Hamen Tashen

The kitchen is full of them, made by Ruth and Chris while I worked on this rare snowy Texas day. This fruit stuffed pastry is traditional Purim fare, the food of the holiday when we Jews practice not taking ourselves so seriously and also understanding the way life can and does turn itself upside down. This year is so different from last year, but mostly in good ways, but ways I never would have expected.

Happy birthday Liam

A year ago you were born, and a year ago I lived in this house alone most of the time, such a different routine. I love that this house is rich with the sounds and sights of your childhood, your coat on it's hook in the hall, your dog curled on your dinosaur quilt on your bed in the room that's yours now and used to be your Mama's, your laughter, even your cries of frustration when you struggle to push your busy box across the floor and it gets stuck on the mat. I never knew anything was missing. The way I was living a year ago felt just fine (except that the kitchen cabinet doors didn't shut well). Now my life is so much richer (and the cabinet doors shut and stay shut). I would miss your family very much now if you moved out.