Present Heart

Mr. Darcy and Mrs. Bennet.
He has 10,000 a year!

My sister's visit is over. She landed safely in Tucson early this morning and just sent me a text to tell me that she is staying on England time and is ready for wine.

Jane Austen Museum Regency Tea Room

It's 8 o'clock in the morning there.

Bath Abbey

I was sad all day yesterday after dropping her off at Gatwick, and enjoyed indulging my tears.

As it was Father's Day and Mike was out of town, I was free to wallow. He's on a trip to South Africa and hopefully he gets to visit a game park.

Interior Bath Abbey

I am keeping my fingers crossed for rhinos and hippos.

I loved spending time with my sister. She loved Bath, which made me happy.

Bath Abbey

I have been there handful of times since moving here. Wells was recommended to me as similar to Bath, but maybe even better...I want to check it out.

We also went to JANE AUSTEN'S HOUSE (!!) in Chawton, Hampshire...

Bakehouse.

I thought I might sob with excitement. I surprised myself and cried after visiting her tomb in Winchester Cathedral in March with my mom. I felt incredibly sad about her early death, her sister Cassandra's loss of a most beloved companion.

Similar to Shannon's serenity prayer, "Gimme what I want!"

We managed not to cry at her house in Chawton. The town is extremely charming, with a population of less than 400 in the year 2000, and many of the homes from the 16th and 17th centuries.

Kate Winslet's dress from Sense and Sensibility is TEENY!

She lived in the cottage with her mother and sister Cassandra for the last 8 years of her life.



Jane's writing table.

There she revised Sense and Sensibility and Pride and Prejudice, and wrote Mansfield Park, Emma, and Persuasion. 

These smell even better than they look.

Jane's father died while the family were living in Bath and his wife and two daughters were left with very little income.

Jane and Cassandra's bedroom

Jane's older brother Edward was adopted by his father's wealthy cousin when he was 16 years old and became Edward Austen Knight, eventually inheriting a large fortune and estate in Chawton.

die Toilette.

Four years after Reverend Austen died in Bath, Edward Austen Knight refurbished the cottage in Chawton and allowed his mother and sisters to live rent free for the rest of their lives.



A prayer by Jane Austen.

 Jane's brother had an income of £15,000 a year, £5,000 greater than Mr. Darcy's.

Jane, Cassandra and Mum sewed this patchwork bedcover.

It was thrilling to see her writing table, covered with old scritches and scratches.

And the garden is lovely.

It was easy to imagine her enjoying her cozy life. She shared a small room with her sister, despite there being rooms to spare.

That is true sisterly affection.

I am grateful for sharing space with my sister for a week, but mostly bummed that it passed so quickly, and that our adventure has taken us so far away from the ones we love most.

Jane's next door neighbor

I know that we have wonderful adventures remaining in the coming year, and I'm excited for more travel and more discovery. William comes tonight, and he and I are going to Athens for baby Isabella's baptism this weekend. More dreams coming true.

More neighbors

But this minute I just want to crawl in bed with my sister and laugh and laugh and laugh. I have missed her so much that I had trouble relaxing and enjoying her visit. I was too aware of how little time we had, I failed my Buddha 101 exam, Staying Present...

Nin, I love you so much!! Thank you for leaving your busy life and sharing yourself with us for 7 days of heaven. Thank you life for bringing us together for a moment in beautiful England.

God help me to have a present heart and to notice all of the gifts and magic that whirl around me everyday.

And a housekeeper wouldn't hurt.

Happiness

This morning somewhere in the neighborhood of 4 am, Michael woke us up due to nightmare. As I tried to control my mind to wake up and interact as minimally as necessary, aiming to GO BACK TO SLEEP, I noticed how bright it was outside. It is the opposite of our winter which brought us total darkness from 5 pm to 8 am. These days we put the boys to bed in complete daylight. It feels a little strange, but they have stopped complaining about how bright it is. Michael asks for the blinds to be closed while we read books, even though there is enough light to read by. He needs to pretend there is dark. Life at latitude 51.376612 is very exciting.

I am feeling much happier, finally feeling adjusted to our life in Crowthorne. The brightness helps, sunshine on my shoulders does indeed make me happy. Even if a sweater is involved. I met an American woman who has recently moved to the area, and she said that this business of calling 60 degrees warm just wasn't working for her. I loved it so much. I LOVE listening to the complaints and struggles of my non-native friends. It is life affirming and fills me with mirth.

Jesus, by Dominic

Another happiness helper is all the visitors we have had. Since March we have had visitors all but a few weeks. My mother, Mike's parents, Anna,

and currently my sister. The day after she leaves William arrives! Also, our friends the Sterlings came by and played for a day and we ate up their Tucson tales.

Shannon, Mike and I met our Tucson friends Tim and Robin in Winchester to see an al fresco play of Sense and Sensibilty. By al fresco I mean al pouring rain-o. It turned into a wet robe à l'anglaise contest. I spied an areola or two. It hasn't rained very much since March, even causing a rare forest fire which prompted the evacuation of parts of Crowthorne. But the day and night of Sense and Sensibilty, the heavens opened. The audience covered ourselves with umbrellas, trash bags for legs and feet, and blankets for warmth. We could see the actors breath. Pretending not to be cold or soaking wet for their craft.

