Five Brown Kids

I've been asked by a few friends for an update so here you go. I'm six months into single life for the first time in nearly three decades.  And so far, so good.  I thought dating would be terrifying, and I was definitely nervous for the first meet up but now I feel like a pro. I am just using dating apps....  By the numbers: I had a goal to be kissed by the end of the year -  it took 8 days!  15 first dates all with nice, capable and competent men Of the 15: 2 that I really, really wanted to see again and it didn't happen (Sailor guy I'm probably just not up to his standards, Lyric guy scheduled a second and third date and then followed me around via text for a few busy summer/work/parenting/swim meet/car sharing days and then said no thanks ;-(  5 that I said no thanks to a second date invite 5 of the first dates had no children and 3 had never been married 48 additional dates with 6 of them - Political Activist, Mountain Biker, School Bus Guy, Pecan Guy, ...

  Scotia dressed up for homecoming and went out for dinner and pictures with friends.  Blythe and I went to the final World of Bluegrass festival in downtown Raleigh.  The festival was hosted here for 10 years and is moving on to a new city now - the first one here I was introduced to Scythian and fell in love.  At the last one I watched one of Bythe's best friends dad play on stage.  A fitting end to a downtown weekend I've loved for a decade.  We got so much rain leading up to and during Hurricane Helene.  The lake was over full.  Walk to the top of the dump.  Matt, Andrew and Riley came for a weekend.  Riley for school work at Duke and Matt and Andrew to scope out medical schools.  We had a planking contest.  Jaxon won with a best time of 3:54 and I lost with just around a minute. I work out way too much to be the loser. (Funny moment I want to remember:  Jaxon is just getting going on his very long plank when he asks f...

This morning when Blythe and I were getting ready for work and school she said to me, "You're not really a mom anymore."  And I know what she means.  Blythe takes good care of herself - she gets up in the morning on her own, showers, does her own hair, gets ready for school, packs her own lunch, leaves for the bus on time, or is ready to walk out the door if we are driving for bear patrol.  She can prepare her own food and is always ready to go on time for her activities.  Such a lovely kid.   But I am reminded by her comment that the harder you work as a mom, the better you are at homemaking and communicating and care the more invisible your labor becomes.   Blythe wakes up and flips on a light, hops in a warm shower full of products she likes, grabs a clean towel from the linen closet, picks an outfit from neatly organized clothes in her dresser, packs lunch and eats breakfast with food from the pantry and fridge, volunteers for morning carpool ...

Scotia had Leadership Camp for her club swim team out at a YMCA camp near the coast.  It's always a favorite weekend.  And even though there are ziplines and water slides and talent shows and scavenger hunts her favorite part is fishing! Brown kids are lucky kids. 

Taye is doing great at nursing school but misses his family and friends. Tyrone flew out for the weekend to spend some time and they had a great adventure. Taye will be done in 3 months and on his way home. And in his OB rotation last week he got to help a really sad woman (who had no support) deliver her baby... holding her arm, holding her leg for pushing.  Go Taye!

This was my second year at Appaloosa fest ( 2023 ) and it was awesome!  Sara, Carleen, Blythe and I drove up and met Courtney there.  We rented a house this year instead of tenting in the cow field.  We needed showers after an evening of dancing in the field.  The house was an old (1860's) manse most recently owned by a slightly eccentric professor couple with interests in Russian and beagles.  What a house! It felt haunted for sure. But we made it out alive.  Saturday and Sunday eve we partied at the music festival dancing and singing along.  Scythian are the best entertainers.  I'm still obsessed with their music.  Sunday afternoon we hiked to a swimming hole that was a series of little ponds. So fun!  Monday we hiked to the top of Big Schloss in the Shenendoah.   Blythe was happy and bubbly and fun and engaged the whole weekend.  She hiked to the top of the mountain like a pro.  A hike with a view is her kind of hi...