38 years. 3 children. 1 wife. Millions of snow flakes.
One simple, ordinary moment that will last a lifetime.
Our Everyday
Sharing our stories, big and small.
we are all poets
rhyming and reasoning our way through each day
making sense of what does not
finding beauty in the ordinary
finding rhythm in the chaos
we hear the noise and discern the laugh
we see the horrible and find the remarkable
we write them in our hearts
and carry them with us till one day
the poetry will emerge
I love you
And sometimes I really mean it
I love you
I say it when I leave the house
I say it when we end a phone conversation
Just in case, I want my last words to be I love you
But sometimes
I see the trash cans at the curb
I smell the freshly brewed coffee
I hear your footsteps in the early morning, rising with the kids
I see the way you look at me
and in those times these three little words carry all their deserved weight
I love you
This is my best. This is the best I can give you after a day of walking the cold and windy streets of New York City, after a day of sounds and sights of music and lights, after a day of sitting still; sitting still through the Nutcracker, sitting still on the 45 minute train ride out and the 45 minute train ride in and sitting still in the smelly taxi, after being on my best behavior all day. This is the very best I can muster and I can tell from the look on your face this isn’t good enough. You want my best? I will give you my best. I will reach a new pitch with my scream, I will make my cries lyrical and I will create a rhythmic thunder with my feet. I will orchestrate a perfectly synchronized meltdown and finish with a grand collapse.
I walk in and put my backpack and coat away and make my way to my desk. Amy makes her way over to my desk and starts telling me about her weekend in excruciating detail, this is Amy and will be Amy through high school. Keri is talking to Mr. Sullivan about her lead role in the upcoming musical “The Pirates of Penzance” which Mr. Sullivan will be directing. Mr. Sullivan is my fifth grade teacher and also the Director of the Theater department. Running his fingers through his comb-over Mr. Sullivan thoughtfully regards Keri’s artistic decisions in playing Edith, the mischievous eldest sister. They share a laugh and Mr. Sullivan moves on to talk to Angie, she is one of my good friends and is blonde. Did I mention Keri is also blonde? Mr. Sullivan creepily teases Angie about her readiness to play one of the daughters in the ensemble. She doesn’t engage him like Keri does and with ego a little bruised he moves on. He never makes his way to my desk though, I am playing a daughter in the ensemble.
He calls the class to order and begins to engage in intellectual banter with his favorite students. When its obvious the other kids don’t get the “inside” humor, he smiles smugly to himself, pleased. In his class, if you don’t raise your hand and say “ooh ooh ooh” over and over then you don’t exist. All the smart kids will speak up and make themselves heard and those that are shyer must be dumb. We start working quietly on our assignments and Angie and I look at each other and chuckle as we overhear Kevin showing Mr. Sullivan a ream of printer paper covered with zeros and ones as Kevin hypothesizes on what his Commodore 64 might be trying to tell him.
The bell rings signaling the end of the day and I gather up what remains of my ego after its taken an ever so subtle beating, indistinguishable to the naked eye.
Cut, sanded, painted and decal-ed our block of wood has become Lightning Strike. With lucky number 7 affixed to the hood we have high hopes to be the fastest in the Derby. All twelve cars lined up showcases the creativity and handiwork of the boys, and their parents. Parents, siblings and the scouts line the front row, cameras at the ready, prepared for 26 heats to determine the winner.
Race after race the boys show the best sportsmanship imaginable, cheering and congratulating the winner of each heat.
While Lucas won many heats overall Lightning did not come before Thunder.
The results
Lucas and Lightning Strike
The man at the five and dime was right when he traded these binoculars for my two hello kitty stickers, crumpled drawing and used princess band aid. He told me I’d see rainbows. I saw red when Lucas came after me for stealing his last fried wonton. I saw orange when I caught my Mommy and Daddy kissing. I saw yellow when I was using all my might to pull the cracker, I won three times against my Mommy. I saw green when I ran around outside pretending to fly. I saw blue when I sat in my grandpa’s lap and watched TV. I saw purple when I watched my silly family play silly charades, it made me giggle. I saw black when I stared at the end of my Mommy’s camera and I saw white when I looked deep into the lens and saw her staring back at me.
New Years Eve at the Scotts
12 decorated cookies, 11 kids charading, 10 ladies leaping, 9 ladies dancing, 8 kids-a-churning, 7 gingerbread houses, 6 kids-a-playing, 5 hangovers, 4 pounds of cheese, 3 bloody marys, 2 2014 glasses, and 1 regretted promise to do a triathlon
The Gold’s Eggnog and Ice Cream Party
Sarah & Ian’s party
We love Angie for hosting us every year!
Papa & Nana
Lola & The Guerreros
Amy’s Cupcakes and Cocktails
The Dell’Orto Holiday party
Gingerbread House Decorating
Christmas Day
Gatsby Party
New Years Eve at the Scotts
New Years Eve at the Trucksess’
