Skipping Town

Monday, June 9 We drove the kids to the airport this morning for their flight to Spain. When it was time for them to go through security, we said goodbye. Andrew cried when they walked away. We all cope in our own ways! For example, I forced Greta to move items from a pouch she chose to a much better, more organized pouch this morning. Now they're gone, first a long layover in Chicago and then on to Madrid.  The house is extremely weird and quiet. Andrew and I made dinner at home and watched Mountainhead. The girls didn't text us to tell us if they were sitting together on the plane. I'll feel better when they've arrived in Spain.  Tuesday, June 10 Lucia, forgetting the time difference, called me at 3:00 a.m. to tell me that they were in Spain, but that a bunch of kids, including her, had had to gate-check their bags and the bags were now missing. An hour later, she texted that the bags were all found--they'd been routed to the wrong baggage carousel. She also sent ...

A very rainy day didn't stop us from going to some yard sales this morning in Highland Park. Mom and Dad came with us too. We found a few things: some Christmas dishware (Mom and I), a huge candle (Greta), some books, some jewelry (Lucia), etc. But the best (?) find of the day was for the kids: more haunted dolls.  We were driving around Highland Park and turned onto a street we recognized as having been the spot where they got their haunted dolls last year. The same house was having a sale, and when we went onto the porch, there were three dolls--probably the ones that were left in the box last year after the girls selected theirs. They each selected one doll, for $1 each. When Lucia went to pay the owner, she told Lucia she could just take all three dolls. Then she said she remembered L&G from last year and rwas hoping they would come back and that her husband's grandmother would be very happy. I told the woman we were going to let her know if we "had any trouble...

Lucia had her training this morning for her camp counselor job, then went to a friend's house for the afternoon. Andrew and I took Greta shopping for a new travel bag and sports bag, which we found at Marshall's. Once we all got home, the girls began their packing--they leave on Monday for their trip to Spain. They're packing light, with one small suitcase and backpack each, but ten days is a long time to organize for. They're almost done. Tonight we all went to the club for dinner and music bingo. The girls swam.  Tomorrow we'll finish packing and preparing and then the kids will be on their way!

The kids are transitioning to summer mode. On Thursday they slept in then spent the day in a variety of activities: Lucia went for a run, made s'mores bars, and did some diamond painting; Greta read, did her laundry, and sat beside Lucia while she did her diamond painting (I think they were watching a show on Lucia's laptop). Later, we watched some This Is Us. Today, Lucia went for a run and ended at Dunkin' Donuts, where she met up with a friend and then hung out at Riverstone Books. They found a Taylor Swift lyric-analysis book, and called Greta to join them at the bookstore; Greta walked down and they all hung out there for a while. Meanwhile, during a break between meetings, I called all over the house for Greta; I had no idea she'd left. I'd actually had no idea Lucia had tacked a run onto her plan to meet her friend, until she told me later. Once they got home, they both did some diamond painting. They're planning to bring diamond painting supplies to NH t...

Monday and Tuesday have blurred together. The kids were still completing assignments so it felt like a regular couple of days. Today, Wednesday, was finally the last day of school--last day of ninth and seventh grade. I almost forgot to take a porch picture this morning--Greta reminded me as we were pulling out of the driveway, so I made Andrew park the car so we could get out and take the pics.  Andrew and I had been invited by the school to the middle school Moving Up Day ceremony, even though only eighth-grade parents attend, because Greta was receiving an award. We were so excited when her name was announced for the seventh-grade award, honoring the seventh grader who best embodies the school's motto: "Gentle in spirit, strong in deed." The faculty selects a student each year for this award. Well deserved, I think. After the ceremony, Greta went to Kennywood for the rest of the day with some friends. After the Upper School half-day concluded, Lucia walked to Walnut St...

My obsession with Lost over the past few months inspired an essay, which was published today in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Excited to share it with you.  (Subscribers can find it here : https://www.post-gazette.com/opinion/insight/2025/06/01/cancer-lost-tv-diagnosis-treatment/stories/202506010035)