The Best Romantic Scene Ever

Craig is visiting Sam and I in Seattle and he just asked me a great question that we thought would be great to post on the blog. I don't have the answer to this question yet, but we wanted to know everyone's response to the following question: what is the best romantic scene you've ever seen?

Baby Mac is here....

I know everyone by now knows that Mac Cooper Tebay arrived on Tuesday, May 11, 2010, at 5:13 p.m. weighing 6 lbs and measuring 18 inches, BUT..... if not I thought it would be good to share a few pictures that Jeff took at the hospital so everyone can see his perfect little face. He is perfect in every way and Cal and Erin are enamored by their new little guy. To see the kids holding him makes us realize how quickly our kids are growing up. Campbell (10), Iva (9) and Emerson (5) look like giants compared to Mac, who is the perfect little package. Lastly, the thing that is most hard to believe is that Cooper would be 15 this June 12.. eek!! Where does the time go? He would have been so proud to know that Mac carries on his name. A special name for a very special baby!!

Ooops!

I'm already commenting on my post, but rereading Craig's question, I realize I didn't fully answer it. When I look in the mirror, I still see myself. I don't want growing old to blur who I am. I hope age enhances who I am. And, I am determined to move forward and not get mired in the superficiality of growing old. I think Rick and I are both grappling with how to do that. We are fortunate to be healthy and active still. Boy, does that sound geezer-ish, or what?! Just can't get around it.

AuntJenny'sTwoCentsWorth

I appreciate Craig's efforts to keep the book club alive, and I think interviewing the grandmas adds a valuable perspective, earned by simply having so many more years than the rest of us to accumulate experiences and garner wisdom. I hope Craig continues to extract information from Dottie and mom, and I hope they will share more of their stories with us, not just the amusing or mundane, but some of those closely held experiences that we all have and hesitate to openly share. Unfortunately, and fortunately, with age I think comes the lesson that it's better to just keep your mouth shut, so it might be difficult to draw this kind of information from them. But, I think it's worth the try, Craig!

As far as casting actors for the characters in the book, I'm torn between not really caring very much for this exercise to being totally awash in possibilities. It also makes me feel a little geezer-ish, because the actors I come up with, Kevin Spacey, Clint Eastwood, Jack Nicholson, Michelle Pfieffer, etc. are all OLD, and I'm sure the younger members of the family will come up with names I've never even heard of. On that note, looking in the mirror these days, I am coming to grips with seeing myself noticeably physically aging, which feels like a cruel joke played by Mother Nature, but enjoying the feeling of having accumulated a decent amount of experiences in my life to make me feel comfortable with myself and reasonably wise enough to at least give our kids sound advice when it is solicited from us. It also inspires me to take joy in the mundane, how my vegetable garden produces such abundant and varied produce from such tiny seeds and my caregiving, the tiny bird duo who have taken up residence in the little bird house nestled among my dahlias, photos that Kara sends us, etc. I could go on and on and on with "the little things" that make me smile. Anyway, my point is that I don't think I would have listed most of these little things as joyful in my youth. There, I've said it. I am no longer young. I can still be youthful though. That is what I find somewhat frightening: the thought of being 90 and looking in the mirror and wondering how the hell did 90 years disappear so fast. So, I guess when I look in the mirror, I'm coming to grips with the fact that I am no longer young and at the same time I am wrestling with the best way to gracefully make the most of being a geezer.

Craig's view

I know its been a long time..but its time...I read the book twice. My selections for "my" movie are: Jacob is played by Nicolas Cage..Marlena..Renee Zelwegger...August...Gerard Butler..and finally Big Al....Jeff Bridges...Kinko/Walter...a good character actor..with guts and a touch of empathy. Of course the second question is the hardest There are many way to approach this question. I've decided not to lay my soul out there, its just to vulnerable. I can adequately answer this question..anyway. Let me say, I can see how this question is going to be difficult for the young ones. My advice..have fun with it..spoof it. Now..for me being older and actually can relate to looking in the mirror and seeing sagging flesh...wow..the physical component..I'm defintely not in the physical shape... I used to be good or really good at a number of sports.. most with a ball involved: baseball , golf, basketball, pingpong..and my favorite..tennis.. I found I like competition..and learned to gracefully lose..even though I don't like losing. Physicallly still feel I have some fire inside. I hope to recover some of that past fire.. Healing my back and living the rest of my life with purpose is my goal. Past life..I can't say... its xxxxxxx psychiatric for sure!! Judgement day will take care of it all! With that positive note...I enjoyed the book and sharing with you all. HEY! THE NEW BOOK IS ENTITLED ...".HOPE ARISING..". selected by Grandma Tebay...the pregame was good. ENJOY. Craig.

Grandma Tebay's view

Hello everyone. I'm trying to complete "Water for Elephants" before moving on. I invite everyone who read the book to blog. ....I interviewed Mom today , in a similar manner as I did Dottie. Coaxing a response to the questions, but not answering the question for her. Her answer to the characters she selected for the movie version are: Jacob, the main character, she selected Tom Hanks..Marlena...Jennifer Anniston...and August..I"m impressed..she selected the suave and daring..Johnny Depp. Pretty good huh! The second question was much more difficult for her. ...When looking into the Jacobs mirror, at 90 years old, what does she see....Well, most of her answers ended up towards the physical portion of the question....for a woman who in the past put up with a abusive alcoholic..work at picking grapes, travelodge maid, potato processing plant, road guard at elementary school, teacher's aid, and lastly and most important, a full time mother of five kids...I understand and respect her responses. Physically..she has some problems, especially the arthritis..now affecting her shoulders as well as her knees. I didn't even try...to convince her that she really is in great shape for 88 years old. Especially..when I know most of us won't come close to living that long. Second question...Mom really didn't relate to the idea her spirit is either young or old or somewhere inbetween.. She just doesn't relate on that level. She did indicate...that she sees herself as someone similar to her mother, who she admires..greatly. A gentle woman, with the amazing ability to mother lots of kids., partner with a hard working husband, and still stand on principal...even if she was a woman of those days. Her story...a salesman..or such...was selling material that dissed the Catholic Church. Her mother promptly..told the salesman to get the hell out of my house. Don't stir the irish Catholic. I fully enjoyed my visit. She truly has lived a extraordinary life...see ya Craig

Connecicut connection

I have to relay this interview. I had Ewee and Tyler for dinner the other nite, wee mows my lawn for me. I invited Dottie. We had a fine dinner together and great consversation. I posed the second question on the blog to Dottie. She has heard the whole story of the "Water for Elephants" from me. Her response to question #2 was precious. Here is an 87 year old woman, can't see the food on her plate, with seriouis dementia, telling me her opinion of herself looking into the Jacob's mirror. Her response, I"M STILL A DOVER ROAD GIRL! She goes on to say...her gang..Dick Royal, Pat Price, Dick Virgie, Joyce O'connel, Anne Murray, Freddie Coriel, and Dot. ( Thats good for a person with dementia) She ,being the leader of the Dover Road Gang. They played baseball in the streets forever. She said the neighbor woman, who 's daughter didn't want to be included, always called the police when , the gang, played ball in the streets. The same policeman would arrive and whisper to the kids, stop playing in the streets until after I leave: then commence playing in the streets. She indicated things changed when the boys wanted to play a kissing game. YaHoo. At this point she said her attitude changed, she wanted the boys to be the leader. WOW...what hormones won't do . In conclusion..she is a woman I admire for her POSITIVE spirit. Her mirror says she's still got it at 87. Craig.