I have to start our weekend recap way back on Thursday night and brag on Neel just a little bit. He was inducted into a medical honor society (despite not being a physician) along with several other colleagues and some members of the graduating class where he teaches. He was chosen by the students as a sign of their respect for him, and we're so proud of him. We all went to the dinner and it was so lovely to have all these young men and women come up to us and sing Neel's praises (although now we have to live with him!), and really, really good for Callum to see all of these super-smart, super high achieving medical students about to embark to places far and wide for exciting residencies.

Neel spent all day Saturday at graduation and apparently that was less fun.

Got my absolutely necessary weekly hike in with my friend Tracy on Friday. She means the world to me and these hikes do too. She'll be in California for the summer, and I'm not sure what I'll do without her. Drag Cal out there maybe. It just won't be the same! As I was driving home, I felt strangely energized, so I swung into the grocery store and grabbed the stuff to make us scallops for dinner. Scallops are one of my favorites, and they intimidate the hell out of me (I know, I know). But you know? I did okay. I'd definitely do these again, and they'll get better with tweaking. While Neel was at graduation, Cal went hitting and I went grocery magazine shopping. Home runs this month, for both.

We found some strawberries in the front yard and I'm drinking Pimms (for research) and a friend of Callum's came over for some mad wicked games of Spoons. It was a pretty lovely Saturday night.

We worked and played on Sunday. Homework winding up, computer work and yard work ramping up. Callum had to look up 161 vocabulary words for his science class, and that felt like a lot so we let him do them in front of a baseball game and The Bad News Bears.

And things seem to be changing for our Violet. We knew it was inevitable, so we're watching this happen with both sadness and acceptance, I guess. It's nothing major, just some behavioral and physical shifts. Neel's going to chat with our vet to see if there's anything we can do for her, especially since he has to go out of town this week. We want to be sure she stays comfortable more than anything, and I keep telling her to let me know. Right now her tail is still wagging and her eyes are still bright, and that's all we're going to focus on.

So hold our little girl in the light, and hold my boy in the light too. Cross your fingers that as you're reading this his braces are coming OFF!

Well, it was a great weekend. How was yours? The first bit of news is that our Thea Turbo McFatty is mending nicely. Back at the vet Thursday for a recheck, our doc was so wonderful that Neel wants him to be his primary care physican. She's clearly perkier this weekend, and even though we have a long road ahead, I'm feeling grateful for where we are. News of Erin's mom's dog passing and my friend Jackie too lost her sweet pup Sasha last week remind me how precious and important these relationships are to us. Things went uphill from there!

How can they not when I remembered that I have glitter flats and it was warm enough to wear them!

And a stop at my favorite shop elicited the news that a product shot I did for Selma's was in print and looked pretty freaking nice?

And that it was finally nice enough for the 'hood to spend a Friday evening out and about enjoying the front yard?

These are all good things. Cal had a hitting lesson on Saturday and a bit of a breakthrough, which had to feel good. We had Supper Club Saturday night, and it was the best yet. Julie hosted and she chose Mad Men for the theme. Awesomesauce. Seriously, the most fun ever. I wore heels, and then I wore them again for brunch on Sunday. I like heels. I like the way I feel in them. Marianne, I think I need more practice. And maybe more options. Wink, wink.

Neel and I took a long walk Sunday morning before Cal was up, and it was the perfect start to my Mother's Day. We trundled off to brunch (in heels!) at one of my favorite spots, one we rarely get to. We ate in the tiny, gabled attic and for once the drama was almost better than the food. Seated next to us was a large multi-generational group of about ten, all there to celebrate the grandmother and several mothers. Late into the brunch, one of the adult granddaughters rushed in after many phone calls to help her find the way. She'd almost missed the whole meal. By this time we were nearly finished, and along with that family and another, we were the only other diners in the room.

Neel claims he heard the clink of a knife on a water glass, but all Cal and I heard was the hush, when the adult granddaughter says in a voice that carries across the whole room, "I'm getting married!"

The silence that fell was stunning. From his vantage, Neel could see our server and her face mirrored the shock that must have shown on ours. Finally, the grandmother says, in a voice even louder, "WHO TO?"

It's Dalton, apparently. He's 21. Just a couple months younger than her. They've been dating a couple months but have known each other for a few years.

Then grandma asks several pertinent questions, "WHERE'S THE RING?"

"I don't have it yet."

"It's not official till you got a ring," chimes in an uncle.

"WHY DIDN'T YOU TELL US?" (Grandma again.)

"Cause I didn't want y'all to do that whole 'I'm gonna kill ya if ya hurt her' bit."

Someone tries to point out that they are, in fact, in a restaurant, but then Grandma, or someone, says, "I don't care if we're in a restaurtant. I'm gonna scream like a five year old if I want to." Meahwhile, we're all wondering: Where's the check? Where's the check? Finally our server shows up, and we beat a hasty retreat (Well, let's face it. That was Neel's idea. Cal and I could have stayed there and listened all afternoon.), but not before learning that Dalton does IT for the Navy. Callum overheard the Grandma mutter "computer nerd" under her breath. As we went down the steps, we could see them all staring at their smartphones, apparently madly trolling facebook for pictures of the poor man.

Best. Brunch. Ever.

The rest of the day, while lovely, paled in comparison. You know, we're really at the point in the year when school feels superflous, but trundle on we must. But the days are winding down and summer is on the horizon. I can feel it. Can you?

weekend recap, may 20

Weekend Recap, Mother's Day