Away with Words: In Pursuit of Authenticity

Perspective, part two

After the commotion of the Crusade and Xcel's June calendar, I took Thursday and Friday off to extend the holiday weekend and hopefully get some rest. But alas, rest was not to be. On Thursday, Judah and I picked up his friend Sammy for two days of all-boy fun (see Perspective, part one, below). Unfortunately for me, at 4 and 5 years old, fun and rest are incompatible pursuits in their world. So Thursday began with a round trip boat ride on the Staten Island Ferry (with my friend Kenny Mitchell and his wife and two boys, whom we randomly bumped into on the subway); then an evening at cousin Joey's house for an informal pool party with ten teenagers; then video games on Joey's game cube; then a sleepover at our apartment; then sprinklers, one scooter ("Take turns, boys!"), and baseball at the park on Friday; then Happy Meals at McD's; then Xcel's "Invite Night" party before finally returning Sammy to his mom around 5. In the middle of the fray, my brother Jamie called Friday afternoon to say he and his wife were finally closing on their condo, after several scheduling delays, and could I help them move Friday evening. Sure. One thing led to another and Saturday was spent moving as well. Then Sunday after church, Diana's grandmother was feeling very ill, so Di and her aunt and uncle took her to the hospital Sunday night. Thankfully after a blood transfusion, IV, and a dose of ProCrid to get her red blood cell counts back up, she was sent home around 3 am without being admitted. But Monday was pay dirt. Not particularly restful, either, (east coast/west coast basketball rivalries, intensely played out on a Bronx basketball court are not conducive to rest), but terrifically fun. I'm feeling it today, though. A day-and-a-half of moving followed by three 4-on-4 games to 21, plus a style of basketball that resembles summo wrestling and a body that reflects years of sedintary living, means aches and pains and a dozen or so bumps and bruises to heal this week. Thanks to Dr. Louis and Elsa Carlo, dear friends and beloved parents of CoCo and Elsa, for hosting us and nine of Xcel's summer interns for an all-day holiday BBQ and surprise birthday party for my brother Jonathan. This is a short, but hectic, week at the office before I drive to Boston on Friday for the AC4 conference, and return bearing gifts for my son, namely cousins Willie and Amber. They'll be staying with us for two weeks. Rest. Foiled again.

posted by Jeremy Del Rio @ 7/05/2005 04:22:00 PM