago, I figured knocking out both groups in one week had me thinking smart. When it's over, maybe I'll think that again. Maybe I'll just shoot myself.

Meanwhile, the last thing my house looks like at the moment is prepared for the onslaught of 28 women in the next couple days. So glad they're my friends. Not even gonna get to cleaning off that desk of mine in the kitchen. Or my paper pile on my counter. Perhaps I'll shut the door to my bedroom. Just satiate all these women and they won't care what the house looks like. Those Bunco Bitches get Green Chili Chicken Macaroni and Cheese for dinner. (Homemade.) Not sure yet about book club. I think I have a partner in that dinner cooking venture. My list is limes, oatmeal cookies and martini glasses. I always do as I'm told.

Excited about our book discussion on Thursday - Raymond Carver's What We Talk About When We Talk about Love. Enhanced by a new biography about Carver, just out.

The holidays are beginning to overwhelm and I'm determined to remain relaxed. My oldest son walked in the door today and said "Gee, Mom. You need some help?" He spied my multitasking array of projects all in mid stage of completeness. I smiled. I'm fully aware I'm in true organizational challenge when I can't offer up a concise list for helpers. But I know I'll get there. I also know I'll be pouring myself a glass of wine when the first guest shows up.

Sure hope I don't get called in to work tomorrow. Or Wednesday. Or Thursday. Or Friday.