Things forgotten and remembered

Evan and I are sharing an ongoing dialogue about things remembered and things forgotten. Those forgotten: retainers, swimsuit. Those remembered: trip to Japan and friends from the trip. Both of these are bittersweet. I will only have the ability to solve his problems for a short while longer and may they be as easily solved as a package sent. We will continue to share those things remembered and add to them, but fewer as the years pass. I wish all of them good luck on this part of the journey and hope they are having a blast.

One Ready Suitcase

Here's my daughter's suitcase, a gift from her aunts when she graduated from junior high and was getting ready to go to Japan for that sister city exchange. Now this suitcase, partially packed, waits between her finals, household chores and occasional forays to the computer or TV to head out into the world again. This suitcase won't be unpacked for about a week, and then in a totally different place, somewhere south of the Baltic Sea where Natalie and all the others on this exchange will unpack themselves into a new home for six weeks. I wish all the suitcases and their carriers a joyful and safe journey, and for them to come back with new stories to unpack.