grandmammies and grambears

despite the 30 year pause in flying and notorious motion sickness, my grandmammie flew into atlanta last friday for a 5 day weekend. it had been quite a while since we had spent so much time together, even though we have lived together for a total of 2 1/2 years of my life (while in college and when I was a baby). i used to spend almost every other saturday night with her: shopping at talbots, watching an old movie, eating dinner, chatting with her elderly neighbor, etc. they are all very happy memories.

a few months ago, we were excited to know that gram had found tickets and was willing to come for fall break. we had incredible pizza at slice and pint (the carlos was unbelievably delicious), spectacular ice-cream at butter and cream (the cashew creme brulee and bourbon toffee were divine), perfect latkes and bagels at the nearby bagel palace, etc. thanks for making your way over to the humid southern jungle, grandma 🙂

grammy at southern sweets bakery (best cake in town)

determining our cake for the day. went with coconut.

grammie waiting for her omelet and bagel (whole wheat with strawberry cream cheese)

grammie and matt walking into piedmont park with midtown in the distance.

my ginger boy exploring

matt trying out the camera

baseball fields

first lamp post of atlanta, but not first red head…

gram-bear at the bagel palace

last week: roca, nebraska

last week was my first time

without a job (since september).

practicing with my aperture, the f-thing, and my iso. ma gave me a camera lesson.

matt had spring break

and we left for

our old home.

my expectations

of course

were

wambasted

(a word here that means: blown out of the water, as usual).

reaching up, up, up!

we were busier

than i had intended.

i have always struggled with

that problem

affiliating break with relaxation

nothing

being absolutely lazy.

just never happens.

(i need to start stifling that pipe dream).

mi abuela de amor

anyhow.

the week was different

more meaningful

in ways

i could not have imagined.

God created space for me to see

the lovely women

replacing mis pequeñas hermanas lindas.

nights.

so late

the clock hands reaching upwards

ma falling asleep on the couch

tata in bed.

the living room so warm

bodies draped

in pleasant, tired heaps

emitting whispers

and loud laughs.

my mind just gaped

not acquainted with

these new forms:

of woman.

marvelous unexpected snow!

my spirit felt blessings

trickling in

to reservoirs tucked

away

unused.

but brimming now

with an air of wonder

at these lovely

creatures stirring

at the feet of womanhood.

lights shown from

their eyes

and music from their lips

that i drank

hungrily–

excited with

the prospects

of new friends

never leaving

the last blooms of the amaryllis

 

 

 

over the river and through the woods….

the little window sandpiper/kiwi

two years ago at matt’s grandma’s house, we had christmas eve with homemade tamales and other delicious food. his gram has moved since then, but the house was packed with small knick-knacks and memories. this year, we are going to do tamales again, but just not at her old house.  i decided to commemorate some of her wondrous knacks and knicks. let me help you embrace the christmas spirit with these glorious furry christmas creatures.

the santa armadillo

the koala security