I disappeared, but it’s all good. There was a birthday to celebrate, in person for the first time since 10 years ago …
presents to make …
And a beach memory … 
painted by PopPop 
A bagua mini-quilt … 
backed with cloth from a dress I got when I was 17
for a girls’ weekend in St Louis … a weekend-full of food and laughter …
and shopping of course …
with a little bit of boy brunch thrown in for good measure …
while PopPop stayed home and hung out with the Austin grands …
It all went by so fast …
and in a blink I was back in the airport, buying the obligatory airport bookstore read and a bag of York peppermint patties to console myself. Opening Anne Lamott’s latest to find this …
Loving the synchronicity … smiling … homeward bound …
I'm Going to Texas (version 2.0) 
What a wonderful trip! So glad you were able to spend time with the BD girl and others. Welcome back ❤️🍀
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Time is a gift
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Heart melted to see all of these wonderful photos of your time with your sweet and special grands…long time coming this trip, but what joy to finally be together and to celebrate 17 yr old Logan. Family is what holds, what matters…
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It helped that three of us are fully vaccinated … we hugged
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holding family … yes
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Oh how wonderful! All of it! Joy!
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joy … laughter and tears
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LA – there was a bit of concern – but what a great trip – such joy and sharing. Go well and stay well. B
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very real concern, a calculated risk for sure …
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So good to see you able to fly & visit your family again !
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I went “all in” … can’t say no when it comes to grandkids
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Liz~ What a blessing for you to have a chance to celebrate! The painting is beautiful, the patches holding it all and the York story…just the best! Glad you got to go, glad you’re back here too.
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it will be a happy quiet time recalling the past days, stitching them into memory
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Beautiful handmade gifts by both of your hands- full of memories and hope. Looks to have been an amazing precious time, including hugging! Just so swell!
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It all felt so wonderfully normal … and I know the pandemic isn’t over, but it was like Mid-Lent Sunday
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Oh, love this! Hugged my mom for the first time in forever this weekend. And very funny about the peppermint patties.
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how touch is such a vital part of how we love each other
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The love and care that you all have for each other simply oozes through your images and words, Liz. I’m so happy in in Aus to see folks in the US living a freer, safe, time together (covid-safe).
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Rose – I have to be honest and say we pushed the envelope on this … waiting a few more months would have been wiser. But as my daughters will tell you, if I am asked for something that involves my grandkids, I can’t say no.
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i will be much more tenuous with my setting out.
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which is most wise
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that seemed like a lot of fun and love !
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’twas … the time flew
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Happy times! I am months from this sort of freedom, so I’m a little green with envy! Re: Anne Lamott. I recall a passage in “Operating Instructions” where, after a trying parenting moment, she wanted to curl up into a fetal position an eat a big bag of M&M’s. How refreshing. That kind of candor is maybe more common now but at the time it wasn’t.
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I hope the Biden administration will be getting the vaccine to you sooner rather than later (although I confess that I’ve been counting the days since we returned, checking that everyone made it through okay … so far so good).
And Anne Lamott (along with manna Quindlen) has long been near the top of my list of favorite authors aka truth-tellers.
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lovely seeing you all together, there’s a lot of happiness here;-)
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it went so so fast … always a sign of an exceedingly good time
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