Month: December 2007

This Blog of Unnecessary Quotation Marks is absolutely hilarious. One of my big peeves, up there with bad abbreviations (though certain abbrevs – those originated by the Princeton girls: TDF, T and a P, I could go on – are fabulous). And this anality runs in the family. Many of you know the story of my sister writing a letter to Star Market to advise them that “12 items or less” was grammatically incorrect. And what do you know? Read the signs in Shaws these days. I believe you will see “less.” (and I also believe those quotation marks are necessary, or at least appropriate).

The pathos of parenting: here. Another excellent writer saying things I think much more beautifully than I’m able.

I had bad insomnia last night – floating on the surface of sleep, but resolutely unable to go underwater into sound rest. I thought of Jennifer Connelly a lot, my dear camper from so many years ago. She had emailed me last week to say her father’s cancer was back, and bad. I tossed and turned thinking of them all, that wonderful family whom I’ve known for so long. Of her wedding last August, when a smiling Michael gave away his beautiful blonde daughter.

This morning I got up, drove to Providence, lightheaded with exhaustion. I just got an email from Jenn that her father passed away yesterday. I feel sad.

Had one of those weeks where I felt like I was fired out a cannon every morning, and didn’t land until I crashed into bed at night.
More updates to come, but the big news is that Mum has a new knee and is at home! I’ve been acutely aware this week of how I live in The Middle Place – going from sitting by Mum’s hospital bed to doing things with Gracie … here I am in that midlife moment. And it’s only going to get more that way. Really, just another version of waiting in the hospital waiting room for John’s heart transplant surgery news while bursting with milk for my newborn.
These poles of life! Not a day goes by that I am not aware of how I hang between them. I also remember week one of Grace’s life, and Mum came over to sit with her so I could take a nap … I lay in my bed in the dark listening to my mother’s faint footsteps upstairs and the occasional gurgle from my brand-new daughter. Matrilineage in vivid, pulsing action.

Snowing tonight. Beautiful. Mummy, mummy, il neige!

Went to the Messiah with my parents this afternoon. I do love that music. This is the time of year when religion feels more comfortable to me, (“Don’t think I haven’t noticed you’ve been Christmas-and-Eastering it for a few years,” says the minister on Private Practice), the notion of Christ more feasible, than the rest of the year.

The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light. And they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined. (Isaiah IX, 2)
For unto us a child is born, unto us a Son a given, and the government shall be upon His shoulder, and His name shall be called: Wonderful Counsellor, The Mighty God, The Prince of Peace! (Isaiah IX, 6)
And the angel said unto them: Fear not; for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day, in the city of David, a Savior, which is Christ the Lord. (Luke II, 10-11)
Glory to God in the highest, and peace on earth, goodwill toward men. (Luke II, 14)
Hallelujah, for the Lord God Omnipotent reigneth. The Kingdom of this world is become the Kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever. King of Kings, and Lord of Lords. Hallelujah. (Revelation XIX, 6; XI, 15; XIX, 16)
Behold I tell you a mystery: we shall not all sleep, but we shall all be chang’d, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. (1 Corinthians XV, 51-52)