weekend lookback, erin's shower

Row 1. Eastern Shore of Virginia | Old friends make the best friends; Row 2: Modern Colosseum | Celebrating Erin

It was rushed, exhausting, exhilarating, delightful, sneaky, and just fun. It was so hard not to breathe a peep for days. Not to even say, ohhhh might take a little road trip this weekend. Ooooh, Cal might take in a Phillies game this weekend. I told Cal we had to go Instagram-SILENT all weekend. Hard and exhilarating and totally fun.

Erin's lovely maid of honor and her family threw the sweetest shower ever, and I was honestly so, so touched to have been included. Beyond moved. It was a near thing for us if we'd make it at all, given Cal's baseball schedule, but as soon as we knew his weekend was free, we were off!

We made a weekend of it. My college friend, and one of the two attendants at my wedding, Jessica, lives in Philadelphia and we've been in and out of contact over the years. Mostly out. As in, it's been since Cal was in an infant carrier since we've seen each other! She's a stepmom now, and we got together with her and her better half for all too short a time at a local Starbucks where I'm sure we irritated the earbud-clad studiers with our boisterous retelling of old stories. Too short and must do again. Soon.

After that, onto Citizens Bank Park for the Phillie's game. I don't mind saying, I was of two minds about attending. Guys, I still don't feel well. All the same crap, and I was really hesitant to push on deep into the night. Honestly? An evening by myself in the bed in the hotel room sounded great. But Cal really, really wanted me to go, and I was pretty hyped after seeing my friend. So, I threw caution to the wind. You sit for the whole thing, right?

It was a good call.

We like to get there early so Cal can watch BP (batting practice, if you aren't baseball folk). I got a glimpse of my middle school baseball crush, Ryne Sandberg. He was 2nd baseman of the Cubs at the time. He's manager of the Phillies now. Cal was impressed that he helped pick up the balls after all the hitting was done. I was just school-girl tickled to see him. It was hot and the Nationals still had to bat, so Neel and I were ready to sit. Cal was not.

He stood with a crowd of fans along the first base line for over an hour. Just waiting. While literally nothing was happening. Texting me occasionally, but mostly patient. We tried to get him to come and sit or come and EAT (he is 14, after all), but no go. Finally, after the National Anthem, Neel and I headed to our seats with about two minutes to go until game time. I texted Cal to tell him where we were and looked down to see the bent head of a Phillies player surrounded by the crowd near where Cal had been standing. Someone was signing autographs!

Oh, only Ryan Howard, 1st baseman of the Phillies. Cal's favorite player. I uttered the best, most fervent prayer ever: ohpleaseohpleaseohpleaseohpleaseohpleaseohplease. I couldn't see Cal, only Ryan Howard's bent head. And I could barely see that, so I wasn't even completely sure it was Ryan Howard. And then, with the whole crowd facing forward, toward the field, my son emerged to turn up toward the stands, his eyes scanning for us, the biggest grin on his face. Thumbs up, waving his favorite Phillie's ball cap. He met Ryan Howard and got his cap signed. The team could lose, and they did, but the night was a win for him.

The next day was a win for me. Erin's shower was held at a crêperie in Philadelphia and she was absolutely and completely surprised. It was just the dearest thing. Of course the decor was be-Parised (see what I did there, like be-dazzled) with a beautiful Eiffel Tower banner hanging in the window (they left it for the owner of the restaurant and she was so thrilled) and a  cardboard lamppost, which when we left was still standing in her living room. There were Paris pens and Paris bottle toppers as favors and Paris cupcake boxes. We filled out notecards with advice for the bride and groom, and cards with our memories of Erin. Everything was so lovely. The food was amazing, (I had a crêpe with turkey, feta, almond and apple.) and everything was so sweet and celebratory. I sat with just the loveliest group of Erin and Jeff's friends and felt so welcomed by them. Really, the loveliest was how surprised Erin was and how happy she was the whole time. The best part was that the cards we used to write our memories on were attached to our gifts, so she had to read them and guess who the gift was from. And the best gift? Sadly, not mine. It was an enameled tin bucked with all the makings for the cocktail French 75, from the gin and champagne to the mason jars and straws and napkins. Super adorable and super sweet. That gift was from two of her co-workers and came with the best memory too: "When I met Erin on my first day of work, I asked her what I was supposed to do all day. She answered: 'I just bought a camera and started a blog.'"

Sounds like our girl, doesn't it?

From Jessica to the smile on my boy's face to Erin. What gifts. Just to be there. My cup is full.

check up

Well, the honest truth is that I haven't been feeling well lately. I never got my groove back after our trip, and to be completely truthful, this started before we even left. It's the migraines, of course, which have reared their ugly heads. I cycle in and out of that, and if you've known me for any length of time, you know summers can be hard on this head of mine. But there's more this time. Fatigue that's hard to shake. Crazy fatigue. Hard to get out the door fatigue. Hard to do much more than one thing a day fatigue. Some days I pick laundry. One load. Some days I pick the grocery store. Some days I pick nothing. Those aren't great days. Add to that some an unusual pain in my hip and some muscle fatigue (gah, more fatigue). I feel like every day I'm navigating a pain and lethargy cycle. It's annoying and confusing and things feel like they're falling apart a little bit around here.

I told the doctor that I'v diagnosed myself with Chronic Irritability Syndrome. He's on it. Five vials of blood, and we'll get to the bottom of it, I'm sure. Actually, I can tell you just what the blood work will reveal: nothing. I'm actually quite healthy! I'll just start feeling better. Until then? Chronic Irritability Syndrome.

And yet everywhere I look around me, there's abundance. My family? Well, they take care of me every day. No complaints. Just concern. Our neighbor Autumn brought us squash and cucumber and Swiss chard from her garden. And from his garden, our contractor John brought us a zucchini the size of a newborn baby. It's my dad's birthday (Happy, happy day, Alfie!) My friend Jackie had a thrilling project come up this session, and she asked me to teach her class on Intro to Digital Photography. It's her favorite class to teach, and it's the first class I took. As you can imagine, I'm excited. But I'm touched and honored too. Beyond it really.

So when I take the long view, things are good. There's abundance all around me. All that other stuff will take care of itself. Patience, grasshopper. The only way out is through.

Pan Fried Zucchini, thanks to John, our contractor

1 zucchini
2 eggs beaten
1 package seasoned fish fry breading, like Hilltop or McCormick's or make your own.
Salt and Pepper
Oil for frying

Slice the zucchini into rounds (or if it's ginormous, half-rounds). Dredge each slice in the egg wash and then the batter and set on a platter, careful not to stack the slices.

Once you've dredged all the zucchini, pour enough oil into the bottom of a fry pan to coat the bottom, and heat on medium high.

Once the oil is sizzling, add the slices of zucchini, careful not to crowd them. You'll probably have to do this in batches.

When the zucchini is brown on one side flip each slice and brown the other side. (The zucchini should be easy to lift from the pan when it's time to flip.) Repeat with the remaining zucchini, draining on paper towels.

Serve with salt and pepper (and hot sauce if your name is Cal.).