They See Me Strollin

For a person who has almost everything, I got a lot of nice things for my birthday this year. By far the most photogenic was not actually for me, but rather for my cats.

You see it's come to my attention that while we are out gallivanting on all number of adventures with the dog, they are always stuck at home. And so, when I saw a kitty stroller in lovely lemon yellow last week, I was sorely tempted to buy it. I pushed it all around the store for a good ten minutes, appreciating the smooth handling, convenient bottom storage compartment, and handy collapsible design, but the end I opted out.

Fortunately Heidi alerted my sister, and so the early hours of my birthday were spent outside in the dappled morning sunlight, light breeze blowing, birds singing, and me strolling with my cats and the dog. And yes, there are pictures.

A Very Happy Tomorrow Today

The documentary about Fred Rogers is not over-rated.

I was probably a little too old to fully appreciate Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood when it ran on our local PBS station, but I certainly know all the characters: Daniel Strip-ed Tiger, Rex the Owl, Henrietta Kitty, Lady Elaine Fairchild, Handyman Negri, Lady Aberlin, Mr. McFeely, King Friday the 13th. I know all the words to the opening and closing songs, know the bench, the sneakers, the closet, the sweaters. I remember Picture, Picture and the thrill of the Trolley entering the tunnel on the way to the Land of Make-Believe.

Mr. Rogers himself was always a bit of a mystery to me: how could anyone really be that nice? But by all accounts, he really was that nice and that sincere. He purposely set out to create a show that was an oasis for children in the turbulence of television, and later, the world. One that would remind them that it was okay to be who they were, even when it didn't always feel like it. And any doubt about the timelessness of his message was erased with the information that the very first episodes of the show had King Friday closing the border and building a wall around the castle to keep out change.

His message that no matter how the world changes, kids are the same inside resonated with my inner teacher and made me promise myself to channel my inner Mr. Rogers a little more in my classroom, especially in these trying times. 

When I say it's you I like, I'm talking about that part of you that knows that life is far more than anything you can ever see or hear or touch. That deep part of you that allows you to stand for those things without which humankind cannot survive. Love that conquers hate, peace that rises triumphant over war, and justice that proves more powerful than greed." 
~Fred Rogers, Dartmouth Commencement Address, 2002

Times Have Changed

I hadn't been to the little strip of shops in years, but just pulling into the parking lot and looking for an elusive spot brought back lots of memories of lots of time spent there. The first Thai restaurant in town used to be there, so was the Village Bistro, and Rays the Steak house. All of that is gone, each establishment turned over at least two or three times since I had last patronized the strip.

Today there was a very long line out the door of the new Greek place. (Who knew June 28 was dollar gyro day? A lot of folks, evidently.) And the coffee shop looked crowded, too, but we were there for Pho. My nephew has just returned from a month in Europe and he invited us to lunch. It was fun hearing about his travels and catching up, and the soup was delicious, quite possibly the best in town.

And when we were done? Riley picked up the check.

Old Friend

I got up without an alarm, made coffee, took the dogs for a walk, went to the garden, and then out to lunch and a movie.

Hi Summer! I do remember you!

Round Two Tomorrow

The rain has kept me from my garden these last weeks, but I haven't worried a bit-- with that rain and these warm days and all this summer light, I was confident that my little plants were thriving without me. And so I was excited to see their progress when I finally headed up to our plot early this morning to add a few more flowers and tomatoes and a couple of peanut plants.

But when I arrived I confess to being more than a little dismayed, for how I could I forget that the same ingredients that allowed my vegetables to double in size allowed their weedy brethren equal opportunity?

My plants?
Were fine.

The weeds?
Were better.

Two hours later?
It was a fair fight.

As Summer Does

Around here summer means movies and food experiments, and we kicked off our first full week of vacation by walking down to meet Josh for the new Star Wars film and then grabbing some ramen afterwards. The experimentation came in the form of the assortment of mug cake mixes we impulsively purchased on a quick stop at the grocery store after dinner. It was an iconic evening made even more so by all the fireflies blinking our way home. 

Portmanteau

I was feeling a bit restless this afternoon. "Let's do something!" I said, but I wasn't sure what that might be. After a while we decided to go over to National Harbor and walk around the shops and waterfront. And so we did.

When we first arrived it was sprinkling, so we strolled through the atrium of the Gaylord resort. When the rain blew over, we stepped out past the pool and down to the riverwalk. It was fun to people-watch as we went. Passing a small group of tourists leaning into an unusual-looking plant I overheard one of them say, "It smells pugnant! Just pugnant! Strong and stinky!"

I laughed at how appropriate his error was; it sounded like the plant's odor was repugnantly pungent.