For Zephyr

On Monday evening I let Zephyr out, and she never came back. I suppose I could hope for the best, but I know that the most likely scenario is that something awful happened to her. I am heartsick, and I'm writing this post to manage my grief.

Zephyr was such a good pet. We had her for 6 years. She could be pretty demanding, but she was also the friendliest cat I have ever known. I wanted her to be an inside cat because the outdoors is dangerous place, but she would not allow it. Our home has been a happier and quieter place since we started letting her outside.

 

Zephyr wasn't so keen on Beckett at first, but as he's gotten older she's liked him more and more. And the boy always loved the cat. Just a couple of days ago Zephyr was sitting on one of the chairs in the dining room, and Beckett was running around and around the dinning room table saying "eeee" every time he passed her. In fact, he always greeted Zephyr with an "eeee" (that really must be what she sounds like to him) and has been saying it to the picture on her lost poster since Tuesday.

 

Zephyr kept me company through all the years of dissertation writing. She greeted us with the double-meow. She went on walks with Nate. Sometimes we thought she was part-cat, part-dog, and part-baby, although lately the cat part was definitely winning.  

I am so grateful that I was so nice to her the last day I saw her. We took a nap together, and we hadn't done that in months and months. She sat with all of us in the family room that evening. 

I keep thinking that I should be seeing her little, white face at the window. The house feels too empty without her.

If a miracle occurs and we get Zephyr back, I will share my joy with you as well. For now, I will take all condolences over the internet. I am much to raw to talk about the poor cat. Zephyr will be missed.

Intellectual Recreation

I am starting a new blog devoted to my thoughts on books, art, adventures, and pretty much anything else I want to write about. The site is still a work in progress, but I have decided to start posting now. Please come by and read all about an imagined alternate reality in which I attend Hogwarts.

Guess Who is Two

We celebrated a birthday around here. Beckett is two years old. He's getting to be such a big boy. For his birthday Nate and I got him this tricycle. He wasn't enamored with it at first. I'm sure he'll get the hang of it. In the meantime, he really likes ringing the bell.

That evening we went to the park. We took a walk around a little lake and tried out these stepping stones.

Beckett showed off his stellar hiking skills.

We took him to play in his natural habitat.

And visited the miniature pioneer town.

Next we went to Fritz's for dessert only because Beckett loves that place, but the meals are pretty inedible.

Beckett loved this card from Grandma Dorothy and Papa. It sings to him.

He got the hang of unwrapping presents pretty quickly.

Trains are Beckett's very favorite thing in the world. It was a very train-themed birthday. At one point Nate commented on how many trains Beckett had opened, and I said, "I think all the presents are trains." They were.

It was a very happy birthday. We are so happy that Beckett is two. He is so much fun.

Moses Supposes His Noses Are Roses

One Year Ago:

Today:

Are gaping nose wounds to be an annual tradition?

More from Sacramento

While we were in Sacramento we saw Brooke, Aaron, Keontay, and Daysha every day. It was awesome.

On day one Nate took on these two. For the rest of the trip Keontay made sure Nate didn't forget who won the game.

Beckett and Daysha stuck their tongues out at each other.

We just happened to be in Old Town on National Doughnut Day. So we had to get some doughnuts.

Beckett loves doughnuts, just like his dad.

More from Old Town: a metal door and a picture with the pony express tribute. Sacramento was the end of the line for the Pony Express. Where was the beginning, you ask? St. Joseph, Missouri, right up the road.

We took a trip to Danville to see Nate's grandparents, cousins, and aunt Debbie. Beckett liked their huge stuffed lion. (Notice he is holding a Thomas train)

Here's Nate and B with Grandma and Grandpa J (and little Opal).

Beckett loved Grandma Dorothy's and Papa's house. It gave him lots of room to run.

On our last day in town the weather finally warmed up, and Nate and I hit the lake with Brooke and Aaron. (Grandma had Beckett) We kayaked and then tried out balancing on a large surfboard and steering with one paddle. (Maybe this had a real name?) Anyway, it was really fun and a good core workout.

Feeding the Obsession

Beckett is a serious train enthusiast, and so, like good parents, we have been encouraging rather than tempering this obsession.

First we went to Fritz's Railroad Restaurant. The food is pretty lackluster, but it gets delivered to your table by a train. When Beckett saw the first train he was so excited he was literally shaking. He started saying "choo choo" in earnest.

Next we took Beckett to the California State Railroad Museum. Serious Toddler Heaven.

Beckett gave us the fastest train museum tour ever. He was so excited to see the trains he ran from train to train.

This train was definitely Beckett's favorite. He returned to it again and again.

He also enjoyed watching the model trains and learning about trains on the telephone.

As if those two excursions weren't enough, we also took Beckett to ride Thomas the Tank Engine.

As you can see, he was very excited to see a large-as-life Thomas. As the train pulled out of the station he ran after it.

 Here's the whole family riding Thomas.

 

Gillespie Family Reunion

My entire immediate family came to my graduation. This was no small measure. My brother Taggart's graduation ceremony took place the day before mine. Here he is looking toward the future.

The next morning all of my siblings, their spouses and children, and my parents left home before the crack of dawn, boarded an airplane, and landed with plenty of time to freshen up and then make their way to Lawrence for the main event.

It was absolutely fabulous to have everyone here. Over the next couple of days we ate tasty food, had a graduation party with all of my friends, and watched the cousins play. Nate and I were quite pleased that we could fit everyone into our house, that we had a enough bedding for everyone, and that we figured out a way to get all the children doors (Beckett slept in our closet). We would have everyone back in a heartbeat. (DF, I hope it was that comfortable for you too.)

Beckett warmed right up to Grandpa.

The cousins with Uncle Taggart.

The beyond adorable Funk boys.

Some posed photos:

The whole clan

The Stephens

The Gillespies

The Funks

Grandparents and Grandkids

Taggart and I don* our robes one final time. (Taggart it was your final time right? I'm assuming you don't hang out at home wearing your robe.)

We are looking toward the future. It's a humorous future.

* Yes, I did just use one of Kurt Anderson's verboten words. Graduation calls for lofty, tongue-in-check, highfalutin vocabulary.