Dorm by storm

My son had to clear out of his dorm. The deadline was exactly 1 week after finals, 1 day before he was to leave for Ireland (to sing in the cathedrals there) and two days before he had to sing for the school's graduation. I thought he could use a hand. It was Mother's Day weekend.


As you can see I wasn't the only parent helping out, except ain't no way was I getting into the dang dumpster!

The mom you see up there, was rescuing some crap that darling daughter could not part with after dad decided he wasn't going to haul whatever it was across country. Mom to the rescue.

I didn't take pictures inside the dorm. The room should have had biohazard tape strung across the dorm door. We threw away all linen, towels, underwear, socks and all of the contents of the refridge, bathroom and whatever that was inside the microwave...

I arrived on Saturday before Mother's Day. We immediately got to work. After clearing out 10 bags of garbage, we raced to the mall to replace the underwear, sneakers (phew), and socks. We needed a receptacle converter, toiletries, and a tuxedo shirt. Imagine, that child has been wearing the same one all semester, I was afraid to ask him how often he washed it...


After we packed his luggage for the trip, I had to box up his remaining stuff and ship that home. Two boxes of books, 3 boxes of clothes.

The campus nearly silent now that all are gone. It was hard for me to leave, I did get a bit tearful. It seemed like yesterday that I first dropped him off here. Now he is about to enter his 3rd year. The time, where does it go?

Then a group of geese walked by -

They weren't even concerned that I was standing right there -

they marched right on by, slowly grazing as they waddled

My son told me that none of the animals that live on campus are afraid of the students. Squirrels, birds, bunnies - none ran away from me. Cool.

I found a huge magnolia tree that really wanted me to sit and knit next to it, so I did.

I had the rest of Mother's Day, alone. My hotel had a special Mother's Day tea and brunch. I decided on the tea.



I had scones, finger sandwiches and the most delicious chocolate truffle I've ever eaten (even though the truffles Barbara brought me from California were pretty good too!)

Then, the sweetest thing happened. Stacey, my Crimson Purl blogger buddy called! She said that we could meet half way between Charlotte and Greensboro at a Starbucks she knew of. I jumped in my rental and drove. Did you know the speed limit in North Carolina is 70mph?? It is only 55 in most places in Jersey. I felt like I was flying!



We talked and talked for hours, like old friends. Knitters are the best! Thank you Stacey for filling my quiet Mother's Day away from home with knitting fun, friendship and laughter!

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY

Coming in From the Cold

I've been missing in action, burying my face in CSPAN programming watching everything and anything associated with the new White House trying to convince myself that while the economic sky is falling it is way better than listening to those clowns from the former administration f%$#up the country. Now, with that said, and to keep from indulging in a full on pity party, this is some of what I've been up to.

went to visit son #1 in North Carolina to hear him sing with the North Carolina Symphony


This is a partial sound recording of the Carmina Burana. Not my favorite choral piece, sort of reminds me of a scary movie but it was my chile singing so...




Got caught in the historic nor' easter snow storm. Tried to get out of town before it hit and the lady at the airline checkin said, "honey, if anybody in North Carolina thinks it's gonna snow, we close down the city! Better find you a hotel and sleep in." Well, after I checked out of my very nice hotel with a great wine list and midnight cheese and fruit platter room service -


I found myself thankful for any room at the airport hotel. Even the crows were confused.

Made this gorgeous Radiating Star Blanket as a baby gift (pattern found on Ravelry).

Tried to follow the Harlot's advice with the stash...

FAILED

Why did I keep these??

There were months that brought me little or no joy - except for this occasional backyard visitor.

My pal Phyllis tried hard to lift the gloom, we explored yarn stores and old fashioned soda fountains. I had my first vanilla ice cream soda in many years!




She even baked me a cake and brought me some noro sock yarn and those cool square needles!

I pulled myself together long enough to host one of those local Obama house meetings.