Oh how we love Jane Austen!

But not enough to stay for the second act. Needing to relieve our babysitter, we picked up our dinner things and the seven dining room chairs we brought because we that is all we have to sit on, and high tailed it back to a warm bath.

The play was at Lainston House Hotel. Beautiful. If you are well to do, stay there. If not, check out their special events or go for afternoon tea. Lovely.

My sister and I have been having los and los of fun. We visited Netherfield Park, the country home of Mr. Charles Bingley. It is also known as Basildon Park. It was a great outing. The guided tour of the house is in depth.

Yesterday we walked from Henley-on-Thames to Marlow, an 8 - 9 mile walk that is fabbydoo!!!

Shannon-on-Thames

Today we are going to Bath...but first I have to help Michael do his homework, due today! I have neglected my real job of late. His assignment is to cook something with a parent, write the recipe and include a photo. We made corn tortillas with the masa Barb sent, and added some English cheddar to make quesadillas with a British accent.

Sister

New Year's Eve Hutch's Pool Cold Plunge

I love my sister.

Aunt Nin and William

My life is infinitely better because of her.


Sisters post delivery...
The day Shannon coined the phrase,
"Mike, your family is hopped up on squirrel gravy!"



Shannon and Helen.

Her birthday is this weekend. We are a lame present giving family. On my birthday one year Shannon called me and said to go check my backyard, because she had stopped by earlier and left my present there. I found a Target plastic bag with a Merona robe in it, flung over our back gate. And she's the best of us...I am way worse.

My mother saw a psychic once who told her my sister and I are so close, we are like one body with two heads. I am feeling the love for her, and feeling grateful for sisters everywhere.

Dominic's Baptism

Happy Birthday Ninny!! I love you and miss you sooooososososooo much. I am not, without you.

LOVING our girls.

In honor of Shannon's birthday, here are 10 things she has taught me.

1. Old ladies are not so scary.

Shannon worked for Mrs. Lindemulder when she was quite young, I think she was 12 or 13 years old. Poor Mrs. Lindemulder was living with debilitating rheumatoid arthritis. She smelled strange and I was afraid of her because she was frail and close to death. My sister boldly charged into the old woman's life, laughed with her, cleaned her house and kept her company. Time and time again I have seen Shannon waltz into a relationship/situation that makes me completely uncomfortable, with grace and love and charm. She has gone on to have many old lady friends and she gets them to talk about masturbating, among other things.

Clitoris

2. If you don't move, Shannon might vacuum up your toes.

Just ask my brother.

3. All of life is fun, even the sucky parts are funny.

Inaugural ball Sugar Plum Fairy Solo

Flat Jim got lucky.

Kindred spirits

4. Use it up now.

My grandparents left us a few things. Shannon got two antique end tables with antiquier pulls, and a swivelly chair we were forbidden to swivel.  When I was a little girl my grandmother told me the story of the end tables, and of the pulls. She said the pulls were from the time of George Washington. Wow. I felt reverence for them. When my grandmother died I was slightly jealous that Shannon was given the end tables (and the swivelly chair, to be honest, I wanted everything.). Then I was shocked to see my sister put those end table in her home and use them like end tables. The outrage! I would have stored them away, cared for them, loved them.

What a gift my sister and her family are to my grandmother's furniture. Her daughters swivel whenever the mood strikes, and the chair has never looked happier, reupholstered in purple velvet. The end tables are a little worse for the wear, they are blessed with water marks, and the finish is wearing thin.

Getting full use of our dad.

5. Marry a good man.

Tim inspired me to hope. He is bold and daring, a devoted father, huband and human being.

6. The world is full of good people.

Shannon is the kindest person I know. She cares deeply and ferociously and gives fabulous advice.

7. Big calves rule, but stay away from calf enhancers.

Lounging on my sister.

8. Barbara Jean Restin is the best thing since warm homemade bread with butter and honey.

Our other sister.

9. Our brother is worth getting to know.

I was very young when William left us for swimming, college and life. I remember him as this tall, tan, grumpy guy with friends my sister thought were handsome. I knew he was accomplished, and I was proud of that, but I saw no reason to further the relationship. My sister was always a fan of his, I never really got it.

It turns out, she was right. He is all that. First of all, his wife, our smallest sister Mini-Nin.

Isn't she cute??

I love her massively. She is divine.

bff.

High on the Be Good Tanyas.
Shannon and Liz mambo, while Mini and I cut a rug.

Secondly, he is funny, and caring and kind. A lot like my sister.  I love you William.

William's turn with the wig.

Last, best tip from Shannon,

10. Always wear red lip stick.

Not me of course, her.

Comadres at Michael's baptism.

The Grand Peekaboo.

Kwesi's bin.

Eat at Feast.

Fans of the BGTs.

Greer, father's day 2004

Thanksgiving 2007

Rope swing St. Lawrence River, 2004.

Sex After 40

Celebrating Mike's 40th.

Was this your 40th?

Thank you.
(Shrine, Clayton, New York)