"An Extraordinary Ordinary Life" (All About Time)

I never get my fill of baby Toby, but I don't get to see or hold him much despite my proximity to him.  He's eating, being changed, or napping at this age, so there isn't much Tayta can do, except watch these not very interesting happenings, and meditate on the miracle of life. I did observe him at church last Sunday.  He was entralled by the church ceiling lights.  I guess at four weeks, he was trying to focus on something and church lights are as good a something as any. And of course, I also miss the older siblings when I don't see them regularly.  After all, they are the reason I moved to Sewanee.  I try to visit and have conversations or games with them at least once or twice a week.  Last Sunday the King family had dinner at my home.  We played Children's Charades before dinner.  Fred is now certifiably an adult.  He reads his own phrases and acts them out proficiently, providing the correct signals for words and syllables and acting out dinosaurs and phrases like "jumping for joy" quite accurately.  Bea definitely has a future in the theater or movies.  Her career was launched right here with her acting of some phrases only she knew and which she forgot after lengthy acrobatic feats.  This Sunday afternoon was proof irrefutable of her talents.

But I so miss my French family.  Juliette turned eight without me celebrating her birthday with her.  Augustine excels at handball without me embarrassing myself on the sidelines.  And I miss my long, almost nightly philosophical conversations with Zeyna when we're together, mostly while we're both inebriated and filled with wisdom, and Eric watching and smiling.  But Zeyna and I manage to have these experiences anyway, on FaceTime.  Our latest was a few days ago.  We shared identification with Eve.  "When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it." Genesis 3:6 (NIV).  During long sleepless hours, I try to gain knowledge about where Joe is. The pain has not eased. It has deepened and become a different creature. I use logic, my deep roots in faith and my long-time-ago courses in theology and philosophy, to fathom where and how Joe might be. The epiphany has not occured yet. I want that fruit of knowledge although I know where getting it may lead.  Zeyna apparently shares similar thoughts, now that she's on vacation.  I sure miss Joe.  Zeyna and I will resume our evening talks at Christmas.

By Christmas, I should be settled in the home I live in now, currently without my belongings.  I sort of got used to living with someone else's furniture, kitchen stuff, towels, cushions, sheets, and coffee mugs.  But I am looking forward to allowing my grandchildren to make a mess without me worrying about the furniture, or the plates, or the floors, or the carpets.  The plan is for the house to be mine at the end of August, for my roomie to move her furniture out at the end of October, to have the house painted the first week of November, and then to have my stuff shipped from storage in Virginia shortly afterwards. My Tennessee BFF, Sharon, will help me unpack and get settled in plenty of time for the Ballees' visit.  So Christmas should be merry with both our girls and their families together here.  

My activities have been many but not productive: I watched the soccer semi finals and finals and cheered with joy when France won the cup.  My holding Toby during part of one game was the ultimate prize.  I went to at least four concerts, two of which were especially memorable: the Chattanooga Boys Choir and the Sewanee Summer Music Program's soloists competition concert.  Sharon and I drove a good hour to have a lovely meal at a distillary with a beautiful view, and then to attend quite an impressive local production of Grease. No, we did not take the distillary tour or consume its product, and yes we did take one photo. Once a week, some lady friends and I meet for breakfast or for lunch; I picked blueberries at a friend's orchard; I drive half an hour to the local Walmart and Kroger for weekly house and grocery needs (oh joy!), and Sharon and I shared lunches at home or out, and watched movies and got ridiculously sentimental.  I am taking full advantage of my retirement before classes begin, but I work a few hours a week finalizing my syllabus and preparing activities before August 29.

I will try to be more regular with updating this blog, so come back and visit me.  Drop me a note either on the blog or via email and stay in touch.

Sharon and I at the distillary restaurant-We ate outside and enjoyed the beautiful weather and scenery.

Toby trying to figure out who I am!

And for those who have not seen this on FB:

Moi picking blueberries