And the floor shook beneath us.

A Sister.
A Sister-in-Law.
A Cousin.
A Might-As-Well-Be-My-Cousin.
A Best Friend.
And Me.

Snugged in to a NYC Winery to listen to never-heard-before-tunes.
A sweet soothing voice. An introvert, we mused. We laughed about his promise of "hits".
And that Sarah would marry him.
Specially crafted wines. And lack of kinder appropriate tunes.

A very memorable way to spend an otherwise cold, cold Friday eve.

And every time the subway ran under the winery - it shook the floors.

And I'll always remember it. All of it.
Including the giant Xmas trees awaiting the perfect SoHo lofts.

And how they smelled in the crisp air.

And then home by 3 to give way to sleep and dreams of brand new sets of wings.

Actually, it's all about me.

I'm sure she didn't do much until she was four anyway.

So really, when I think about Erin,

I think about me.

Because when I think about me, I want to think about Erin.

She is all of the below.

She is love, generosity.

She is heart, laughter, ears.

One time, I was having car trouble in college. Serious trouble, like the power steering stopped, and I could hardly turn the wheel. And I was on the highway. And then I got to a lot, and stopped. And the hood started smoking.

So I called Erin.

My mechanic. My calm.

I call her for happy things, too.

She is however I am feeling. She takes me on as her own. She lets me go on her honeymoon and pinch her baby's cheeks. Her bed is always made for me. And like a true little sister, I love being wherever she is.



Happy Birthday sweet Erin.

When Two Become One.

Happy Birthday EMAH.

Sometimes it feels like our families aren't two different, but one. And the same.

And that makes me happy. It gives me great joy.

I love you today. And I love love love the times that are to come.

Thanks for all you do for me.

A Few Things You Should Know.

My sister is a triathlete.
(Her training secret is chocolate milk.)

Nonie doesn't charge much to mow the lawn.
(And she enjoys the steeps).

There is a big day coming up this week and we'll be wrinkle-free for it. Hoo Ra.

(When it comes to ironing...I am my father's daughter.)

My mother made me "talk to the hand" during her race on Sunday.
And I had lots to say.

Ramblings from the post-road.

Here is how I shall remember each state:

Florida = I need a map. How is Orlando only in the middle?
Georgia = 75% of you is under construction and I never did see Paula Deen.
South Carolina = Florence. And I think there was this place called Pedro's but they should have advertised more.
North Carolina = Best radio stations to which Erin liked to sing along.
Virginia = Never get off at the Bank St. exit unless you are packing heat.
Washington, DC = There were some big buildings but you're not really a state so...
Maryland = No sign of Ace of Cakes from the highway so we drove on through.
Delaware = Thankfully short so Erin didn't have to curse the 55mph speed limit for too long. Curse curse.
NJ = Borders Delaware? Who knew!
NY = Good morning Annie Shea!
CT = Almost home.
NY again = THE GATE WAS CLOSED.

PHEW now that I have that off my chest I can get onto some more important matters.

Apparently of all the tchotchke's that I subconsciously wanted to steal from the Sanibel House, only one made its way into my bag. What are you picturing? A "Beach House Rules" sign? The parrot from the porch? Net webbing filled with booty above the sliding door?

Better.



A night light.

In other news, the horse from the backyard did not, in fact, die at the end of the fall. He's the brown dot in the center of this picture and he's alive!

Another surprise was to come home to green grass instead of white snow. It was the opposite of a Christmas miracle which was exactly what I was hoping for.



There were flowering trees and tuliping tulips!

All is right with the yard.

Three Grannies

I learned this morning, that Dec has three grannies.

And this is the conversation that lead me there...

Trey has two grannies!

Wow Dec, that is pretty special. You have two grannies also!

(Silence)

No, I don't.

Yes you do.

(More Silence)

No. I have three grannies mom!

(Silence) (This time, from me)

Three grannies huh? Who are your three grannies?

Granny Annie!

Yup.

Granny Tess!

Yup.

And My Emah!

(Silence) (Tear...from my eye)

Auntie Emah is your granny?

Yup!

Why do you think Auntie Emah is your granny?

Because, My Emah loves me like my grannies do!

So there you go Emah - elevated to Grandperson status just like that! With love from Declan.

Now that you earned the honor, try drawing him a family tree!

Trucks and stuff

Sometimes you have to get dumped by your truck to realize that you probably weren't supposed to be in the dumper to begin with.

We're off the the old sod...will be sure to look for treasures and the pot'o gold at the end of the rainbow.

http://kids.niehs.nih.gov/lyrics/irishlull.htm