There were a few of them around my town. My friend Arlene, a professional chef, did one with desserts and champagne!

Went to hear a Cornel West lecture with my boys. That was a really good day.

Attended my town's library's author luncheon. Guess who?

I auctioned off several baskets with baby hats. And, the poster below from the Democratic Convention's Women's Caucus that Michelle Obama presided over.

So, hope still remains and is perhaps all that is left when we succumb to our darkest worries and can't seem to see the light. Thanks to all of you who have written to encourage me to write again and to report on my whereabouts. I'm sorry I've been gone so long.

P.S. if you would like one of these historic posters, I have another that I would like to share so, just comment here with your name and I'll do one of those random selection thingies and send one to you, sorry, it is not signed and I won't be able to frame it.

Time...

Next month I turn 50. I've been thinking about time a whole lot. What have I achieved in these adult years and have I healed from those childhood fears?

I tend to look at everything with a sociological lens, so obviously much has changed but I wonder about those pitfalls, you know the ones that keep us divided, away from our common selves, our human selves? I've grown a lot since those post Jim Crow years.

That's me on the right with my bestest friend, Toni. It's my 8th grade graduation from P.S. 11 - an all white school black children were bussed to. Wasn't fun.

Can I imagine a post racial world? I've been reading Randal Robinson's, The Debt. Trying to understand the ways in which I may have been damaged because of America's ugly past. How have I been affected by the exclusion of Africa's contributions to world history? Has this affected my sense of self?

I saw this sign while visiting the New York Botanical Gardens. Finally, the story of my culture, my history are unfolding in the places I so adore

Will time help me to figure out how I can embody the hope that President Obama is challenging us all to realize? How is it we teach our children the best ideals that we, ourselves, have difficulty believing?

My middle son, Andrew, watching the inauguration. My oldest son was there somewhere in the crowd!

So, I wonder about time. Nina Simone's, Who Knows Where the Time Goes, echoes in my mind more frequently now. I recently found this picture of me taken when I was 21 and my first trip to the Caribbean. I've always remembered the water, it's clarity and the warmth but now, looking at me standing there, I wonder why I can't clearly remember what it was to be so young...


Well, one thing has improved, if nothing else. I couldn't knit then!

My favorite felted bag

My curious case of benjamin buttons hat, knitted while sitting spellbound watching that movie!

Well maybe there is still more to learn. I can't seem to be able to knit a tam that isn't too small or too damn large!

A New Day in the United States of America

Check out the new White House website!

Our national nightmare is finally over...

What if.....

Pre-Game Coin Toss Makes Jacksonville Jaguars Realize Randomness Of Life

HAPPY HOLIDAYS EVERYONE

Researchaholic

My Andrew announced that he'd like me to make him one of those hats with the ear flaps. I was shocked and amazed. Shocked that he asked me to knit him something and amazed that he chose an earflap hat.

I immediately began running this search program I had installed in my head (mothers have super powers of course - and, y'all know that ain't me in the picture with him). I wanted to be certain that I would pick the perfect pattern using yarn that I have "in stock". You see, like many of you, I have tons of knitting books and binders and folders stuffed with patterns. Last night, rather than sit and start knitting the first hat pattern I found that met the "hat with earflaps" requirement, I decided to rummage through ALL of my pattern books and patterns.

No way could I just be satisfied with Kirsten's Thorpe. I had to consult Ravelry too and well, I don't need to tell you the hundreds of possibilities that I found over there: the Snowboarder Hat that Rocks, and the Andean Earflap Hat, the Large Earflap Hat... The choices and the yarn possibilities were endless. I wanted to press onward until I found the one pattern that I felt was absolutely, positively the best choice and would become the most perfect first hat for my '17 year old and soon to be off to college senior in high school'! Then, this dark desire overtook me and I ventured out of the safe confines of Ravelry and went to the Google. That is where danger awaited this humble and unsuspecting knitter...

