If You're Not Outraged, You're Not Paying Attention

George Floyd, Murdered May 25, 2020

Happy Birthday, Robbie!

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Celebrating, Part 1

More to come . . .

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Election Day

I can wax  sentimental about voting, feeling very strongly that it’s everyone’s right and duty. Needless to say I’m committed to voting in each and every election, despite the perils of being called for jury duty (which may or may not be an urban myth).

Yesterday was municipal Election Day in Williamsburg and most of Virginia.  Our 5- person city council had 4 candidates vying for 3 open seats.

I’m a person who likes to vote on the actual Election Day.  I have nothing against advance voting, I just enjoy feeling like I’m a real part of the process, seeing the wheels of democracy turn in what feels like real-time -  going to the polls, standing in line, casting my vote, polls closing at 7 pm, votes tallied, winner declared (hopefully) by the late evening news. 

This year, in what may have been a first for me, or perhaps just a very long time. I requested, along with about 1,400 others in our town , an absentee ballot (as that felt like the safe and prudent thing to do given coronavirus). My husband, son, and parents also voted absentee. 

The candidates I wanted to win, did win and I’m delighted but truth be told, I’ll add voting in-person to my list of things I’ve really missed this spring.

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The End of The Beginning

Exactly a year ago today when my son was graduating from college, I told him I was a little bit sad; sad that this chapter of life ("with all of the privileges of being an adult but very little of the responsibility of being one") was coming to an end. 

Tate receives his diploma, May 11, 2019

Then, with way more wisdom than I had at 22, he responded, "Don't be sad, mom" and he quoted Winston Churchill “This is not the end. It is not even the beginning of the end. But it is, perhaps, the end of the beginning."

I find myself thinking a lot about all those who've worked hard to complete their degrees this graduation season, those first-in-their family-ever grads from high school or college, those who've juggled raising families or jobs or challenging circumstances to get to this finish line but whose celebrations this year will look a lot different. Despite the lack of  festivities, my hope for all the 2020 graduates is that this "end of the beginning" will be full of sweet memories and light and hope and dreams, and fun, too. 

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Cinco de Mayo

Crosby's Two

For the last 15 years or so we’ve had a dog as a part of our family, two little non-shedding dogs. First there was Libby and later came Brownie.

In 2018, however, Crosby joined our family. She’s McKenzie’s dog. 

A so-called “beagle-mix” from Wolftrap Animal Rescue whose namesake is Sidney Crosby, a player and captain of the Pittsburgh Penguins ice hockey team.

                          

A perpetual smile on her face, Crosby’s a sweet, 50-pound ball of energy who, along with our daughter, has been staying with us since the quarantine began. The condo McKenzie lives in doesn’t offer Crosby much opportunity to chase squirrels or birds or dig holes unsupervised but since she’s been here she’s gotten plenty of all three of those things. 

It's her birthday and today, she’s two.

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