Lovely dear friends

Jane and Len were in Seattle over the weekend a few weeks ago to see the Gauguin exhibit and came down to Tacoma to visit me in the Dollhouse.  We had a nice lunch and then we went on a drive through Point Defiance park.

In addition to the beautiful flowers they brought me from Pike Place Market...

They gave me another gift........one of perception.  Jane and Len's comment about where I live opened my eyes.  They said that it reminded them of a beach community, like Cape Cod.  It never occurred to me!!  I just thought it was a bit shabby.  Isn't it amazing how someone else's perception can change your point of view?  I always wanted to live in a beach community, and I am and I didn't know it!

I was so excited to see them that I forgot to take photos.  So here's one from when I first met Jane and Len, when our babies were new to the world.  Back in London.  Michael was born six weeks before Lina was.  Aren't we adorable?

We found each other again through the wonder of the interwebs and they have been such a comfort to me, looking after my little chicken Ali who is attending university in Vancouver.

They graciously welcomed Lina and Ali into their beautiful home when they didn't really even know us... except from 25 years ago in London.  When I visit them, I feel like I'm at a wonderful spa...

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They fed and housed my children whilst Lina and Ali were looking for a place for Ali to live - no dorms in Canadia!

Their son Michael is now engaged to his beloved, Laura, who he proposed to in Whistler.

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Here's how Michael looks now...

And here's Lina and me at Sea Tac airport, at Christmas.

Jane and Len - I'm so glad we found each other again.  You both have enriched my life.

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Happy Birthday, Mumsy!

You would have been 88 years old today.  I still see you, luminous.  

I'm too young in this photo to remember how you cradled me, but I still feel you around me.

Your legacy is your children, your grandchildren.  I remember how happy you were when you were around children - you resonated with them at such a profound level.

You taught us how to question, how to listen, about justice and kindness and I can't thank you enough.  The summer ratcheting of cicadas, the glow of fireflies, the smell of Kansas earth and newly mown grass.  We learned how to see, hear, and appreciate life wandering around the yard with you while you pulled weeds.

I miss you every day.

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In no context, realm, reality or universe should this ever exist

But it does!  And it's real.  It's the geoduck (pronounced gooey duck.)

I am simultaneously disgusted and fascinated.  Here's what fascinates me: if you know what this looks like in the wild, why on earth would you

1.  look for it; 

2.  harvest it;

2.  have your picture taken holding it, even ironically;

3.  eat it, in whatever format offered, including sashimi.

The most civilized image I can find of it is from an Audubon article.

ugh ugh ugh.

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