And then the crash

It was bound to happen. It always does. After pushing through the last few months,

(which, upon reflection, included
packing up
driving across the US
flying to Australia
getting the kids settled
unpacking
a quick trip to Utah and back in December
shopping/planning/hosting/enjoying the holidays
prepping Lauren for India, and
all of those goodbyes throughout),

I crashed in a headachey, bluesy mess for an entire weekend. It's like my body knew exactly when it was okay to fall apart; do you do that?

I was mad at myself about it for a while. It's frustrating to feel weak and vulnerable and a little raw. Then, as I was thinking about it, I decided to consider it not a crash (with images of abrasions and injury and setbacks) but a cocoon (rest and growth and patience). A reset button. A pruning for next year's growth.  Maybe now and then we just need to stop and replenish--panting and catching our breath and looking back at the distance we've climbed--before moving on. And maybe if we don't do this on our own, our bodies demand it of us. 

Anyway, I perked up this week, emerged from my cocoon and cut my hair short (no pictures yet but kind of like this and this).  I guess that makes me a shorn January butterfly?  

. . .

Speaking of shorn hair (bear with me, this relates eventually, ha!), Lauren already has stories to tell from India, including a fascinating visit to a Hindu temple, the view from her room, the perils of traffic in India and how one of her fellow students decided to observe one of the Indian traditions by shaving her head.   You can follow her adventures at her blog, The Old College Try. 

A ship in the harbor is safe

...but that is not what ships are built for.

Right?!

 

And she's off! Still all backpack and ponytail as she steps through the gate.

We've had many tough conversations about the terrible attack on and death of the young woman in New Delhi last month--and the many other untold stories of violence against women not just there but all around the world. While I've always felt strongly about the safety of women globally (remember this?), I feel it particularly keenly today. 

But we also know that India is a country of contradictions, as wonderful as it is devastating. She will be well looked after and wise. And better for her experiences there. 

India, be good to our girl.

Passage to India

While I'm hovering around, listening to NPR online and waiting to hear US election results, I thought I'd share a bit of news we've been buzzing about around here.

After visiting us for Christmas next month, Lauren will head off to India where she has been accepted to study abroad next semester. She's over the moon about it; she has always had an particular fondness for all things to do with India and now she gets to go study and live there for over four months. 

She'll be in Visakhapatnam (usually called Vizag for short), a port city on the south eastern coast of India on the Bay of Bengal, in a house with several other students. 

One (admittedly tourist bureau-ish) view of Vizag

It's a hybrid program so she'll be taking language and anthropology classes at Andhara University and also doing her own independent field research. She's planning on doing an ethnography studying siblings and sibling caregiving in Indian culture. Truth be told, I'm thrilled for her and a little jealous--while simultaneously indulging in some parent worry and prayers for her safety and health (breathe in, breathe out). Another truth be told: I think Lauren secretly would be perfectly content to stay there and do international work a la Maggie Doyne.

Oh, hello, strong Paxman/Brockbank/Bentley wanderlust genes. I know you.

Call me, Kate: two degrees from being besties

Lauren has been happily working full time this summer as a day camp counselor again here in town. (Sam has also joined her there as a Counselor in Training for several weeks, which has been terrific.) Partway through the season, a new family enrolled in camp, a daughter and a son who were living here for the summer with their very famous mum who happened to be shooting a movie in the area*. 

I want to respect people's privacy here so I will give you this hint: I love her and her name rhymes with Wate Kinslet. 

Yep, as it turned out, Lauren was the counselor for her 11-year-old daughter this summer! They got along swimmingly and the girl chatted freely and matter-of-factly about her life as tweens do (including some interesting topics you'll have to ask Lauren about). Lauren met and chatted with Kate at drop-off and reports that she was lovely and down-to-earth.  L even escaped any tongue-tied, oh-to-be-famous moments.

It's just as I suspected. Kate has always been at the top of my list** of potential best friend material should we ever be neighbors and should I ever suddenly become fabulous. I guess I'll settle for two degrees of separation and living in the same town. Bye, Kate. I hardly knew ye.

. . .

*I am telling you this now because their last day at camp was a couple of days ago.
** Also: Cat Deeley, Julia Roberts, Reese Witherspoon. They seem like they'd all be awesome girlfriends. Call me, gals! Who are your imaginary bffs?
***this photo has nothing to do with anything except I love it. Summer evenings. Sunflare. Those three.

Self Evident and Unalienable

It rained last night and poured this morning so we started revising our 4th of July plans to indoors. Then, after the ward pancake breakfast, the skies cleared and the sun presided over the midday town picnic in the park. 

Humid cotton candy, oompa bands, bluegrass combos, a League of Women Voters used jewelry sale, hot dog stands, hula hoopers, Lizzie the Clown, neighbors and townfolk swathed in patriotic colors--all just a mile or so from the place where the revolution was started, culminating in these words drafted 236 years ago today:

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of happiness...and for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, we mutally pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor.*

What could be more patriotic than registering to vote for the first time?

 Uncle Sam wants YOU

Betsy Ross and the port-a-potties

Synchronized cotton candy 

God Bless America, land that I love. 

. . .

 *Listen to the entire Declaration of Independence here read beautifully by NPR reporters, commentators, and hosts.  

We also started out our day watching three of our favorite National Anthem performances: 

Whitney Houston
5 young talented girls
and the Dixie Chicks.