Now for the rest of it

So, my man, who shall remain nameless, as he does not believe in Social Media, outdid himself. For my 40th birthday, he arranged a small surprise dinner party of my closest, most favorite people in all the world. The party was truly a surprise as the majority of my friends traveled many miles (on a Wednesday night in the summer). Two came from New Hampshire, en route to France, two from lake Ontario, 2 from milan (new york) and two from Brooklyn.

The dinner party was described as "warm and raucous", which is how i would like to live the rest of my life. May I always be surrounded in spirit by the people I love. May we always be a little reckless and not follow all the rules. May our hearts lead us where we need to go but always bring us home.

Apples make me cry

Early Wednesday mornings in the summer when I am motivated to do my walk, I round the southwest edge of prospect park and tears seep out of my eyes. It is the sight of the Apple Farmer and his daughter setting up their produce at the small green market.

I have seen the daughter working with her father at the Saturday green market for the past six or so years. One fall she was not there, she had gone off to college.

I am reminded of working with my dad at the commercial fishing store. From the age of twelve I worked with him every Saturday and during the week in the summers. I learned accounting, customer relations, how to cut chain and rig up a shrimp net, but most importantly I learned to work hard. Those years I was closest to my father. I understood him and he understood me (although I would never have admitted it then). The closeness is gone now as I moved 400 miles away. I sometimes forget how much I miss him but always remember when I see that farmer and his daughter. It is all really so precious and that is why sometimes apples make me cry.