Vegas Summit 2012

I'm sitting on my front porch, laptop in my lap, savoring a perfect fall night in Nashville.  It's almost (but not quite) chilly, with the temperature in the mid-50's.  Joe and I just returned from a walk to Cha Chah on Belmont Boulevard, where I had a glass of wine while he slept.  Good times in the 'hood.  

I'm listening to Shelby Lynn, "Live at McCabe's," on Spotify.  

Friday - Monday afternoon, Jude and I were in Las Vegas for the annual Foodbrothers' Summit.  It's a trip we take every fall, but it was the first time we had both been away from the boys.  I felt conflicted, because it was so, so nice to be away for a few days, on our own, with no responsibilities.  I felt guilty, actually.  On the other hand, I missed the boys so badly while we were away.  I couldn't wait to get back home to see them.  Jude felt the same way.  

We stayed at the Wynn, as usual.  It's Jude's favorite hotel/casino in Las Vegas.  It's nice to return there year after year.  We ate at a couple of nice restaurants (Sinatra's, for instance) and spend quality time with the Foodbrothers' gang (always the highlight of our trip).  The gang watched college football (and gambled on college football) all day Saturday, as is our custom.  I had a good day Sunday, betting on NFL games.  

We got back to Nashville on Monday, just after lunch.  After spending a little time with Joey (and Jude's parents) at home, we drove to Children's House to pick up J.P.  We parked in front and let ourselves into the playground through the gate.  When J.P. saw us, he grinned and ran across the playground to Jude, laughing with unbridled joy.  He jumped into her arms and hugged her, still laughing.  I'm not sure I've ever seen him that happy.  She set him down and he ran to me and leaped into my arms, still smiling and laughing.  I'm not sure I've ever been that happy and content.  

I was overwhelmed with my good fortune to have the family I have.  Jude and I are so blessed to have these boys.  It's amazing, how lucky we are.    

Time Traveler

I've always been fascinated with the idea of time travel.

I don't care about being able to make myself invisible or being able to fly.  Being able to travel in time, though, that would be awesome.  

Well, you know what?  It is awesome.  I just never realized how easy it would be.  The key, apparently, is to have a son (J.P.), wait four years or so, then have another son (Joe).  It's as simple as that, or so it seems.

Lately, when I'm with Joe (7 1/2 months), I often find myself transported back in time four years, to when J.P. was the same age.  It's a random thing and I have absolutely no control over it.  It just happens organically.

Tonight, after dinner, Jude was helping J.P. take a shower in our downstairs bathroom while I fed Joe.  I was sitting in one of J.P.'s small, wooden white chairs - a Pottery Barn special - hunched over, back aching, trying (unsuccessfully) to persuade Joe, reclined in the bouncy chair, to open his mouth and eat a tiny spoonful of Gerber's turkey baby food.  He was royally pissed at me - bawling, red-faced, squirming - the whole nine yards.  He didn't want Gerber's turkey.  He didn't want Gerber's organic green peas (which was coming next).  He wanted Gerber's rice cereal.

As I looked down at him, baby turkey and baby organic green peas smeared all over his face and hands, it hit me like a bolt of lightning.  It was 2008 and I was staring right into J.P.'s eyes again.  It was  surreal.

The same thing happened on Saturday afternoon, when I strolled with Joe down to Belmont Boulevard.    We stopped in at Chago's Cantina, so I could feed him.  I wasn't sure how I was going to manage it, other than just to feed him while reclining in the stroller.  What the hell, I thought, I'll just stick him in a high chair . . . for the first time ever!  So I did, he ate all of his lunch and he loved it.  And I loved it, too.

As I alternated between feeding him and taking photos of him with my iPhone, I was hit by the time travel lightning bolt yet again.  Suddenly it was 2008 and J.P. and I were in Tabouli's (the predecessor to La Fiesta/Chago's Cantina) together and I was feeding him lunch on a Saturday, laughing at him sitting in the high chair like a big boy.  Again, surreal.

And, so, that's how I travel in time.  And it is pretty damn awesome.