Last of the Burgh

Pittsburgh, here's to the last few memories:

Dr. Keitz, best Peds Rheumatologist out there (with best German accent, to boot.) Jane's tears are a combo of saying goodbye and knowing it's a blood draw day. She was such a tough cookie this time.

Last couple of trips to the water steps with friends, Prykes and Olsens:

Pirates/Mets game with our kids, Mom W., and the Kimbers. Best city view in baseball. Rare win made it extra sweet.

The breezy summer night walk across 6th street bridge back to our cars after the game was equally fine.

And nothing quite like spending 7 bucks on a cotton candy to make you feel like you can spare a buck for a bum on a bridge. Jane was particularly eager to be the one to put some bucks in the various panhandlers' cups. 

Our convo-

Jane: Mom, are these the helpless people?

Me: Um, they're homeless, Jane.

Jane: Why are they homeless?

Me: Well, some are sick and can't work. . .(etc.)

Jane: Then they should just buy a house. Or find one that's empty and live there.
Or someone should for sure get one for them. . .(etc.)

(further down the bridge.)

Jane: Wow! A lot of people here have homeless.

(and further)

Caleb: Look at the big buildings, Jane. Would you like to live here in the city?

Jane: Oh yeah. It would be so fun. Then I could help all those people.

Me: (tight squeeze on that sweet little hand in mine)

Caleb, checking "lighting illegal fireworks" off of his bucket list. Thanks Parkers, what a great night.

Mandee's baby shower cakes. Like I said, I only do cakes for people I really love. Girl, you are on the list.

Sorry we didn't get a better picture of us cuz our eyes were all red from crying. Miss you.

And then we packed up our little red house. . .

And said goodbye.

    

I think Olivia expressed her mixed feelings about our move quite well one day while we were packing:

Olivia: This house is made of poo.

Me: Hey! No it's not. 

Olivia: Yes it is.

Me: No it's not. That's not nice to say.

Olivia: Yes it is. I hate this house.

Me: Olivia, do you really hate this house?

Olivia: No. No I don't. I don't hate this house. I just really love it.

House, I also think it would be easier to leave you if you were made of poo.

Dear friends who let us crash your pads after they kicked us out of our home: consider yourselves in possession of one big fat giant WE-O-U. It was the best of times. Hope we can make it up to you soon.

Pittsburgh: It's been real.

A Date

We had a little ditty of a date in the city.

Really stellar dining at Six Penn Kitchen:

 This is Caleb just before he told me to please put away my camera because he felt like he was on a date with a cyclops:

So I let him have a turn. I don't like to do that much, but now i have proof that I exist. And that I went on a date.

 Then we did some posing:

 (I could use a little sun.)

 And we ended the night with a show.

Hey Caleb, I had a really nice time tonight. Call me!

Done and Done

Last trip to the campus of the University of Pittsburgh today:

So happy Mom Wilson was there. She started a really good thing about 31 years back.

 Well done, Dr. Wilson. I'm just plum proud.

Winding Down

Moments I've been anticipating for, well, four years, are now suddenly here. Monday Caleb graduates, Tuesday we load our moving truck, Thursday we close on this house, then we'll be leaving our little burgh behind for some sweet Southern hospitality. And we just bought a Memphis house without even meeting it face to face. If you know me I'm sure you're sure I've lost my ever lovin' mind.

I tell you what though, it feels just fine. I must be seriously chilling out in my advancing years.

Here are a few little photographic memories from the last while that I don't want swept under the moving van:

Breakfast at the Mckay's (my sister's.) 17 people not unusual for a Saturday morning.
This place feels like my second home and if you've ever been there, it's likely you feel the same way.

Emme likes to solemnly digest her art, just like her sister did,

Only with a little more snot on the side.

 

Olivia in her happy place:

Malan and Jane in theirs:

Emme in a state of undress. More often than not the norm these days.

Caleb and two of his main babes heading for the symphony.
Daddy-daughter time may be slim for the next while so we'll surely take it while we can get it.

 

And this: I went to retrieve the wind chime we made from where we'd tied it to the willow and 

found it had grown right in to the tree and will have to be left behind or torn apart. That stings.

 There are things I just don't feel like leaving without. Like our little red house that we've poured our souls into making into our first sweet home. The yard where Janey had her first snowball fight, where Olivia had her first nap in the grass, and where Malan learned to swing. My sweet neighbor-friends and their children who play so well with mine. And all our other golden friends here, my first friends away from home, and their children-my children's first friends-all of whom are too good to replace.  Now I'm crying. and I want my wind chime, dang it!

Dear spaces and souls we leave: believe me when I tell you it's tugging on my heart, and not just a little.

Saying Goodbye

As all the technology we currently possess is on furlough, I've needed to neglect this little space for a bit. But for mother's day, I asked for some screen time sans children in order to post our farewell to Caleb's dad.

Mostly this will just be images, because what do you really say? It was hard. It was, and is, also peaceful and even joyful. We celebrated his life. My cheeks were sore from laughing, then they were wet with tears over tender mercies and contemplations of a man changed from good to great through the atonement of Christ. And we know this life is not the end.

I hope I can remember the poignant desire I felt to do what really matters: love those I've been given to love. Serve those I can. Become a little better.

Some memories from the day:

Brad's books. I think you can understand a person quite well by the books they love.

Olivia all tuckered out.

 
Brad's siblings.

Caleb's family.

We love ya, Dad.