The Sweetest Reasons

34, 35, 36

Or: Friday, Saturday, Sunday

365_Project

20

I swear, I have never laughed so hard or for so long as I did this weekend with L & D.

http://www.flickr.com/groups/365_project/

Bike Night

Alewife to Lexington on the Minuteman Bikeway. Boston Barbarians and friends. Cool, fresh summer evening. Big, yellow, full moon. Talking, laughing, riding. Sunset, path empties, just us riding by bike lights. Riding fast. A bike circle in a parking lot somewhere near Wilson Farms. Around and round and round everyone goes. The moon shines down. More riding. Lexington Station. And then back, through the cool night. Under a tunnel of trees, past summer softball games under the lights. Teenagers smoking under bridges. Couples parking by the pond. Backyard parties, small and large. Silence. The moon over Arlington Meadows. To move so fast, yet be so still. Present in every smell and sight and sensation.

Some people might want a fancy dinner or a movie. Or to be alone with their partner. I like those things just fine. But I love a bike ride at night the most, with my husband, his amazing friends and coworkers, through summer evening neighborhoods and nature, and then back to a backyard bar-b-que of our own to end it. Great bike ride.

Centerport Journal VII

Made it to the city. A night out with Mike, John, Jess and surprise guests Shawn, Lisa and Dougie. Drinks. Massages. Dinner. A big hotel bed. Home again. My camera phone died minutes into the night out. I prefer to remember it just as it was: fun, simple, comfortable, good.

Centerport Journal V

Speaking of girls, I also had an amazing night out with some of my oldest friends. Katie and I have been scheduling the early summer trip home together for at least five years. Annie, I have known since I was three! Liz and Cher, well I had way too much fun with them when we were teens and again once Facebook reconnected us as adults (crazy thing about Facebook, huh?). Everyone else, I have gotten to know as I've grown older, more mature, giving old friendships a new chance. It's a beautiful thing, to come home and have a group of stellar women to hang out with. We laugh so hard, speak so honestly, and share so much. Plus, we get into good trouble, which isn't always easy to do, but thank goodness it just makes for more history between us all. Remember that night when . . .

Pre-game iced coffee with Katie down by the harbor.

Britania Yacht Club and the Whale's Tale for sunset drinks and dinner. None for Katie, though: She's due in January with Baby Number 2!

Liz was our surprise guest! Eeeeee!

So much hugging!

Beautiful Annie at the Grain & Feed, which we took over next . . .

How beautiful are my friends? Stunning!

Smart people went home. Silly people went to Gunther's. Remember how I mentioned my lengthy list of late-night encounters in Northport? Well this night did not disappoint either. Men flocked. We turned them all away by flashing our diaper wipes or our witty senses of humor. We laughed sooooo much. And thank goodness for Cheryl, the best designated driver a gal could hope for! (Or three gals could hope for!) What. A. Night.

"G" is for Goodnight Gunther's and gross cowboy.

Full Cup

Costumes (or barely anything on) in the morning.

Bike riding around the arboretum and finding a new, magical hiding place. Photo by Mike.

Grandpa spins a yarn for Miss S.

Even though it rained, the Z-Man had a great party.

Oh, these two are too, too sweet.

Girls by the window.

On the move and time for a quick cat nap.

Bike and beer birthday cake by Erin for Reg. Also, yum!

In Somerville . . . for Jess.

Look at that stance. Photo by Kristin.

And speaking of Kristin, world's cutest pitcher? Eh?

Can't you just hear the shit-talking in this photo?

Only one small accident, and tears quickly dried.

It's not easy playing third-base, watching two kids, and taking photos. So when you get a gift such as this one, well, you are allowed to gloat a little. Matt tags out Mary and we win!

The skies grew dark, and thunder rumbled, so we headed back inside.

To smell crayons. Weirdly scented crayons, with smells like Earthworm, Pencil Shavings, and Grandma's Perfume. It was kind of a fun game, actually.

Smelling action shot.

Money action shot. How could we not fit in one game of LRC? Erin's winning, btw.

Incredible day. Grateful for it all, every moment, every person.

Hotel Photos

And one awesome song.

Fairytale of New York

Having grown-up on Long Island, the City always had this other-ness, a personality, a draw. As a teen, I'd hang on St. Mark's, walk around SoHo, thrifting, eating, and absorbing. In college I'd hang out uptown mostly, with the exception of some rock-a-billy venue I frequented. I'd spend countless afternoons visiting museums and friends who worked in them. I drank in Irish old-man bars and played pool in the Bronx. I loved to visit, but I never wanted to stay. Every night (or early morning) ended with a train ride out, be it East or North, I know both train stations very well.

It is a true luxury to have now been able to sleep in some nice hotels in the city courtesy of Mike's wonderful job. This week was the holiday party, a fantastic tradition in his company's history. You have to trust me on that. You also have to trust that these last few visits have pulled me in a very different direction. Part of me wants to stay. I no longer want to run for the last train out. It's my family that is here. It is my friends. It is the energy that I always felt connected to. I get this city. I always have. I just wasn't sure I could commit to it. Maybe, someday, I will. Until then, a trip in, without children, here and there really seduces my senses. It's wonderful.

As a side-note: I can't wait to bring my girls to the city. Especially for the holidays and all the touristy things we can do.

And finally: Purl SoHo! I nearly cried to be in that space. If you don't know their blog, you should. The shop is a dream.

And how can you go to New York during the holidays and not have this song in your head. Enjoy!

Party Shoes

This morning, in the Tribeca Grand, sipping a coffee in bed. My shoes for tonight are beautiful. I plan to dance my heart out in them.

The South Still Spoils Me

Twice in one year! We are very lucky folks, to be able to go South solo, and see some of the best people in the world. Mike spoke at PC, and was terrific. We got some quality family time in, by the fire, with an amazing meal (or two), two wildly adorable dogs, knitting, wonderful-ness. And then, to really spoil ourselves, we checked back in to the Artmore, slept-in, went to a rock show, saw the Dali exhibit, walked around Mid-Town, ate fried okra and catfish and hushpuppies the size of golfballs, explored some corners of the city we had overlooked in years past, and had many drinks and laughs and talked and shared and learned so much more about people I've known for ages and some I'm just getting to know. To all of you: Gemma, Kito, Tony, Hank, Greg, Heike, Nick, Taso, John, Pat, Gordon, Lauren, Jim, Kristen, Miyoung & Alex- Thank you!