We celebrated Jacob's birthday in Anchorage; two cling together in the Bay of Bengal
Monday, December 6, 2010 at 11:40AM ;)
As already noted, Margie and I had brought the two little ones home to spend the night with us so that Jacob and Lavina could go out and have a Jacob birthday date, all to themselves. Now, the night was over and it was time to take Jobe and Kalib back to their mom and dad and eat a birthday lunch with them.
I had planned to have Margie drop me off at the airport so that I could fly to Barrow, but then I had to postpone my flight until early Monday morning, as I just could not get everything done that needed to be done.
I found Jobe ready to go, however - looking quite dapper in his new hat.
And Kalib was ready with his spatula. It was time to head to town, to celebrate the birthday of their father, our eldest child.
We left the valley in fog and when we drove into Anchorage, we found this snow-laden truck, creating its own mini-blizzard.
;)
The plan was to meet at the Spenard Road House. Charlie arrived just ahead of us and walked to the door, his shadow tagging along.
Amazing, isn't it? How such a slender guy can cast such a burly shadow?
Kalib momentarily replaced his spatula with Color Crayons, most of which would wind up on the floor.
Jobe, of course, intently observed his surroundings. He is a most observant little tot.
And so I remembered that night 36 years ago when I took Margie to the labor room in Provo, Utah. She had been looking forward to giving birth to our first baby, but now she was not happy. It hurt and she did not want to go through with it.
"I've changed my mind," she said. "Take me home."
She wasn't joking, either. She was very serious. When I refused to take her home, she got quite upset with me.
Later, though, as she held this little one to her breast and then offered me a kiss, she completely forgave me.
As we sat there, remembering, Jacob put Jobe on my shoulders and held him there. Lavina could not resist and so took my camera away from me and turned it back on me.
It doesn't matter whether she is using the most simple, low-quality point and shoot or her iPhone, Lavina knows how to take a picture. She could be a pro, if that were her heart's desire.
She caught it all, right here - the sadness that I cannot conceal, even in the most happy situation, coupled with the essence of all that I have to live for.
I hope you catch this one soon, Suji - your little love Jobe, with your Uncle Bill, half-way-around the world from you but traveling this hard part of the journey with you.
And you, too, Gane. Maybe one day we will have a little granddaughter niece for you and she can be your little love.
That's Carl, Rex's friend that he met through Ama, sitting with us. As for Rex and Ama, they are right now driving through British Columbia, headed toward the Alaska Highway so that they can drive to Anchorage and then catch a jet to New York.
In the past week, Interior temperatures have been as cold as -50, so I am a little concerned about this drive.
Muzzy had missed the dinner, but insisted that I come out and say "hi" before we left.
Margie wanted a mint, so I stopped at the Holiday Station by Merrill Field. As I went in to buy her one, this plane came by on final -reminding me of a promise I once made but can now never keep.
And then we set off to drive home.
It was foggy on the Hay Flats.
My plan now was to get everything done by 10:00 PM, 11:00 at the latest, go to bed, get up at 3:30 AM and then head back Anchorage and to the airport, where my flight was scheduled to depart at 6:00 AM.
I was well on track to meeting that goal, when Lightroom misfired, and then launched a two hour process to diagnose and repair itself and then, at the very end of that process, declared the catalog to be corrupted beyond repair. So I had to start anew. There would be little time for sleeping ahead of me.
And this one from India:
The Bay of Bengal, about 30 miles south of Chennai: They play, and cling together.
Reader Comments (5)
lovely as always, bill. here in philly we saw a documentary on the pbs station - Alone in the Wilderness - about the life of dick proenneke who built a cabin by hand in the wilderness. his prowess w/tools was incredible - he had to work fast before winter came - but he made it. when the temp reached 50 below, his insulated unheated cabin kept to a remarkable 40 degrees, while dick himself went wandering alone enjoying the breathtaking scenery or fishing for trout in the nearby lake. your readers would love the documentary. happy 36th b'day to jacob!
Happy Birthday Jacob
Happy Birthday Jacob!
Unc Bill I managed to login - telepathy maybe? :)
I think the photo in FB( Jobe's) caught my attention and then as I read I could see the love pass on to me - I could also feel the pain, which you never pass on..
A sweet loving kiss and hugs to Jobe n Kalib!
Take care dear Unc!!
Be Awesome..
Suji
Loved to c you and Jobe together..one more rare shot and memory for me... with dat cute dahling on your shoulders... aahh..how I wish I was der..to carry him every step! So adorable chubby bubble he is!
Never ceases to amaze me, the number of folks wandering around in short sleeved shirts up there. Brr. Today, I am wearing a blue flowered long sleeve shirt, and over that, a blue sweater. No short sleeves for me, and I'm a lot further away from the Arctic Circle than you all are.