Wooden Nickels

Archive for July, 2008

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originally uploaded by skitoman.

So that’s it right there: that image at the left is chronologically the last snapshot we have of Maggie. We’ll call it “Maggie’s Last Sit.” Behind her you can see her brother Hobbes -Eric and Amy’s dog – so she got to hang with a strong showing of her family of peeps right before she went down, which is pretty darn righteous Black Peter stuff right there. (I know: that’s awfully dramatic. Just let me get it out of my system and I’ll be done sooner, k? Thanks.) There are a few good shots of her in this latest round of images on Flickr. Here’s the set of images – it’s a huge pile of images. Let’s get to the chronological commentary:

Some of these images are from the first few days of July. The girls planted a garden – it’s amazing to see these images because it’s only a few weeks later and we’re already eating zuccini and the tomatoes are almost coming in. But here you can see bare ground and the girls “helping” Em do that garden thing. They are just crazy-go-nuts. Both of them are walking; Bella started at 9 months, Livvie seemed like she was “late” when she got around to walking just before 11 months – ha! But of course she’s just doing everything she’s going to do right when she’s supposed to. That’s Livvie up front and Bella digging in the dirt in the garden bed.

Of course, there are shenanigans aplenty with 3 kids to entertain. Here at left Em’s got Bella personifying the term “basket case.”It was like a zillion degrees outside and you can see how tired the girls are in these shots – dazed, thinking: “Can we go swimming again?” Well, yes you can: here at the right we’ve got the kiddie pool and the umbrella in the front yard, with Em feeding the girls ice… classic. It’s soo HOT, Mummy.

These shots of the girls in the tub working on their math – they’ve the variables x and y on their heads – are insane. Again: I know they’ll make me pay for this someday. So I’m going to milk it. This is the stuff that kills me, even at the risk of having the girls “kill” me about it when they’re 13. At least they can’t say we never took them anywhere: here at right Livvie and I are snacking on faux-salmon at the Discovery Museum. There are some sweet shots of the girls in their little bee outfits in this set too… Good times, UmJim.

And here we have Miss Bella of the Green Thumb, checking the ph of the soil her garden.
It’s her own unique style of checking the soil: apparently, it’s all about the taste. But relax: it’s all organic. I do believe she may actually be fertilizing things as this shot is taken. Again: relax… it’s all organic. This whole sequence is a laugh riot.

We also had a nice visit with the Schoen’s who came over right before Maggie went and all.
Their girls are getting huge! So great of them to come all the way from Piedmont. we had a fat dinner and threw all the kids in a pile and had some nice time to catch up. I think Olivia is going for the take down on Allie in this shot: go girl!

Anyways: there are LOTS of great images in this month’s set. Check it out: Here’s the set of images again. Perhaps my favorite image though, is this one of Jack on one of the hottest days yet this year, dog tired after”Water Day” at camp, and we’re playing army men in the garden while dinner cooks on the que: the perspective and the focus and the faux vista framing… it’s a boy’s life in the summertime… play hard! And look out for that T-Rex…

Peace Out Cub Scouts,
PAZ

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originally uploaded by skitoman.

Magdalena Mae Zabierek: July 1, 1997 – July 7, 2008

Maggie Mae was a good dog: she was an ambassador of good will. She made everything better. She was a good friend, and a loyal companion. She worked hard and played hard, and lived in every moment with joy, unfettered by worry. She taught me a lot about how to avoid unnecessary issues rather than confront them. And she taught me how to stick with the hard stuff, even when it felt too hard. Maggie was there to celebrate and cajole for every triumph and every pratfall – both of which there have been many. I loved her wholly and deeply and without reservation. Maggie went to chase bunnies with her Dad this morning peacefully after a short and fortunately fairly painless bout with cancer.

Maggie was the daughter of Calvin the Wonder Dog, the product of an unsanctioned mating between a neighbor’s purebred in heat, and Calvin’s insatiable desire. She surely was born out of passion and not reason. While Cal was surely an old soul, Maggie clearly was a new soul; eager to learn, and trusting that everyone had good in them. She was a tough pup to train and resisted conventional training methods. Winning her over meant hour-long walks every morning and afternoon for her first year, and allowing her complete, unchained freedom for life. Like Cal, she rarely required a leash, and was uncomfortable as a leash dog. Maggie never once in her entire existence had a fight with another dog: she taught me a lot in that respect. Once she was past her puppyhood, Maggie rarely required a command to be repeated, and was obedient almost to a fault. She truly trusted that her people always had her best interests in mind, and that we would keep her out of harm’s way. I hope that she could look back at her life and see that we had all been successful in playing our parts and sharing our love.

Selfishly, I wonder now who will do Maggies’ chores. Who will keep the raccoons and coyotes at bay? Who will warn me when a bear comes (as Maggie did just last week)? Who will sweep up the crumbs after the children? Who will celebrate every fish I catch as though I were the most amazing fisherman in the world? Who can I turn to for completely unconditional, judgment-free support? Who will always listen and not try to fix everything? I’m not ashamed to say that there’s no doubt that Maggie – and Calvin before her – played a huge role in defining who I am. In fact I am proud of it, and honored, and humbled. I have been blessed, and I acknowledge the rarity of my luck.

And so I ask, in all humility, for anyone within earshot of this message to take a moment and celebrate the passing of a great soul from our world to another, and to raise a glass in her honor. Remember Maggie please as a reminder of all that is good about the coincidence of our existence, to savor the present every waking moment, and that there surely is much good in the world.