Ready to go

Ozzie is making sure that we don't leave Hinsdale without him this time. He remembers all the overnights we spent at the farm this summer - without him. And the week in California - without him.

Ozzie wants to go with us, can't you tell. He doesn't know now that his life will revert from a wandering outdoor cat back to one that lives on a leash in a fenced backyard. This may be the year he learns to walk on the leash with me.

March of the Santas

They were all packed up ready to go to Phoenix when Nick dropped a bombshell on my holiday planning.

"They're creepy," he said about my Santas. "Did you ever see the movie 'Chucky'? And what about 'Toy Story'?"

I was surprised by his response. Like the time he was upset that we took down the wallpaper in the kids' bathroom. I don't know who Chucky is and I don't remember Toy Story being particularly threatening, but maybe just the idea of dolls coming to life is scary for kids. Or boys. I think Katie would have been happy to have her Kukla doll come to life. And she likes my Santa collection. They don't creep her out.

"They just stare out the window, looking creepy," Nick repeated. They actually stand in front of the window, staring at us, which may be worse. 

Jake said the same thing about the dolls in the guest room. So I put them away and wondered how many other guests thought that. Nobody ever said anything about the odd collection that included two of my childhood dolls and two from Jeff's grandma. I'll admit the flamenco dancer was a little scary, but she was given to us after abuelita passed away at 100. 

"Just bring three Santas," Nick suggested. Sure, that's easy for him to say. Which three!? That's like a mother deciding which child to take on a special trip. If I have to choose between lots of inanimate jolly old St. Nick's and my Nick, the decision is easy. Packed away they stay.     

19-57-80

It could be a lock combination. A math equation or the ages of three relatives celebrating their birthday together. Jeff and Uncle Palmer share a Veteran's Day birthday. Teresa was born a few days earlier and many years later.

This isn't the first time Jeff and Palmer celebrated their birthdays together. There was Palmer's 75th in Battle Creek. Then there was Jeff's 50th in Las Vegas. He won't have another milestone birthday for three years (yikes - 60?!), but next year's infamous birthday date 11-11-11 seems like reason enough to return to Vegas or maybe even somewhere more exotic. 

Las Vegas 2003

Does God speak through fortune cookies?

Autumn has spent her grandeur. The trees are shedding the last of their golden leaves. The days are getting shorter. The cold morning air lingers a bit longer. Which means it's time for us to pack up and head to Phoenix. To family. To friends. To warmer weather. My heart says, "Yes". My heart says, "No".  So much to gain, so much to leave behind. I asked God to give me direction. I cracked open a fortune cookie, and there, expressed in God's infinite humor, was a message about travelling to the west. 


The Israelites were guided out of Egypt by a pillar of cloud to guide them by day and a pillar of fire to give them light at night. This being modern times, I would expect a less obvious sign, but does a fortune cookie count? 

Halloween through the years

Nick's first - 1986

Nick and Samantha 

1988 - Costa Mesa

Jack 

Nick and Louis

1989 - Miami
One month before Katie's birth

1990 - Miami with Papou

Katie's first with Kendra and Nick

with Yiayia

1991- Hinsdale

1992

Katie and Jordan 

Nick and Jonathan

1993

1994

Katie with Jake and Jordan

Kukla - 1995

Katie and Kate
Greg, Nick and Ross
or Ross, Nick and Greg

Kukla - 1996

Katie C and Katie E

1997

1998 - Katie E And Katie C 

1998 - Nick and Friends 

1999

Katie and Friends

Nick and Friends

2000

From the Hinsdale Police Blotter

Ozzie strikes again...again

                                                                                                                             

The hunter lying in wait

Ozzie is single-handedly ridding our neighborhood of baby bunnies, chipmunks and mice. The mice part is good - even though I didn't like seeing him flip one in the air by the tail and play with it after its demise. I didn't like backing over a mouse in the driveway yesterday, even though it was already a goner. I'm neutral on the chipmunks. I wish they were a little smarter and a little quicker. I watched Ozzie pursue one that actually had a few chances to get away after the original pounce, but failed to do so. I'm sad about the baby bunnies, even though they can be a menace for gardeners. My neighbor Debbie saw Ozzie running across the street from her yard to mine with a bunny in his mouth and the mommy bunny in hot pursuit. The good news is Jeff is finding less bunnies and more mice as Ozzie moves into the role he was meant to play.

Wide-eyed and innocent