A While in Summer

It's been a while since the last post, and the excuses of parenthood and family life and professional responsibilities abound on the tips of my fingers, but the truth that I have been wanting to take a break from the blog is more simple.

I return to typing because I love it and have enough to share. The amount of useless information floating around this world with no real value has been appearing more and more before my eyes, and I am astonished at how quickly it is consumed by people.

I am not without sin, as I do enjoy pointless humor from time to time, but doing away with television nearly a year ago has had a freeing effect on my mind. I no longer find interest in who can make a dress out of wrappers or a "celebrity" who can tango or even the latest undiscovered diner in a little town.

My point is this: I am trying to minimize the information I put into this world to that which is most relevant.

That being said, some of my family visited this week, and it was beautiful to see my step dad and sister and step mom interface with the girls.  It was Grandpa Ted's first encounter with Violet and they were pretty much inseparable throughout the entire visit!

Family is an important part of life, and I need to do more to ensure it remains a focal point moving forward.   Now, out into this beautiful transition into summer that is happening all around us.  

Micro/Macro

I have tried no less than five times to make this post, yet get distracted and end up saving it and leaving to attend to other chores and such.  Every time I return to it, it is no longer valid and I start over.  I was going to post about the bombings in Boston, then about daily life in our house, and then again on the arrival of spring/soon-to-be-summer.

I guess that is how it feels right now in life:  there are so many things happening both on a micro and macro level that it is difficult to focus on all of it for any sufficient amount of time.

Let's start micro and work our way back to the bigger picture...

I am doing well.  The marathon training for Mayor's Marathon next month in Anchorage is going well, although it is difficult to find motivation on some days to run and find the extra few miles.  This is passing, though, and I will be ready for my trip to Alaska and this event.

The girls are enjoying the added daylight and seemingly infinite new activity options warmer weather brings with it.  Audrey is talking almost daily about swimming and riding a bike.  Violet is quite content to go on long stroller walks, so I am looking forward very much to summer break and waking early to drop her in the stroller and take the dog on a sunrise walk with a cup of coffee!  The Brookfield Zoo will be getting its fill of Orelove visits this summer, I can tell you that!

Kim is taking amazing photographs, and will eventually be participating in some workshops to fine-tune her talents and give them some new direction.  More will be posted soon, I am sure.  While she does not get summers off, we are still looking forward to planning trips and many family activities in June and July!

Now on to the macro portion of the post...

The bombings in Boston have only fueled my passion for running and made me more aware of how valuable life is.  I saw Iron Man 3 last night, and did not enjoy the experience because the movie was filled with gun violence, terrorism, torture, and bombings.  While I appreciate the excellent effects and quips of Robert Downey Jr., current events prohibited me from letting go of reality and enjoying this piece of fiction.  I feel that I am at a point in life where the problems of society are no longer my parent's responsibility, but my own.  As a father and a teacher, it is now a matter of what I want this world to be for my children.  These things happening today around the world are what generations to come will talk about as my responsibility and I will be faulted for the shortcomings and problems we fail to resolve today.

So, to wrap things up here, life is good in the micro, but things in the macro need some work.  I am sure it is the same with every generation, and many things I see today will never be resolved in my lifetime, but I can be part of the change and impact the overall trajectory of how events play out.  Now I will enjoy this Sunday with my wife and daughters, and tomorrow I will begin again to search for my place in the process.

-a