Today Sam turns 21.. Maybe not here in this world, but 21 years ago today, i was the happiest and proudest new father. It doesnt seem long ago at all. I can completely reconstruct the day in my mind.. He hours leading up to his birth.. And holding him that first time.. I remember carrying him around in one of those baby pouches while talking on work calls.. So Diane could sleep

Sam, you were/ are such A beautiful person.. So funny and smiling.. So curious and so full of life. I cant help but wonder what you'd be like now ? Would you be in college ? Would you be living here ? Would you be traveling ? Who would you be hanging out with ? What would you be interested in ? What kind of mischief would you be making. I know it might be hardto believe , but It makes me smile to think about all those questions. Things we'll never know, i know.

I spent the day thinkignabout sam.. I limited my meetings to the absolute minimum…. Took a good run with diane and the dogs.. Nd just thought most of the day… Nothing important.. But it was good to be alone with my thoughts for a bit…i stopped by the richmond bridge on the way home to toss a samstone in the fast moving water for old times sake

Then around 4 we went to Gabe's lacrocross game. We got home around 7

.. I was jsut starting to cook dinner when. Out of the blue, Max showed up. Hed surprised us by coming up fro sams birthday.

I was so happy to see him.. He's such a good guy.. Words cant describe how much it means to us that he made the trip up here to be with us on his brothers birthday,.the four of us were together to tast our fifth… That was great

The four of us sat down with friend mason and had a proper family dinner with samstones and a candle for sam. We toasted sam with neighbor Jeff's dandelion wine.. Jeff came over for a toast as well. i guess thats what you do when someone you love is turning 21 you drink to their health.. Whatever that means now.

So.. My thoughts ofor the day are mixed.. Im deeply sad… Tough im a little liek that every day.. At the same time im sorrounded by the love of my family and comunnity.. And am deeply thankful for that…

Were all out in the workd and enjoy ing our selves.. And for that too im thankfull..

I do miss you so much my son.. I hope that somehow in all this cosmological strangeness you can still feel our love for you…

Nite all, nite sam, happy birthday my son

-me

Posted with Blogsy

Day 5 of hard rain and crazy cold.. It was close to freezing last night at there was snow all around us in the hills, .. Everything is starting to get water logged and mold.. In keeping with that were on a fermented food kick.. Totally by accident, i might add.

It all started with natto.. The japanese fermented soybean 'delicacy' . I say that in quotes because to soem folks it tastes like old socks. I love it.. But then again. I love old socks. I had a bunch of natto during my trip to japan earlier this week. After i mentioned to my friend Nobu-san that I liked natto.., he disappeared into a convenience store and came back with a bag of dried natto. .. Ive been eating them since i got back.. I like them.. Bit no one else in the house will touch them… They say they taste like rotten soy beans .. Which they do.. But its ok, .. More for me !

Fermentation food number 2 come up by coincidence.. We dropped by to hang out with our friends tom and beth in essex. Tom built an old fashioned icehouse a few years back,. we were down there looking at the ice.when he reached in to a box a d came out with two jars.. One deep purple and one florescent orange..He's been making his own kim-chi.. A potent fermented cabbage product. The stuff was really tasty .. Especially if you like rotting cabbage… Which i do ! We had some then. And had some for dinner.. Yum.

Speakig of dinner.. All that kimchi talk got us hankering for hot dogs with sauerkraut.. Another rotting cabbe product… But one more culturally familiar, i suppose.. Diane got out the grill and cooked hot dogs for gabe And luke… And soy dog s for us.. And we covered them … With kraut..

We also dolloped on live culture probiotic yogurt… And then i washed it down with fermented grapes aka wine..

,our internal floran and fauna are rejoicing now.. I swear, en my mind feels better..

Im feeling kinda… I dont know… Kinda cultured i guess 🙂

(Groan)

Ok .. More tomrrow..

speaking of tomorrow.. In case you didn't see it on Facebook. We will be marking what would have been Sam's 21st birthday tomorrow with a low key gathering The invite is here Were going to attempt to climb bolton mountain at 2 pm… Then all come back here to the house at. 5 for a potluck.. Please come help us remember our beautiful boy…

https://m.facebook.com/#!/events/506985722683934?aref=2&ref=bookmark&__user=642051370

Nite sll, nite sam,

-me

Posted with Blogsy

Our friend Barbara passed away Thursday at age 90 after a short illness. She'd been a friend and up the street neighbor for many years. She was a wonderful free spirit. She was full of stories from her long, active and adventurous life.. She traveled the world as a stewardess (she never liked the title flight attendant) and saw history unfold with the jet age.. She flew with princes and tycoons and was always good for a story. She was always game for anything.. Jen just found these pics of Barbara at a zoomba class with her, diane and hannah a year or so back.. She always was wearing this same smile

What a great lady.. We'll always remember her with that smile…

Nite all, nite sam

-me

Posted with Blogsy