Archive for flickr

fuzzy pictures, clear memories

// November 2nd, 2011 // 2 Comments » // flickr, parenting, teenagers

worth climbing out a window
That is probably the cleanest picture I took during my New York visit. I also like my less impressive, cell phone picture of the Bethesda Fountain. Neither picture is my favorite.

My favorite picture was taken less than a minute after the sparkly Manhattan picture at the top of this post when I turned the camera toward my companions. The resulting picture is terrible and I love everything about it.

When Sarah left high school a semester early and moved to a city she had never visited, I was terrified. She was a 17-year-old from a small town in a large city with no family nearby. Unsurprisingly, Sarah thrived in her new environment. I don’t know if her school and the city create strong, independent young adults or if the school and city attract teens on the verge of dynamic adulthood. I do know that Sarah has surrounded herself with absolutely wonderful people. They have formed their own family. A family that makes my diminishing role in her life, comforting.

It’s their world now and they know it.
a place to think

Saturday in New York

// October 30th, 2011 // No Comments » // flickr, travel

Occupy Wall Street

// October 26th, 2011 // No Comments » // flickr, politics

batty

// September 14th, 2011 // No Comments » // flickr

Bat!

Camel City

// August 27th, 2011 // No Comments » // flickr, knoxville

21 years ago today

// August 15th, 2011 // No Comments » // flickr

This picture was taken just before I went to the hospital.
tommy's birthday

Bye summer. Hello school.

// August 11th, 2011 // No Comments » // flickr, school

After Zoo Camp times two, Jedi Camp, Apple Camp, Boy Scout Camp and an unsupervised beach vacation for the girl teens, summer break has ended. The backpacks have been scrubbed clean of exploded deodorants and pencil shavings and filled with all of the requested school supplies. Flip-flops have become weekend shoes and new sneakers are neatly stacked on each child’s backpack.

We have teacher assignments, class schedules and a city bus pass. We have met our new teachers and the two youngest children have filled their classroom desks with supplies. Well, Amy neatly arranged her desk and gently placed a single sharpened pencil in the groove at the top of the desk. Evan shoved everything inside his desk, declared “done” and bolted out of the classroom.

Tomorrow morning, Noah will ride a city bus to his brand new school. Monday, the two youngest will begin school. Two weeks later, Sarah will take the long, long Megabus ride to New York.

I miss them already.
school year's eve

waiting list

// July 29th, 2011 // No Comments » // flickr

still broken
Since it’s illegal to drive with a cracked windshield, but the spring storms have everyone waiting months for their scheduled appointment, shouldn’t:
1. repair shops give appointment cards that people can show authorities and
2. the law change to reflect this backlog of repairs?

stick battle

// July 26th, 2011 // No Comments » // Family, flickr

The mighty battle rages

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