papa john

Jack's Papa John is on our minds and in our hearts right now. He has become especially dear to me because not only does my mother love him but my son absolutely adores him. Did I mention he adores him? In fact, Ba has had to learn not to take it personally when, upon seeing her at an airport or over the computer or first thing in the morning at her house, that Jack's first comment/question is often, "Where's John?"

I personally think it has something to do with that twinkle in John's eye that makes you wonder if he might be up to something (as I have witnessed on several occasions but none better than when he quietly but swiftly took out my uncles, cousins and husband in a late-night poker game at the lake house a few summers ago).

But John is also incredibly gentle and patient with Jack. And perhaps what Jack feels the most is the utter sincerity with which John takes delight and wonder in him. I feel it, too, and am so grateful to have him in Jack's life...in our lives.

I looked back through my pictures for shots of the two of them together since Jack was only weeks old and was reminded that even when he was a tiny baby, he could not take his eyes off of John -- something we all commented on at the time.

Is it just me, or do these two look like they could get into some serious trouble together?

fall is here

So, we do not have the beautiful colors of fall here ... at least not in the trees. But we do have the orange and yellows of produce at the market ... the persimmons and pumpkins and winter squash. And this year we even have some serious fall weather to work with...windy, cool, crisp days after almost a full week of rain.

This past weekend we ventured to a farm/pumpkin festival with Jack's cousin Lindsey, Aunt Vanessa and Aunt Chloe. We found our way through a corn maze, rode ponies, climbed hay stacks, rode a train, danced to music, and picked out pumpkins.

Jack is excited about Halloween and his little gorilla costume -- which he wears regularly around the house to play. He has also been reading his halloween books and practicing his "trick or treat, trick or treat, give me something good to eat!"

At one point during our train ride at the pumpkin festival, Jack's little cousin Lindsey looked over at Jack and said, "Jack, are you sad?" He was sitting very calmly looking out at the fields of sunflowers going slowly by. Perhaps he looked sad to her.

He thought for a second and then he said rather simply, "No, I just happy."

All I can say is, "me, too."

Me, too.