The Burrow

They don't like being referred to that way, the elementary school cohort in Amster's life. True individuals, they require different pieces of my attention.  Always have, always will, I imagine. That's what makes it interesting. Because of a difference of opinion over child care, my presence was required on Thursday afternoon.  Somehow, life knows when to send me the means to soothe my soul. I was in need, and The Littles were there to help. Off the bus and into The Schnozz, Kindle taken out and promptly put away as I declared my car an electronics free zone . No, not even just on the ride .  I kept to myself the fact that some of the most interesting conversations I've ever had have occurred just on the ride. Train switches and round-abouts, bicycle riding and banjos and being the elder sibling, a little bit of teasing and tickling and a whole lot of laughing and we were in the parking lot.... because none of us had any quarters for the open meters surrounding our...

There never was such a thing at Oceanside Junior High School. It was never considered. We bullied and were bullied and no one noticed. We lost family members and friends and there was no public outpouring of love or concern. We were there to learn the facts and figures the teachers had to offer. Our emotional lives were secondary. That's not the case these days. Schools are rising to the occasion, teasing out feelings and offering opportunities to share in public. Sometimes the activities are event specific, responding to a current horror. Sometimes the activities are more general, touching deeper pieces with a lighter touch. The day before Thanksgiving Break was just such an activity. Amphi Middle Schoolers spent the day moving from classroom to classroom with their homeroom advisories, writing letters to servicemen, creating Beads of Courage bracelets, sculpting beads from clay, and painting Ben's Bells flowers. As always, the principal invited me...

Amster makes a house a home. Her door is always open, albeit sometimes blockaded by a fort or a hobbit hole. If there's a way to bring all the pieces of her life together at one time, she makes it happen. Sunday, she brought Ben's Bells to the Foothills.  It was an eclectic crowd. Miss Texas had her mom and her friends, Mr. 7 had his BFF,  Elizibeth wondered where her Princess might be, and I caught up with Amster's old neighbors. G'ma and I stopped at Subway, so we didn't need the pizza or dip or chips. Nothing gets between my mother and a cookie, though, and she was delighted to " wash it down with a Sprite, thank you." . In the moment, when dealing with conventions, my mom is present. She's snarky and engaged and I remember why I wanted her to come to live here in the first place. Amster's house has that effect on people. Look at all those smiles. .Everyone was involved in every conversation, in every creation, in...