My pal Phyllis commented that she hoped this wasn't where all those helmet liners ended up...

Grand Theft Auto

For years I had successfully imposed the, "No violent video games in my house" rule. If any of my boys even hinted that they wanted one of those games, they would have to endure endless hours of my stories about how unglamorous it is to grow up in the projects or the ghetto or a major city if you can't employ several body guards to walk around with you.


I'd make my sons listen to me go on and on about how I could not walk or drive through any number of sections in Brooklyn, Staten Island, Queens, Manhattan or the Bronx because I could be attacked by bigoted mobs with baseball bats, mobs intent on robbing me, wilding police or just plain ol' sicko rapists. Why, having lived this, would I want my children playing with a game that celebrates this madness?

Well the other day, I happened into the living room and there they were on the $300 plus xbox playing this "game". I went crazy! Their response? "Mom, we are responsible teenagers now, not middle school dorks who don't know the difference between a game and a bad influence..."

Ironically, while my AP and Honors student tried explain why he lost his mind, playing in the background on my kitchen TV was the CSPAN hearings of even bigger car thieves - the CEOs of the so-called Big 3 auto manufacturers. Visions of Michael Moore's Roger and Me converged in my brain with flashbacks of my risk soaked days living the viva loca in New York City in my way cool pre-war apartment and how I traded in all in for a Chrysler mini van, 3 kids and a mortgage with an interest rate scheduled to reset in a few years. WHY????



Well, there is always knitting...




And escapes to cool knitting spots -

Charity yarn being sorted at Creative Knitworks in Hillsdale, New Jersey. The many bins of yarn will go to afterschool programs in Paterson, NJ and other youth programs in and around New Jersey!

That's Sharon, the owner, enjoying being in textile heaven!

Too Chicken

There's something I have to do but I'm too chicken. Ever had that happen to you? I know I'll feel better after it's done and just like the picture suggests, it should win smiles. If only I can make the first move...

Thank you

Thank you to everyone for your kind notes and words of encouragement and sympathy. The funeral was this past Saturday and our family was comforted by so many of my brother-in-law's friends and colleagues who traveled from all over the world to be with my sister, my niece and nephew during this time.

Funerals are strange events for me. Reluctantly, they become giant family reunions...

That's my Jonathan there in the tie. Yes, that is a smile. He was so glad to see all of his cousins again especially his buddy, Daniel my baby brother's youngest son.

...and/or massive networking extravaganzas which is such a bummer because it all takes place at the same time my mind is trying to figure out mine and my loved one's mortality, ugh.

Former Olympians Marty Liquori, John Carlos outside after the funeral

Funerals don't stop requests for autographs - Vince Matthews agreeing to one

Driving from the funeral to the burial was a sobering experience despite the prodding of billboards whizzing by...

I wonder if I would have cried less had I had a shot before the buriel??

We had a mile long processional that passed through 3 towns

During the drive to the burial, I couldn't stop reflecting on the many drives my Dad took me and my younger sister, Antoinette, to visit Cynthia and Larry.

I remember these roads so well. As soon as I got my driver's license, me and my sister Antoinette would take the 2 hour drive to see our new niece and nephew, Tamaiya and Bonn, in a heartbeat. We loved those kids so much, we wouldn't think twice about driving way down South Jersey to see them. Now they have their own children, and it was strange to realize time passing through the faces of the next generation -

my brother with the children of our niece and nephew and Larry's grands

The long ride through Atlantic City showed the changing landscape from marsh and brush

to Casino towers and remarkably -

WINDMILLS

All in all, I am often left a bit weaker after any funeral. It is just too difficult to comprehend. There are never any words or expression of sympathy that ever seems appropriate. Oh, there is one expression, "We all want to go to heaven, but nobody wants to die."

So, for now, whenever I feel kind of blue, I'm going to look at pictures of my children, nieces and nephews, who seem to love each other's company, and find a way to smile.