A Week in the Life

Have you ever had one of those weeks that snuck up on you and became an extraordinary week?  This week was one of those experiences for me.  There wasn't any one thing that stood out.  Just a number of small nice moments.  Like any week, I was wishing away the weekdays and looking to the weekend.  In the midst of my clock watching, life happened and reminded me of the here and now.

Being is not only beyond but also deep within every form as its innermost invisible and indestructible essence. This means that it is accessible to you now as your own deepest self, your true nature. But don't seek to grasp it with your mind. Don't try to understand it. You can know it only when the mind is still. When you are present, when your attention is fully and intensely in the Now, Being can be felt,...
--Eckhart Tolle (The Power of Now)

Reading with the O-man

My stepson, Owen, is just learning to read.  This is the first big landmark event that I've experienced with the kids.  Watching Owen move into this level of childhood has been really exciting.  I listen to him sounding out the various letters of each word (yay phonics!), and when he sees an explanation point he lifts his fist into the air for emphasis.  Awesome.  He climbs up on my bed most nights with his little books.  Some nights I read to him, and some nights he reads to me.  This whole world has just opened up to him and it warms my librarian(and stepmom) heart.

We are short-staffed at work so I've been opening the library most days of the week.  I'm out the door in the cover of darkness.  By the time I arrive at my destination (a matter of miles), the sun is already peaking up.  The biggest surprise to me is how much I like this early morning stuff.  I mean, look at that morning sky.  Better stay quiet about that or I'll garner the crack-of-dawn, rooster shift forever more.

Riverside Park, Festival of Lights

I went down to the park after work earlier this week.  I stood on the periphery of the festival and took it in.  Dusk had just fallen so all the lights were just starting to sparkle against the backdrop of the river.  

Later that night, we put on our coats and walked over to the kiddos' school for their music concert.  They were so cute, all dressed up and looking nervous.  Having heard the occasional plunking from the kids, I was curious as to how this concert would go.  The music instructor was great though. He made this an educational event and would explain before each little piece how he went about teaching them...reading music, finding the keys on the instrument, moving from note to note.  Oddly fascinating.   It made me excited for the kids and I hope they stick with it.  They have so many years to learn and improve this skill.

Friday night we went to a play at UW-La Crosse.  We threw on our coats, walked across the street and through campus and sat and watched some lively college theatre.  I'll just say, my town felt a little like Mayberry this week.  

Buzzard Billy's, downtown La Crosse

It was my brother, Parker's birthday on Saturday.  We weren't sure if we were going to make it to lunch at all.  At the last minute, plans came together and other friends joined in as well.  Yummy warm food and a cold tasty beer, and my cutie niece, Tula. 

Erin, Parker and Tula

The best smile I've ever captured on my brother's face. Of course, I had to go and overexpose it.  That's the thing about photography, sometimes you have to move really quickly and the camera settings aren't what you'd choose(not even close) given more time...but I'm more concerned with the expression, myself.  So I love what this photo says, exposure be damned.

 The new parents had to exit right after lunch with a tired little one.  The rest of us carried the party on.  That's the way we roll.

With our friends, Larry and Jody

Bodega Brew Pub, downtown LaCrosse

Friends, family and a nice place to call home.  I was reminded of all of this in my week in the life.