Bike Riding

When we were young, my dad would take my sister and me out for a bike ride once a week to pick up the Sunday paper. The corner convenience store right outside the neighborhood was the perfect distance away. But we always took the long way. Up, down, and back up again we rode, along the hilly contours ubiquitous and so characteristic of rural Massachusetts. There was a secret shortcut through the back, one that required the utmost bravery to offroad down a steep dirt path riddled with bulky, twisted tree roots. In my memories, each one of these Sunday mornings, the weather was always perfect. The wind through my hair, despite my helmet head, made me feel weightless. It wasn't until much, much, later - long after we stopped these bike rides - that I realized how much I loved them....

A few weekends ago, the three of us went out on a short ride through our subdivision. No longer on our childhood bicycles, my sister and I felt a bit wobbly riding these vintage and just-a-little-too-large-that-they're-a-little-scary bicycles my dad got for a total of $15 (for two bicycles!) from a police auction more than a decade ago. The roads were flat and we rolled slowly along the sidewalks. Good speeds for us to get our "bicycle legs" back.

And the weather was just like I remember.

Sunday Seven

So once again, I dropped the ball on my Sunday Seven. I've just completely ignored it (and the blog, generally) for a few weeks now. In my defense, I've successfully completed my first year of med school (ahhhh!) and started my summer research job back up with only 1 weekend as my break. But here I am again!

Heart of Life

Recent facetime conversations with my sister while she was on a business trip in Canada.

My life has been so much better since you've been home (not just from Canada...)! To the only one who gets consistent blogposts (see 1, 2) around here, Happy Birthday. From the midlevel team.

Happy New Year!

I never fully believe it's the new year until I start school and work for the first time. In this way, 2012 has snuck up and surprised me today.

As for you, dear blog (and of course my multitudes of fans), I'm so sorry for having neglected you, leaving you rejected and forgotten. But no more of this! I think my frequency to write follows a negative parabolic pattern: no writing when I become too busy and no writing when I become too free. So good news! I'm back in school, guaranteeing at least a meager correspondence. Can we just be ok with that for now? Consider this my 2012 resolution.

As a brief recap, I finished my first semester of medical school, and of course in perfect timing, I performed in a few Christmas concerts the weekend before exams. I also got to see some very far-away friends who were able to make the pilgrimage back to Michigan every year-end.

I was conned into dog-sitting for a classmate and let's just say, that was perhaps one of the most trying weeks of my life (and my family's), even if the psychotically needy dog was pretty cute.

My family and I went to NYC to spend the week between Christmas and New Years with my cousins, aunts, uncles, and grandmother - always such a good time though the dynamics and details change in both significant and subtle ways as we get older.

Maybe now you can understand why that I didn't have time to write. But perhaps to be fair, I shouldn't say "time to write" and instead I should say "spirit to write". I think I was much more focused on relaxing and enjoying the precious 2 weeks of holiday break, resting and absorbing all the good things that come with an extended period of minimal responsibility. Anyway, this is the stuff that I fall asleep to when life inevitably starts back up and startles me into submission. Nevertheless, I promise to be better this year.

PS. Sugar Bowl from New Orleans tonight! Geaux Blue!

In My Father's Garden

I've gone to my Dad's garden only a few times this summer. I usually whine and complain when I go because of the uncomfortable squatting, dirty hands, and damp shoes involved. But I selfishly reap all the benefits of my father's near-daily dedication and care; we've been eating his vegetables since early June. We've had broccoli, sweet potato greens, spinach, cucumbers, dill, sweet peas, zucchinis, yellow squash, chrysanthemum greens, and a whole slew of other Chinese vegetables. There are more pumpkins, winter melons, and cauliflowers (and even one broc-cauliflower!) growing. Right now the tomatoes are just starting to turn red and soon we'll be harvesting bags and bags of them.

June

August

Peony Season

The various stages of peony blossoms are what you'll see when you come over; though sadly, these fucshia ones have mostly wilted. However, the white ones are still in full bloom while the soft pink ones are only beginning to bud. We actually transplanted all of our tree peony plants from Massachusetts and of the flowers that grow in the yard, these are my parents' favorite.

Happy Monday!

Belle Isle Conservatory

My parents love plants and flowers. Actually, any picture of flowers, plants, or general flora I've used is likely taken by them. This past weekend, Saturday was lovely and warm so my parents and I ventured to Belle Isle Park to see the Conservatory. My parents especially love the orchids. Breezy and leisurely, our day was spent strolling through the grounds and even the grocery shopping we did afterwards was equally enjoyable. I hope this is a sign that Spring is on its merry way.

Charmed Life

My sister is home from Ghana! We've exchanged presents from our travels last night - goodies galore. And now I'm clawing through my last essays listening to this. Love her voice, love this song: Joy Williams' "Charmed Life".

It's plain to see what we got is color in a world of black and white