Mt. Holly

At my birthday dinner with my mom, she told me that on July 13th she will turn 61 and in those years she has done numerous things, including being married 3 times, traveling to far away lands, writting a book, interacting with fasincating people, and trying to change the world, but by far the best thing she has ever done in her life was having and raising 3 children. She said that she doesn't understand those who go through life without having kids, and not experiencing what it is like to have 3 kids with chickenpox one after another, and thus dealing with 2 weeks of oatmel baths and all the scratching and complaining, but the whole time not giving her need to respond and deal with us a second thought. She believes that one only lives a quarter of their life if they don't have children, and when she was younger she never even wanted children, saying that she must of have been completely ignorant.

It was amazing to hear my mother say this all, and it puts a lot of things into perspective. For my mother is wonderful, but by no means is she the homebaking, puts notes in your school lunchbox type of mother. There were many times in my life I wished she was this type of mom, but I know that is not really what I desire, but it was just easier to wish that than try to understand the reasoning she has for some of the actions she takes. My relationship with my mom has been one of the hardest things I have ever dealt with in my life, mostly because we approach problems from such different starting places. Yet I am always shocked, but love, when I catch myself saying something, a phrase, that she often says or acting like her. I am sure that I will get into a tiff with her within the next few months, but I know that the unconditional love that one has with family is outstanding and out weighs any of our arugments.

On another family matter, the other day my dad, brothers and I were on our way to Best Buy, and as it typically happens Zach was sitting shot gun, thus leaving Ben and I to have to the back. My dad asked Zack to explain a case in which was going on at the office (Zack is working for my dad's law office this summer). As he was telling the story, my dad would jump in to either correct or add something, giving off the impression that he would like to tell the story. Zack obviously commented on dad's actions, and they got into a joking argument how this always happens. During this all, Ben had layed his head down on my lap, something he has been doing for the past 18 years, and it was during those few minutes that I realized that this was a moment I get every now and then, where an ear to ear smile comes across my face and I realize that no one else will ever be able to experience our amazing interactions, and how lucky I am to have to have a family like this.

I thought this all was more important to share with you all then anything currently going on in my life, but know that I am loving the job, New Haven and the people I am working with. And I recently purchased the first season of Growing Pains on dvd, which brings me back to my amazing re-run disney days and thus very happy, oh and my new obsession is the Jersey Boys soundtrack. All the best!

Love,
Rachel