Archives - Weekly Update

I am not ready to give up the pool yet, so it is wetsuit time, though it’s a short suit. While the water is “heater warm,” the air is not. Thus I head to the pool steps looking like I am ready to hit the waves. This is the time of year when I start thinking that I will be able to enjoy the water for many more months, but in reality, there’s a week or two left of this pure joy. In between playing with barbells and leg weights doing water aerobics, I read. I was completely captivated by THE PRESERVATIONIST by Justin Kramon, a great psychological thriller where the story unfolded right to the last page. In many books these days, the action moves for 2/3, and then the last 1/3 is either a race to the finish or soooo poorly crafted that it becomes a disappointment. Instead, here readers get a satisfying wrap-up to the action as Justin kept it pumping right to the end. I loved the way the story shifted around, spinning the plot from one plausible scene to another. Who to trust? Who is the villain? The roots of where each character comes from so clearly influence the action. And the way the action shifts around is so well done. Justin is a graduate of the Iowa Writers' Workshop and a newish talent with just one other book, FINNY.

The harvest moon last night was lovely, even if it is not yet fall, which officially arrives on Sunday at 4:44pm…not that I am keeping track of how many hours are left in summer, or anything! Here the pool heater is on for swimming, and I am hoping to get at least two more weekends of paddling around. Shall see if this plan works! Last weekend, as I sat outside, I had one of those quiet Zen experiences that makes one appreciate nature. As I was reading, a hummingbird flitted from one plant to the next and then alighted on my book and danced on the pages for a while. It was so delicate and moving so peacefully that I wished there was one following me around all day!

Cory texted me this week from school with news: “first round of laundry easier than I thought and successful.” I love it! His friend Stephen said he did his inaugural load with Spanish music playing in the background as he was channeling our mutual housekeeper from Guatemala. Ingrid, of course, is laughing at the idea that these two were accomplishing this task on their own. We are wondering if these skills will keep up when they are home, or if what happens at college stays at college!

Around our house, the footsteps of Tom and the boys each have a particular sound --- or, should I say, “clomp” --- especially when coming down the stairs. With Cory gone at school the past week, I am hearing one less staccato beat on the steps and padding up and down the hallways. I also don’t hear the familiar “beep beep” as he hits the remote to open or lock his car door. Him being gone does not just mean one voice out of the conversation at the dinner table; it’s a number of small sounds that all fill up the house that are not there.