five things, november 8

1. I think this week has kicked me in the butt. Dang. It's rare for me to have almost a whole week away from my desk, but that's mostly how things turned out here. Evenings out too. Can't. Function. There are papers and laundry and wrappers from Halloween candy strewn from stem to stern. I feel like I haven't seen any of you guys and I miss you. Oh yeah, I miss my family too! Them.

2. I think , once again, I was reminded of how much I love participating in the political process. I was at the polls all day Tuesday, and we went to a local victory party Tuesday night. Our friend Evans won his city race handily, despite continued shady shenanigans by his opponent, and hopefully he can close the door on that part of the process and look forward to the fun part...his new job! Oh, and relaxing with his family! I will tell you this. Virginians are election weary. We vote all the damn time. And we're not done! Not in my town at least. The state senator from our district was elected Lt. Governor (woot!), so we have to replace him, and the nominating primary is next Saturday. After that, a special election before Christmas. And then we get to vote for mayor in May. See what I mean? Never ends.

3. I think Erin will be disappointed with my submission for my photo group's latest scavenger. I had egg. Next up is corner. We all have the same prompt. Any thoughts?

4. I think I can't believe our little bird Kate has flown the coop! It feels like she just got here! It was such a delightful experience to have her here (even though, towards the end she was working so hard that we never saw her), and we're so grateful for her hard work for our state. WOW. Our little state. No matter what your principles are, you have to admire that dedication. Plus, she loves shopping. But, heaves sigh, I guess now Neel and Cal can go back to wandering around in their underwear, which, let's face it, they really didn't leave off much anyway.

5. I think all your sweet comments about Cal's game meant the world to me. Ha! I should have put a disclaimer up that it may be incomprehensible to some. I almost didn't write it, knowing that many of you wouldn't get it, but ultimately this space is first and foremost a gift for my family. That day had to be recorded, and I thank you for your patience with me but also for cheering him on. 

five things, november (really?) 1

1. I think  I'm just as glad that Halloween is over. We have some yucky stuff going on in our normally charming neighborhood that makes being here, and Halloween in particular, more concerning that celebratory. I have great hopes that things will die down, and we'll get back to our normal routines of edging our lawns and sharing a glass of wine on the front porch. But until then? Ugh.

2. I think  poor Miss Violet hasn't been feeling the greatest over the last day or so. Because she's been sick for so long (going on 10 months now), it's hard to know when she's off a bit, if it's simply a bad day or a sign of something deeper. No matter what, if you have a thought or two to spare, could you send them her way? When she's feeling better, she'll do a cheer for you.

3. I think  this post and this post both provided some provocative reading this week. And I agree with both Petra and Felicia wholeheartedly in their collective take on the Kinfolk craze. I won't say I wasn't drawn in at the start. Who wouldn't love that gorgeous photography? But now? Color me unimpressed. My life is messy and diverse and filled with splashes and splatters. Kinfolk has none of that.

4. I think  I also loved reading Christine's ghost story this week. I left one of my own ghost stories in her comments, and I have another about my other grandmother as well. Right after she died we traveled to Pennsylvania for her funeral. This was a very difficult time for my family. Not just her death, but my relationship with my parents, which had always been so close, was terribly strained for lots of almost unbelievable reasons. But we all came together to manage the funeral. She was the last of my grandparents to die. During the week of her funeral, Neel, Cal and I stayed at a hotel, but we were in and out of the only house I really ever remember her living in. In that house was a pair of chairs by the front door that you pass a gazillion times a day. It's where you drape your coat before you hang it up or where you lay your packages. You see these chairs all the time. Sit in them to toe off your shoes or to put your heels on before heading to church.

We walked back into her house after the funeral and sitting on the chair, which had sat empty for days, where I had sat just hours before to help Cal get his coat on, was her pocketbook (that's what she called it). Nothing valuable. Just some tissues and some mints, maybe a few other things. It hadn't been there before and suddenly there it was.

I don't look too deeply to try to explain these things. And I don't try to hard to understand what it means or what the message is. All I know is that there was a tangible sign of my grandmother, right where I needed to see one.

5. I think I can't ever begin to thank you enough for all the kind thoughts you've shared with me this week about the news of my photography exhibit. So many of you have reached out in this space or by twitter, Facebook, email message or phone. I really am so, so moved by it all. The whole experience, your support, all of it. It means the world.