Ma and Pa's Blog

Today we celebrated Owen’s birthday (a few days early).    It was a rainy day (on and off all day; from sprinkles to downpours), but we had a good time.  Kate, Anna, Caleb and Owen had fun playing, setting off bottle poppers, and opening presents.  Owen and Anna licked the cake before we sang “Happy Birthday” . . . this is why Owen’s face looks a little blue in some of the photos.  We finished with Owen defending Caleb from Nate — Owen returned from the bedroom wearing boxing gloves and proceeded to deliver a major whooping to his much older (by 20  years) cousin Nathan.

I remember watching Mike and Cliff play together even before we moved next door to him:  Mike, green-eyed with hair bleached whitey-blond in the summer sun; Cliff, dark coffee complexion and laughing brown eyes~they looked like negatives of each other.  I remember Mike, Jeff, Cliff, Daquita, Anthony and probably Missy attempting to dig a tunnel from the sidewalk to our apple tree.  Oh, and throwing those damned apples.  When did they grow apart?  I don’t remember, exactly:  I think it was when Cliff’s parents divorced and he moved away.  Maybe  it was a natural divergence in interests, though.  Or was it race?  I don’t know.  Hadn’t really thought much about it, I guess.  Life gets busy and it’s easy to just compartmentalize memories and move on.  I’d run into Cliff’s mom now and then, and, of course, see his dad as we handled outdoor chores.  We kept loose tabs on how the kids were doing, Cliff, and Anthony, and Daquita.  Beautiful kids.  Great potential, these kids of ours.  We had seen Anthony and ‘Quita in recent years, but haven’t seen Cliff for what~10? 15? years.

And then last week we read that Clifford Cummings, Jr. had been stabbed during a home invasion and had died at the hospital.  Cliff, of the laughing brown eyes and wiry frame.  Cliff, who ran a recording studio now.  Cliff, veteran of the Gulf War.  Cliff, Mike’s childhood friend. Gone just like that.

Mike came home for the funeral, to say goodbye.  When I went up to her, Antoinette just said “Don’t make me cry!” and we hugged.  What could be said, after all, between us?  What do you say to a mom who lost a 38 year old son to an act of such elemental violence?

I just wish we’d stayed in better touch over the years, that’s all.

I just wish I’d known Cliff as an adult.

I just wish knives and guns weren’t the goddamn go-to responses in arguments.

Easter was a lot of fun this year. Weather was wonderful, and everyone arrived safely. Caleb and Owen lit up the house . . . at quarter ’til seven each morning, which Jenn says is their routine.    On Saturday, we had a video chat with Jeff, Anna-Marie and Sebastian.   We wish they could have been here in person, but it was great to see Sebastian, Caleb and Owen greeting and entertaining each other on screen (we’re counting down ’til we’re all together this summer).   That evening, after Ma had spent the day preparing food for Sunday, we went to a Hibachi restaurant for dinner. The boys (especially Owen) were a little leery at first, but the chef’s clowning put them at ease. They seem to enjoy their meal, even though it was a little later than usual, and they indicated they’d be willing to go back there. On Easter morning, they were so excited to search for hidden eggs and their baskets. They even sneaked an early peek to make sure the Easter Bunny had visited; we think it was just before wake up, but it could have been earlier. Now the house is quiet, and we’re observing a day of rest and recovery and warm memories.

Seems like just yesterday…

Have a wonderful day, son!  We love you!

Here are a few snapshots from the birthday party Bob and Lyn had for Poppy.   Deborah and Kris were in town (Kris to pick his next car at the Auto Show), and we got to meet Cooper for the first time.  Cooper is a very cute and very easy-going baby. He was watching everything, and he was engaging in baby conversation with Lynda.  The red hair makes him seem very “Westbrook-ish” for now. I think everyone is hoping he keeps the color — much like Zach’s.  We had a good time, and Poppy seemed to enjoy everything.

We delivered the toy fridge and spent last evening and this morning with Mike, Jenn, Caleb and Owen.   It was a fun visit, and we staged some photos for manipulation before we left.   You can see the results here.  I think we’ll need a bigger place to gather for vacations — with all the additional children and grandchildren.

Here’s Ma’s video of our Mentos and Diet Pepsi experiment that Caleb described as “very dangerous” to Sebastian.   Enjoy.

Mentos and Diet Pepsi from Pa on Vimeo.

Thanks so much, Sebastian, Anna-Marie, and Jeff.   We’re keeping it out all year long!

And, for those who haven’t already seen Sebastian singing “Hippopotamus for Christmas”:

We just got home from a wonderful evening at Lyn and Bob’s.   The family, sans Kris,  Deborah, Nathan, Cooper, James, Jackie,  Jeff,  Anna-Marie and Sebastian, were in attendance.   There was an art raffle (artwork by Amanda and Zach) to raise funds for a lamp for their clubhouse (basement closet), lots of great food,  and the gift exchange.   The children were much more a part of the festivities this year, and they seemed to genuinely enjoy seeing each other.   Liam and Caleb became good buddies over games of tic-tac-toe.   Ma made Liam cry by pretending to have stolen his plate of cheese and crackers.

click on picture to see more