Choice

When Slumdog Millionaire won the Oscar in 2009 for best Song, the acceptance speech blew the audience away.   10 years later, I still think about that line. 

"The essence of the film is about optimism and the power of hope in lives, and all my life I had a choice of love or hate.  I chose love and I'm here."

City of Girls

Looking forward to reading Elizabeth Gilbert's new book - City of Girls due out this June.

Life is Good!

We had your first sleepover last weekend.  Your pal Owen stayed the night - you both played so nicely, your imaginations were exploding as you played star wars, Red Hulk and other battles.  You each made a comic book and then told each other the story at bedtime.   Listening from the other room, my heart was full.   You are so kind and so special.  It's nice to see your friends recognize that in you.  I have said it many times, but the world is so lucky to have you in it.  And I am so lucky to be your mama. 

On Sunday, we spent the day in Boston and as we sat with our ice creams on Newbury St, I smiled and said "Life is Good".   Without any hesitation you asked "Life is your favorite cereal too, mama?" 
Not a day passes that I don't feel filled with enormous gratitude! 

What I'm Reading: American Marriage

A 2019 resolution was to read more fiction.  Generally it's not the genre that I reach for but a good novel is a lovely way to use less mental energy and concentration than memoir or non-fiction.

I picked up American Marriage by Tayari Jones after seeing it on many best seller lists.  It was a novel set in modern American South in which an African-American couple struggles with incarceration, relationships, and what testing love and commitment under challenges one never expects.  It was well written and fast moving and made me ponder what does it mean to be married in 2019.

"Mostly my life is good, only its a different type of good from what I figured early on.  Some days I get antsy and start talking to Davina about pulling up stakes and starting over in Houston, New Orleans or even Portland.  She humors me, but when I'm done, she smiles because we both know I'm not going anywhere.  And when she smiles at me, I can't help giving on back.  This is home.  This is where I am." 

St. Patrick's Day

We had a fantastic weekend celebrating St. Patrick's Day.  Last year we created a tradition with our friends Jess, Sean and Owen of going on a "Leprechaun Hunt" through the woods - where that mischievous little Irish guy leaves a trail of green candy and gold chocolate coins all the way up to the top of the mountain!   It's a great tradition; a way to enjoy the earliest days of spring and add some some festivity to March.

It's nice to honor our heritage and remember our roots.  My paternal side immigrated from Ireland; your papa is 100% Irish, I'm 50% and you, little J are 25% - despite your nice summer tan! :) 

This year, our good friend S, joined the fun.  It's been nice to share the weekends together and you've been proud to teach him a thing or two about Superhero culture while he gets your imagination going building "flying skateboards" and "helicopter repair stations" for your legos!   All is going well.  We are a happy.  Our hearts are full. 

“Be still and know that I am God.

Be still and know that I am.

Be still and know.

Be still.

Be.” 

― St. Patrick 

What I'm contemplating

“A creative life is an amplified life. It’s a bigger life, a happier life, an expanded life, and a hell of a lot more interesting life. Living in this manner—continually and stubbornly bringing forth the jewels that are hidden within you—is a fine art, in and of itself.” - Elizabeth Gilbert   

"No artist tolerates reality" - Nieztsche

(Tracy Kafka painting that I bookmarked years ago)

On Walden

A beautiful winter walk on Walden Pond this weekend.  We explored the consistency of the ice, which rocks could break it and what parts of the pond could sustain the weight of our boot.  In parallel to our science experiments was a conversation about whether Thoreau was or was not the original millennial.  Can man really live off the simplicity of the Earth AND walk a mile home to dinner with his mom.  Inquiring minds want to know. 

Taken one step further, does it matter what Thoreau's intentions were?  Perhaps he just wanted to be free to live life without apology on his own terms and possessed the courage to do so.  It's not easy to resist the herd and pursue your own ideals.... but what magic can be found when we dare to be brave.

Grateful, as always, for seasons.  The ice is thin but only we know whether its safe to walk.

“I learned this, at least, by my experiment: that if one advances confidently in the direction of his dreams, and endeavors to live the life which he has imagined, he will meet with a success unexpected in common hours.”  - Thoreau, Walden.