Predictable

Aaron and I were walking past the bargain movie bin at our local Walmart and I noticed The Breakfast Club. This sparked the following realization:

Me: That's a funny movie.

Aaron: Mhm.

Me: Who were you?

Aaron: ahhh... (trying to ignore my question)

Me: Come on Aaron. Which one?

Aaron: I don't know.

Me: Were you the nerd kid? Is that why you don't want to talk about it?

Aaron: No! I wasn't the nerd kid.

Me: It's ok if you were the nerd kid. I liked him. He was funny.

Aaron: I wasn't the nerd kid. I was the jock.

Me: No...it's fine if you were the nerd.

Aaron: I wasn't the nerd. I was the jock with more than meets the eyes.

Me: Alright I guess I can see that.

Aaron: Who were you?

Me: I think it's pretty obvious.

Aaron thinking.

Me: I wasn't Molly Ringwald's character so .....

Aaron: Oh. Yeah. That fits.

Me: Yah, dandruff girl.

Aaron: So we were meant to be together.

I had actually forgotten that the jock and odd girl ended up together, but so it was. John Hughes would be so proud of us.

Tracks

We went to the beach recently. In the sand we saw these tracks from some small creature frantically crawling towards the water. Any idea what made them?

If you guessed Reuben you'd be right. We couldn't keep him from crawling straight for the water.

He's also gained an appreciation for some good Southern cooking. He loves hush puppies.

Thanks Oma!

Waite

I've been pretty busy lately, in my better moments I would say responsible, and consequently the blog has been languishing. But it's staleness is irritating me. I have lots of great pictures of Reuben that I'm hoping to post soon. But in the meanwhile, I'll leave you with this excellent poem by Milton that lately has often been in my head.


On His Blindness


WHEN I consider how my light is spent

E're half my days, in this dark world and wide,

And that one Talent which is death to hide,

Lodg'd with me useless, though my Soul more bent

To serve therewith my Maker, and present

My true account, least he returning chide,

Doth God exact day-labour, light deny'd,

I fondly ask; But patience to prevent

That murmur, soon replies, God doth not need

Either man's work or his own gifts, who best

Bear his milde yoak, they serve him best, his State

Is Kingly. Thousands at his bidding speed

And post o're Land and Ocean without rest:

They also serve who only stand and waite.

Five Years!

Aaron and I got married five years ago today. I can hardly believe it's been five years but grateful for each day I've had with Aaron.


Here's a poem to commemorate the event.


Part Three: Love

XXII - Emily Dickinson


I GAVE myself to him,

And took himself for pay.

The solemn contract of a life

Was ratified this way.


The wealth might disappoint,

Myself a poorer prove

Than this great purchaser suspect,

The daily own of Love


Depreciate the vision;

But, till the merchant buy,

Still fable, in the isles of spice,

The subtle cargoes lie.


At least, ’t is mutual risk,—

Some found it mutual gain;

Sweet debt of Life,—each night to owe,

Insolvent, every noon.

First of Many AND 9 months!

Reuben drew his first picture today. I know it's indulgent but I couldn't help scanning it.

Yesterday he turned 9 months. I'm seperated from my computer so it's hard for me to upload my pictures but Amy did a great job posting a few recent photos of the boy here.

Reuben has learned how to throw a ball, point, crawl, stand against furniture and speedily march around with a little assistance.

He babbles happily and calls me mama. We've been trying to get him to say dada but he's settled happily on baba as his second "word." I tried to console Aaron with the fact that if we lived in India he'd be saying his name. Then Reuben took to combining the two sounds, cheerfully declaring Bama, Bamama, Bama - which sounds a whole lot like Obama! Obama! Obama! so he seems to simply enjoy subjecting Aaron to mind games.

Not to let Reuben have all the drawing fun I sketched my Dad the other night.

Plant Lice

Do you know what plant lice is? I wouldn't know either but thanks to the excellent CALL IN Radio Show Making Things Grow, a SC original, I learned it's a term for aphids. I LOVE this show. I don't know who could resist the delightful dollops of SC gardening advice Rowland Alston delivers in a chipper twang.

As a friend from high school once told me about Fiona Richy, the host of "The Thistle and Shamrock", "I could turn off the lights and listen to that voice for hours." That kind of ruined the Thistle and Shamrock for me. But that's exactly what I've found myself doing and enjoying with Making Things Grow - I've had the good fortune of catching a few radio shows while feeding Reuben and it's good company. I've almost been tempted to call in a few times to comment on recent bird activity I've noticed around my parent's yard.

To my great surprise and joy when I looked up Making it Grow recently I found that it's been turned into a TV show!! And rumor has it Amanda McNulty occasionally dons seasonal garlands. I can't wait for next Tuesday night. Check it out for yerself here. You can stream video.