A Mraztastic 9th Birthday

Another year has passed and our little Jordan(Jobo's) has turned 9! It is a bitter sweet. It's hard to see your little boy grow up so fast, but it is fun too. He is such the "thinker" like his dad. It is hard to believe some of the deep questions that he comes up with on a typical drive to school or just in passing. We are blessed to have such a great son and are very proud of him!

For his birthday he told us he wanted to have his party at Fastlane. It is a new bowling alley/laser tag/video games/indoor go cart venue. We went there last year but that did not stop him from wanting to go there again. The biggest fun of the day was when his 6 buddies came home with us and had a slumber party that night. Man, what were we thinking! It got pretty loud at times, but was well worth it. Of course he asked for anything Legos...But, the special surprise gift from mom and dad was a guitar and a book of Jason Mraz songs that he wants to learn how to play. So, now it is time for some lessons...and of course he has already asked if I could get Jason to come teach him how to play. I had to tell him that might be a little tough to do and that he might have to talk to "Santa Nancy" about that one.....

Pablo

Two Cats In The Yard

I can't remember what year it was when we brought the silky little kitten home from Mayel's piano teacher's house. So silky soft with four white socks. Little did we know then how quick she would bare a litter of six. She eloped with "Gary," the local stray on a rainy night when she was only nine months old. Mayel served as "Mousie's" midwife. We ended up deciding that we could only part with half the litter. Two brothers and their sister stayed. It would be the brothers that survived the longest at our Garwood home. Holmes, later Holmely and then Kramer... and Frederick, or Fred, named after two previous orange tabbies of the same name.

Fast forward almost two decades later... the "boys" have reached the twilight of their gopher catching and sunbathing lives. Kramer is winding down and I felt his eminent passing. I made him a nice box bed on the entry allowing him a cozy spot.

Michael and I discover his passing on our return home one evening. Meanwhile, Fred has not been his usual self or days. Something is not right for him. Michael realized that he was having a hard time getting off the roof. After checking him out, we realized that he had gone blind.

Here's Kramer looking for his next feast!

Fred catching a few rays of sun...

I can barely remember when we didn't have two cats in the yard. The "boys" rest together in that same yard. I often forget that it is different now. No animals to care for in 42 years. It is taking a little getting used to.

The end of an era... many goats, chickens, bucky the horse, trucker and joan the dogs and so many cats... gandolph, pooper, tootoo, quinn, steely dan, mousie, fred, fred, fred and kramer

Nancy

Twenty Ten

2010 started off with one of the best New Years Eve party ever! Gathered in Jason Mraz’s kitchen, were perhaps 60-70 beautiful people, holding hands and declaring what they are grateful for. Everyone speaking was eloquent and everyone listening was respectful and really, really listening. Great power in the listening.

After that, we picked someone to “serve” and dished up their plate for them. The room, the house and the backyard were places of great love vibes.

Lots of people played outside in the cold night. But it was too loud, with people and hand drums. Without any PA, Jason and I opted for playing the living room later that night.The room was full of “listening” as Jason and I started a little instrumental jam. Mona, the percussionist, couldn’t sit still and jumped right in. A little later, a serenely quiet moment, I played guitar for Jason to sing In My Life. I think it was the first time he had sung it since the San Diego show. It was soft and oh so sweet. So many stories about how I introduced Jason to that song. I will have to write up special blog just about that! Nancy and I got up for a few, too.It was a great way to start the New Year… the New Decade. My New Year’s Resolution is to “speak to the future.” Try it for a day and see how you do!

Michael