Senior Pics

Senior pictures were a big deal when I was growing up. But in DC, they tend to just be an extension of regular school picture day, but with fake formalwear for the student. That's not really our jam, so we reached out to Maria (who does our annual Christmas card picture) for a special Owen photoshoot in late October.

I really planned ahead. I made sure Owen had his hair cut two weeks in advance. I discussed multiple outfits and backdrops I wanted included. I suggested we bring a chair to make sure Owen had proper seating for lots of cello-centric photos. We even scheduled the session around the expected sunset to optimize lighting.

But I didn't anticipate getting COVID.

With me out of commission, Allen had to manage everything on Sunday, which in addition to Owen's photoshoot included: a Meeting of Clerks, Meeting, identifying gas leaks near Meeting, and getting Noa to their rehearsal/run-through for Friday's performance of Burke's fall play, Everybody. As such it shouldn't be that much of a surprise that mistakes were made and certain things were missed for said photoshoot, specifically Owen's cello bow.

Having scheduled it all around sunset, there was no time to go back and retrieve the bow so Allen, Owen and Maria forged ahead, with Owen playing pizzicato for all of the cello-themed photos. We haven't seen Maria's final product, but based on the pictures Allen was able to snap, we should have a lot to work with. And documenting that Owen forgot his bow probably captures his high school experience as much anything.

(To see all the pictures Allen took, click here). 

Women's Camp 2023 (Minus One)

The last time the Ladies of J1 gathered together was pre-Pandemic. Time passed, and a great deal transpired, including some loss and a great deal of change. So much so, that it seemed essential we reconvene. So we mapped out a central location (though technically, if we gave weight to Tracey being in Saudi Arabia, we probably would have ended up in Scotland), found a time that seemed ideal (when Tracey was returning stateside for her sister's 40th birthday), and booked an Airbnb and flights to Santa Fe, NM (ok, technically the flights were to Albuquerque which was much cheaper).

But then Tracey wasn't feeling well and wasn't sure she could make the trip. She soldiered on and made it all the way from the Middle East to Detroit, MI, where she became so ill she was hospitalized. She was discharged fairly quickly, but there was no way she was going to make it to New Mexico.

But Audra, Cecily and I could not be deterred, meeting at the airport, picking up the rental car and driving over an hour to our rental house where we promptly ordered food, went to the grocery store, ate what was delivered (which actually wasn't the food we ordered), and then crashed for the night. 

The next morning we went for a short (though fairly vertical) hike before coming back, cleaning up, Facetiming Tracey, and going to Meow Wolf, an immersive art experience. We made it through all 70+ rooms (some of them multiple times) and then went to the Santa Fe Plaza for a late lunch/early dinner. After which we headed home to enjoy some adult beverages and the hot tub.

The next morning we woke up (relatively) early for a longer (though significantly easier) hike in Bandelier National Park. The drive took us through Los Alamos and a security check point, where we were informed we were not allowed to take pictures (which wasn't a huge loss since it's not a particularly scenic National Lab anyway).  Once we got to the park, we had a lovely conversation with the Park Ranger and then headed out on the Main Pueblo Loop (1.4 miles), with a special side trip to Alcove House (1.0 miles) and its extreme ladder climbing.

 

After the hike, we had lunch (and beers!) at the park and then returned to our place before going out for a fancy belated communal 50th birthdays celebration.

We had a leisurely Sunday morning before heading to downtown Santa Fe to explore the Georgia O'Keefe Museum and various shops, grab lunch and check out Canyon Road (home to 80 distinct art galleries) before heading back to the house to pack for an extremely early departure time.

We departed Santa Fe Monday morning at 4 am in order for Audra to make her flight from Albuquerque to Detroit by 6 am. Then Cecily and I tooled around the city until we found a Waffle House to hang out in, returned the rental car and then killed time at the airport until our flights (which for me was another 5 hours...).

It was a good trip. Sure, Tracey didn't actually make it and I apparently picked up a raging case of COVID while there, but it was really nice to reconnect in a beautiful place with the people that have been there for the ups and downs of our adult lives and helped us get through it all.

(To see all of my pictures, plus some of Audra & Cecily's, click here.)

Climb On

The last time we went to Great Falls as a family was March of 2020 during the initial weeks of the Pandemic. A lot has passed, but when asked what we should do as a family for Indigenous Peoples Day, Owen suggested we go climbing and Noa requested we do it at Carder Rock. Being there again as a family felt pretty great.

While Noa did a little climbing over the summer, the only one that regularly goes is Owen, so of course he suggested we try a 5.10c, though Allen did make sure that some more reasonably 5.8 climbs were also accessible. After Allen, Owen and Noa set up the climb (while I safeguarded the gear and took pictures), we reconvened and decided Owen would be up first with Allen belaying for him.

Owen, of course, made the climb look easy and straightforward, which might be why the rest of us assumed we could similarly scamper up the face in just a few minutes. We were mistaken. Noa went next with Owen belaying (while utilizing his periphery enhancing belay glasses) and after what they claimed was years of their life attempting his the original route, they opted for the easier alternative. Next up was Allen, who also struggled to replicate Owen's passage, but was eventually triumphant. I went last with Allen belaying (which meant that no one actually documented my climb) and spent a little time investigating what all the fuss was about before shifting to Option B, which while still a struggle for a 50 year old that hadn't climbed in over a year, was at least doable.

It started sprinkling, but Owen wanted one last attempt to try a slightly different approach to the 5.10c, which he was able to quickly ascend. Afterwards, the kids permitted a few family selfies to document that we actually spent an afternoon together absent screens and other distractions in order to really enjoy each others' company and the great outdoors.

(To see all of the climbing pictures, click here.)