Who knew?

The USA Today paper today described a potential "new" kind of cloud. I never considered there might ever be a new kind of cloud. Did you? Anyone out there more scientifically based than I am that knows something about clouds? This is a cloud I admired one day.

It might be an odd coincidence, but I had just been admiring the cloud formations today as I was finally released from our last day of school (this probably added to their beauty). And sometimes I take comfort in the thought that the sun, the moon, the stars and the clouds today are the "same" sun, moon, stars and clouds that our ancesters admired. I can still rely on the sun, right?

Happy Birthday Dad

Birthday bubbles. Your dad never struck me as being very fanciful so I like this picture because he was having fun with his grandchild. And I especially like the big bear in the background. But this picture also makes me sad because it was taken when we were there for your mother's funeral and I know how sad he was. I'm pretty sure his heart was not in entertaining Amy that moment but he did it anyhow and that speaks to his character. We miss him.

Another universal experience, I suppose.

Paper or Plastic?

James accompanied me this morning on my weekly trip to the grocery store. I carefully plan this trip to avoid the church crowd as well as optimize my weekend time. Unlike a lot of others, I don't mind doing the grocery shopping. I get a little tired of putting the stuff IN the cart, taking it OUT to pay for it, loading the car, unloading the car then unpacking the bags. So it's nice to have company once in a while but Sunday mornings are NOT compatible with the rest of the family normally. But today James came along and we got talking about shopping and errands with our parents.

Oddly enough, no one in my house is any too interested in grocery shopping with me. Go figure. But since your Mom didn't drive, someone had to go along. I suppose that sometimes that felt a little burdensome to you as teenagers especially but I imagine your Mom enjoyed the time with you very much, as I do if I'm ever lucky enough to have Ryan or Amy along. Perhaps sometimes you went along on the errands in order to have your own time with your mother.

James reported that your Mom liked to make sure she got everyone their favorite treats. There is something very fulfilling about putting stuff in the cart (then out, then load and unload and unpack) that you know will make the kids happy. It's a way to show a little bit of love.

Grocery shopping is a universal experience and we all follow certain patterns and habits in this task. Those patterns and habits probably mirror our personalities. That pattern can be disturbed such as when James came along today to demonstrate that I apparently do not know how to arrange items in the cart properly. But I'd still rather have that little time together than not. And these are the memories that sustain us and give our kids stories to tell sometime in the future.

Preparing for the Great Northern Tour

Well, it's officially summer! Doesn't really feel like it yet but here comes another season whether we are ready or not. We recently got notice that Ryan's senior picture appointment is June 6 and I am NOT ready for that! Yikes.

But we are getting ready for our first big summer event--Kathleen and Nick's visit. They don't get to visit here very often so we are looking forward to seeing them. I don't know how often your grandfather Costante got to see his brother Rudolfo but here's a picture from one of these visits.

I'm told this picture was taken at Rose's house and it makes me think of our upcoming visit from Kathleen and Nick. This looks like something a little silly might have been going on. Nick and James, anybody? I see several item I expect might play a role in this upcoming visit: a pot, some beer and a goofy inanimate object (the black pig?). I see a number of items I do NOT expect--a gun, a helmet (although who knows) and a pipe.

I hope everyone is enjoying the summer 09 kickoff. Here's a picture from a visit 16 years ago: maybe we can recreate it in a few weeks.

Big stuff going on in Harpursville this week. Despite some rain and a limo without a tailpipe, Ryan's prom went very well. He worked very hard on the music for the night and on a slideshow for dinnertime entertainment. His efforts paid off as both the music and the pictures were hits with the kids. He was named to the court, which was a nice surprise. Here you see Ryan with his date Abby in the blue dress, his friends Stephanie and Zach outside on the sidewalk as we tried to keep the kids dry for pictures.

Amy is now home and already working her internship hours at the local zoo. There's a new story every night! A penguin that needs suncsreen on her bald head is my favorite story so far. A bear with a bad toooth. Lugging 12 pounds of meat per tiger per day at feeding time. And then there's the poop. Well, you can imagine. She is also subbing at school--an adventure all by itself! More stories. I'd like to say there are more stories at the dinner table but that doesn't happen together nearly often enough.

One of our colleagues died at his desk today in school. We are badly shaken. Such a beautiful spring day belies the reality of life's fragility. So we take even greater pleasure in prom tuxedos and otter poop.

Brandon's big week

It's all about Brandon this week! Happy birthday guy! I hope you are hving a great day. First Communion next weekend too....big events at both ends of the week. Enjoy. We are proud of you.

I am enjoying Pat and Jean's Shutterfly sites. It's great to see the pictures. Mallory and her friends looked great. I hope they had a good time. Amy says Mallory's dress is "all Mallory". I have to say I am feeling for Bob. It's not as much fun as you might think seeing your baby all dolled up for her prom. Thanks for sharing Jean and Pat.

Amy is home now from Kutztown and will be starting her internship at the local zoo tomorrow. Ryan's prom is next weekend and he's been helping organize things for his group so things are hopping around here even more than usual. James escorted a school group on a school trip to NYC and he just returned today. He's helping out the tour company he uses for his band trips.

So it's typical spring stuff. I am waiting to hear back again from your "new" cousin. I haven't done too much work in that area yet. We are switching over to a new computer and I'm being very slow and deliberate in transferring files and getting used to the new.

So to amuse you in the meantime, I hope you are able to run this video clip of Ryan learning the Charleston during our annual "Flapper Day". Yes, he's in a dress for the occasion. See if you can guess which of the girls is his date for the prom. Yes, Brandon (or any of the rest of you) this could be you someday soon!