esprit de l'escalier

Three photos

These three photos were in a roll of film I picked up today. It's been in my Pentax since just after Christmas. They do not really relate, except that they make me smile. Here is them in the reverse order in which they were taken.

Happy Burns Night

(This cat has nothing to do with the rest of this post, I just thought I'd include a photo. He's my friend Ginny's cat. I visited with them in DC last weekend. They deserve their own post, but I haven't had time to write one yet.)

My parents' house is full of guests (though they have all rather scattered at the moment). My brother and his girlfriend are here, as are 3 friends from Chicago, and another pair of friends and their family. I've been helping my mother put things up and found myself with a damp rag, dusting. There is a story about me helping get the house ready for a party when I was just a toddler - about three years old. Everyone was cleaning and I grabbed a rag and started dusting. Apparently some habits die hard.

We are all gathering for our annual Burns Night party tonight. As always, we are worried too many people will come. This party takes on its own life. Last year some people showed up who we didn't know, friends of friends, and one of them presented my parents with a hand drawn, large portrait of Robert Burns. With random guests like that, we can hardly complain.

I need to go back to getting ready. Have a wonderful weekend!

Happy Father's Day

Happy Father's Day to my dad and to all the other wonderful fathers I know.

Happy Easter

My sister posted this photo to Facebook this morning, and since I scanned it for her last year, I thought I would share it here. It is hard to imagine this scene is from 25 years ago, but it is. I am pretty sure I am rocking a Care Bears shirt. They were my favorite. Oh Easters when you're little... I miss the egg dyeing and hunts, the chocolate and the plastic grass that got everywhere. I am having lamb tonight with my parents. Wish the two above were going to be with us.

Meet the pup!

Several weeks ago, my parents found themselves dog owners again. This is Mr. Kobe. He's a three year old Maltese. He's a real sweetie and is a fun little dog.

He is also my Dad's newest, biggest fan. Here he is, completely asleep on my Dad's lap. It's nice to have another little creature in the house.

When I'm Sixty-Four

Today is my Mom (and her twin brother's) 64th birthday. When my mother was younger, she used to teasingly sing the Beatles to her father. I've heard that snippet enough to always think of her and him whenever I hear the song. Tonight I took my mother out to dinner and we sang a little of it to ourselves. We split a lovely meal in the Short North and then hit Jeni's for ice cream. Mom had a hot fudge sundae - her favorite. It was a beautiful evening, and I think a successful birthday dinner. Happy birthday Mom! I'm glad we could celebrate together today. Thank you for being you.

When I get older losing my hair,
Many years from now,
Will you still be sending me a valentine
Birthday greetings bottle of wine?

If I'd been out till quarter to three
Would you lock the door,
Will you still need me, will you still feed me,
When I'm sixty-four?

...

Send me a postcard, drop me a line,
Stating point of view.
Indicate precisely what you mean to say
Yours sincerely, Wasting Away.

Give me your answer, fill in a form
Mine for evermore
Will you still need me, will you still feed me,
When I'm sixty-four?

Some Polaroid portraits

My heart is brimming today, a little sadness, but mostly happiness mixed with hope. I'm going to leave you with some people I quite enjoy, via some recent portraits I've taken with my trusty old Polaroid camera. The first one is if my brother in Chicago this past weekend, and the rest are friends at a dinner party Wednesday night.

 

 

Alix got married

My sister got married this past weekend. There were threats of rattlesnakes (seriously), but the weather was beautiful and everything went off without a hitch. The location was remote but gorgeous. My maid of honor speech got accolades, I got to catch up with family and friends, and I got to take a bunch of photos. (And yes there was at least one total break down in tears from me and my mother.) The only downside to it all is that jetlag is kicking my butt and my toes are numb from the shoes I wore and the dancing that was done. Thanks for the great party Alix and Strawn! Here's to a great marriage! Love you guys!

Westward ho!

I am almost packed for my trip west to my sister's wedding. I am packing more pairs of shoes than I generally do (2), and let me tell you, cowboy boots take up more real estate in your suitcase than I would appreciate. (You also know I mean business when I'm actually CHECKING my bag.) My mother took my bridesmaid dress with her, but I've still got to fit my rehearsal dinner dress in there. I do have room for the four cameras I'm bringing (maybe five, should I bring the holga?), and the bag of film and stack of Polaroid film. (Priorities.) I am excited! I'm going to spend a couple days in Idaho with my old roommate Mary and her awesome husband Dan. Then off to a ranch in the middle of nowhere to celebrate my sister and her fiance! I can't wait!

(This photo is clearly not my sister and her fiance, but I do love it. I shot it last fall in New York City on the High Line. It was a serendipitous photo. I am looking forward to taking a similar shot of Alix!)

Adventures with my mother

Yesterday my mother wanted a hot fudge sundae (above). Two scoops. Don't forget the whipped cream.

Tonight we came home from dinner and wandered the yard. We inspected the plants in the garden and she showed me the new ones she has planted. Then we went inside and tried on dresses and shoes for my sister's wedding festivities in a couple of weeks. It was fun.