Dance Like You Don't Care Who's Watching!

Last weekend I took G to the Pacific Science Center while E was at a birthday party nearby. With Halloween coming up, they had all kinds of special activities going on, and pop music was being piped through the outside gathering spaces. Well, G couldn't help himself. The beat took hold and would not let go. His creative energy was further fueled by Laffy Taffy (you'll see this in his mouth--nice).

Pepitas!

We have just started the process of carving some of the 11 pumpkins we bought this year, and we're all hard at work in anticipation of the nummy little pumpkins seeds. At one point, during a frenzy of pumpkin-guts removal, Randy dropped some on the floor.

"Careful, DAD!" E exclaimed. "You don't want to drop any of these delicious things on the floor. What are you...CRAZY?!"

Run, Baby, Run!

One of the great things about Seattle is that every weekend there is always a plethora of happenings for kids. Last weekend, although we already had a lot on our calendar, I asked the boys if they would like to run in a Spooky Sprint race, and to my delight, they both said "Yes!" They didn't even change their minds when I mumbled something about the race being early on Saturday morning, when they would normally be watching cartoons. (E will tell you that Saturday is the boys' day to "kick out.")
Saturday morning arrived and the weather was GORGEOUS. Perfect running weather. I swilled some coffee and checked and rechecked shoelaces, and then we headed to the park where the race was being held. G, who is 4, was signed up to run a 1/2 mile sprint, and E was signed up to run a mile run (this was E's second race, but he seemed more nervous, perhaps because he was sizing up some of his 12-year-old competitors).

G's race was first. I was a little nervous to let him run alone, but I couldn't leave E alone and I knew that race monitors would have an eye out on the course. Now, G has not got a natural runner's build, but he does have an abundance of energy, and when the starting horn sounded, he was off at a good clip. Then I watched helplessly as a parent accidentally tripped him. My heart sank. I really wanted this to be a positive experience for him. Well, after being slightly trampled by another kid, G popped up and kept going and E and I raced to the finish line. After about 5 minutes, we saw the first kid crest the small hill that lead to the finish chute. Then we saw about 12 more kids. I was just starting to worry when E caught site of G. G was winded and slowing down, so I told E one of us should go and finish the race with G. E didn't hesitate...he was off like a rocket and I was sobbing with pride as he took G's elbow, cheered him on, and ran/escorted him to the chute. This was so worth the price of admission!

My kids have given me another reason to run: I get to share one of my greatest joys with them. Watching these little people, who just yesterday were taking their first steps, fly across the finish line with giant smiles on their faces is an awesome thing. And watching them encourage each other is simply one of the most rewarding things I've experienced as a parent.

The Upside of Divorce

No one is going to argue that divorce is a good thing. It's not. Even in the best cases, where the split is amicable and no children are involved, the details are messy, the cost is high, and two people walk away scarred. But not everyone was meant to be together forever, despite their best intentions. Marriage is work, and it is harder than anything you've ever had to work for. If people commit to this work and they still aren't gelling, I truly think it is best for them to walk away.

There can be an upside to divorce. My parents divorced after 21 years of marriage when I was 10 years old. They both went on to remarry (and they both have been with these "new" spouses for 25 years now), and in the process I gained a stepsister who is the same age as my genetic sister and three step brothers who are about a decade older than myself.

Honestly, I can't imagine my life without these additional people. I love all of them. My stepmother served as a mentor for me when I was an angst-ridden teenager and couldn't always effectively communicate with my parents; my stepfather is one of the most intelligent people I've ever met...with a dry sense of humor and quiet demeanor; my stepsister is a loving, warm, and beautiful person; and while I'll admit to not knowing my stepbrothers as well as I would like because the age difference, I feel a kinship with them nonetheless. In fact, my stepbrother P recently read this blog and announced that he too shares the unique ability to find four-leaf clovers--so we're still getting to know each other, as time and circumstances allow.

Few divorces have such happy endings, I know, and this is why I am truly grateful for these "step" (such an ugly preposition) relatives who comprise my extended family. I wish everyone could be so lucky.

Hilarious Clip

My best friend sent me this clip last week and I cannot get it out of my mind. Warning! You might not want to watch it at work.

The Great Catsuit Debate

Every year when Halloween rolls around, my husband starts suggesting I go as Catwoman. Why? Because he'd like to see me in a head-to-toe pleather catsuit. Why? Because it's sexy.

Apparently it doesn't matter that I'm not built like Halle Berry (see example on the left) or that my sidekicks would be waist-high versions of Ironman and a silver Power Ranger or that the entire pleather ensemble would cost about $200 and would be horribly uncomfortable. Nor does it matter that some women, including those that are in their mid-30s and who have given birth not once, but twice, probably are best viewed fully-clothed (see unfortunate example on the right).

In R's mind, the only acceptable alternative to Catwoman is a "dead zombie ghoulie" complete with many flesh wounds in various stages of decomposition. As you might surmise, I'm never happy with my options...and the only way I can avoid the Great Catsuit Debate is to come up with something that I want to be far in advance of Halloween. I must be armed and ready with a costume idea that I can back like it's a higher calling. If I hesitate when defending my idea R will sense the hesitation and exclaim "Go as Catwoman!" and the debate will be on. And I don't know about you, but I've had my fill of debates this fall.

Quick Update

Thank you to everyone who wrote to inquire about my dad. While the formal test results aren't back yet, everything appears to be fine. The biopsy, it turned out, was not even as serious as I had thought. When I hear "biopsy" I assume the test is being done to rule out or detect cancer, but in this case it was a biopsy in the strictest sense of the term...a removal of tissue to test for any abnormality and cancer was never the #1 suspect.

Again, thank you for your concern and well wishes.