Weekly Notes #2

I've decided to try to update with weekly notes more often since finding time to nice, long, coherent posts is hard. I'm going to quit when I get to #243 or so. (Not really, that just seems like a far away and unlikely number, so I'm going with it.)

1) My fur nephew died with shocking suddenness this weekend. It was devastating for my sister and sad for my whole family. Teddy has been a constant presence in our lives and conversations for nine years, and even lived with Tim and I briefly when Des first moved to NYC. No one, most likely including Teddy, remembered that period of time with great fondness, but still, he was a big part of the family. He was a truly unique personality and was mildly famous in Phoenix, New York, and London. I know for a fact that he is being mourned with actual tears and real grief on at least three continents and not many dogs can say that. Rest well, sweet Teddy, not in peace, but in perpetual motion with the wind in your fur, the way you loved life the most.

Photo courtesy of The Dogist, one of Teddy's many moments of minor celebrity. Incidentally The Dogist is a fabilous follow, if you like dogs. 

2) This was a quiet week for us. We are currently in the midst of the Japanese festival of Obon, arguably the most important holiday of the year here. (The other rival is the New Year.) Obon lasts roughly two weeks and is the festival for the dead. People travel to their furosato (home place) and receive the spirits of their ancestors. It is a lovely thought, and a special time...but it is one where we avoid leaving base. Japan is always crowded, but holidays are unreal. The best equivalent is probably imagining your local Target parking lot during the week before Christmas. But all day long, every day, with no parking, long lines to pay, eat, and use a bathroom. In short, we tend to hunker down on base and enjoy personal space until the frenzy dies down.

3) What We're Watching: Song of the Sea. This is an absolutely beautiful movie that deals with the ideas of family ties and loss through an old Celtic folktale about selkies, creatures that are part seal/part human. It's the most visually striking kids movie that I've seen since Bookof Life, but in the completely opposite way. Book of Life is a midday feverish nap dream, and Song of the Sea is a deep, deep dark of the night dream with softer colors and faded edges. Both are unforgettable. Graydon actually cried at the end, which is the first time I've seen him have such an emotional response to a movie. Best of all, it's available for free on Amazon Prime.

I just copied this from Google.

3) Lowest Parenting Moment: I had one of those Mommy tantrums the other day caused by the relentless unending series of Sisphyean tasks that comprise motherhood. You know, the drill, laundry, dishes, wipe bums, put away toys, break up fights, forever and ever amen. Anyway, I freaked out about something, who knows what, and Addie said: "Mom, I think you should eat something."
 She knows I get "hangry". I was ashamed/proud/amused. And I did eat something. It helped.

4) Speaking of observant kids, Graydon is a scamp. An observant, brilliant unmitigated rascal. I sat down for the first time in about four hours and he immediately said "Mom, why are you so lazy?" (something he hears when he refuses to put on his car seat straps). I immediately snapped and said "Excuse me, what did you just say to me, you ng man?" with the MamaAintPlayin voice and he said, without missing a beat, and with many dimples showing, "I said, 'Why are you so beautiful?'" I tried so hard not to laugh. I failed.