The third in a series

At least we are seeing progress on one of many fronts we're fighting.

August the second

Let Armageddon begin.

August first

Oh, let it be a drama free month.

Life and Death 2.0

This evening, I briefly saw a friend of mine at a food blogger event.
She is one of the most ebullient people I know. Tonight she was very distant and standoffish, and definitely not her cheerful self. She excused herself and left early.

Soon after, I sat down at a table with friends and checked my "streams" It was then that I saw a Facebook post mentioning the passing of Kim Ricketts, literary event promoter and genuinely amazing person. I was shocked, not just by the devastating news, but also in the delivery. RIP via Social Media? Do we no longer send black edged cards announcing the passing of family or friends? That is too slow and requires postage. We now do things quickly, instantaneously, and sometimes without thought. Like it or not, life does happen in 140 characters or less - but is it always appropriate?

My memory is filled with the exact place, time and delivery of the news of the death of loved ones. When I was little, I grew to dread the middle of night telephone calls that usually meant that someone back home had died. Later, we would receive telegrams and letters expressing sorrow. It seemed to prolong, yet at the same time soften the blow of loss - 6000 miles and staticky phone lines help, along with a touch of youthful innocence.

Making phone calls to family and friends after the death is also something I have grown accustomed to. After the death of TH's father, I remember sitting with the phone book in my lap making call after call. I hoped that the phone would ring and no one would answer so that I could hang up. I was relieved when I heard a friendly voice would pick up on the other end. The first words are the hardest, and I dread silence on other end - wanting to fill the gaps of comprehension.

I cannot say enough about the grace of my friend who while consuming her own grief and shock, did not announce to the world her mourning and loss. She is a class act.

We all have our ways of processing loss and expressing grief. I did post on my Facebook wall about my shock of her death and my sadness. She was an amazing person that had the knack and gift of building a community of food lovers, chefs and writers. I read others' twitter streams and realize that having an one to many conversation about loss is how they deal with grief. This is something I cannot do well in 140 characters or less, I need more bandwidth.

I will honor Kim by continuing to cherish books and the written word. TH and I will toast her with hot cocoa and wish you all had had the good fortune to have crossed paths with her.

Oops

Travel got in the way.

Enough

My brain is about to explode.

I am in on the Gulf coast of Mississippi today. We passed through many towns flattened by Katrina. It was the furthest East on the coast I have been since the hurricane. I wish I could say that there is a lot of coastal resilience here. It is hard to rebuild when insurance companies deny you claims. It is hard to rebuild when your livelihood is gone. It is hard to see so many vacant lots where grand summer houses once stood. It is a lot different from New Orleans, it is homey (apart from the casinos) and life is slower here.

Rebuilding takes time, community, money, faith, compassion, patience and hope. Things will never be the same here, the sea and the wind are powerful forces and we should forget that.

I still can't talk about Japan, this time it cut too close to home.

Haiku for Sunday

My upgrade to Dallas hasn't cleared. It won't, hipsters are thronging to Austin for sxsw. Have at it.

Clunky boots
Musky patchouli
Twitter haikus in short
bursts

My evening will be spent in a casino in Bay St.Louis, MS. Don't feel sorry for me, because hopefully on Saturday, I'll be spending my lunch time on the Ile st. Louis in Paris.

I still can't write about Japan.

Sorry.

Countdown to new years

Rice cookies

No words

It has been a long day.

Quince

Really much better in color, but stunning nonetheless.

Plummy

This day is over, thank the gods.

Tuesday

Baby bassets, crocii, catching up with new/old friends, pancakes, beagles, did I mention baby bassets?

Meet the Lone Ranger

In love

Ernest and Phracey turned five today. Geez, where has the time gone? I have had this blog longer than we have had Ernest. Everyday with him is different. Maybe we treat our animals as children, sainted objects of our affection and dote on them too much. Honestly, this dog is the love of my life. Everyday with Ernest is a new day - things to do, smells to smell and people to meet. His life becomes our life and this is not a bad thing.

I never intended to fall in love with a fifty pound basset hound with buns of steel. Nor, did I ever think we would be blessed to have built up a friendship with his breeder and her husband. Having them in our lives has also been a joy.

Ernest, may your curiosity, stubbornness, good nature and boyish good humor bring us all joy for the next year.
love,
nmom

Saturday

A day that made me glad that I was not hurtling through the air @ 500 mph. We need more of those.

Friday

Ernest has it right. I am over the week. Time to move on.

Is it spring yet?

New Year's prep is already here! Yeeps.

Are you there god?

It's me, Ernest.

in a word

Where I have been? In a word, everywhere. I have been stuck in a snowstorm in London, lounged in Rome, shopped for salt in Paris, ate pinxtos in Barcelona along with other comings and goings.

Never fear, my family still remembers what I look like and so does my dog.

I am participating in NaBloPoMo this month, partially to get myself back on track, but mostly because I need the outlet.

Bear with me.