More Like It

Anxious to redeem the Philippines from my prior vacation post, I am pleased to report that Calatagan is fantastic (with photos to prove it).

Valentine's Lip Sync and Other Updates

I don't have permission to post all pics and videos, but here is Katie doing "It Takes Two" by Rob Base, with Michael attached. And since I felt the decoration team did an excellent job, I have posted some pics of their work. And a few other pics for good measure. If/when I obtain permission, I will add some excellent video.

This guy flew by my head at our Scout camp out last night. Picture doesn't offer scale. About one inch long. Hyrum Liddicoat expertly knocked him out of mid-air with his iPhone, missing my ear by mere inches.

Force Awakens via projector = best camp out ever.

Katie at work

Valentine's Playlist 2017

Songs from another great year with Katie Hart.

1. The Eye, Brandi Carlile--This song makes me thankful Katie had the patience to stick with me early on.
2. Try Everything, Shakira--Like, for example, having another baby.
3. Getting Ready to Get Down, Josh Ritter--I just think it's a fun song.
4. I Lived, OneRepublic--Pretty much our family theme song. "I owned every second that this world could give; I saw so many places; the things that I did." We listened to this about 15 times while driving from Charleston to Orlando last summer.
5. O Mio Babbino Caro, Renee Fleming--One of these things is not like the other. But Renee is just the best.
6. Astronauts, Rachel Platten--"Let the world disappear, there are places up here we can hide. Somewhere only we can find."
7. I Fall To Pieces, Patsy Cline--No explanation necessary. Just so great.
8. Ring of Fire, Johnny Cash--Ditto Ms. Cline.
9. We Know the Way, Opetaia Foa'i and Lin-Manuel Miranda--Another one made poignant by our frequent travels. "We keep our island in our mind."
10. Cupid, Sam Cooke

They Arrive

We watched Arrival last night. Such a great film. Shot straight into my all-time favorites list. Mild spoiler alert ahead: As Louise had her brain rewired by learning an alien language, I feel that my brain is being rewired by learning 12-year-old female offspring language.

But seriously, as I approach middle age, time has changed. The past is a bigger part of my present and, increasingly, I can predict at least the major trends of the future. Time becomes compressed. In the film, Louise sees the future. She sees pain and heartache. However, knowing that there is also joy, she makes the decisions that lead to the painful end. This resonated very much with my religious beliefs. Similarly, I have found great spiritual peace in accepting my place in the universe. Make no mistake, I am not resigned; I am consecrated. I interpreted the movie in this way. Louise "arrived" at spiritual peace by proactively choosing the path that was already laid out for her.

It is joyful to arrive, and to watch the arrival of my children.

Speaking of, here is a nice pic of Michael