Monday, November 29, 2010

I met a baby ...

Big Sky New Zealand



I met a baby this weekend.
I met a baby and there was no screaming, crying, or shuddering. From me or from little Riley.

He was curled against his mum, just a day or so old, snuffling contentedly. His mother looked exhausted (54 hours of labour. FIFTY-FOUR HOURS) and his father was positively beaming.

He is the first child born to anyone I actually know.
To people of my generation. People I see quite regularly and could call friends.
Not to family, not to distant school friends, not to the older or younger siblings of friends.

I was terrified when I heard they were having a baby. But they're so YOUNG, are they going to keep it? was my gut reaction. But seeing their little family? Didn't seem so odd.
Then, they are not wild ones. They have always been happier going to an early movie then heading home. They own a home, and a cat, and more than one car. They DIY. They have not travelled. They are not at all similar to me.
But seeing them as parents didn't scare me.

Is this growing up?

Either way. There is a lot more of the world I want to see before I take that path. A lot. One of the few on which there can be no turning back.

Sunday, November 28, 2010

Week Forty-Eight

The Week in Photographs

Sunday: Christmas is coming!
Sunday
It was the 21st November but I started decorating for Christmas. In my case this just meant putting out a vase of candy canes.

Monday: Koi fish in our Office
Monday
A Koi Carp kite. That is all.

Tuesday: Dawn reflection
Tuesday
Dawn at Park Place.

Wednesday: Learning Lines
Wednesday
Learning lines. For the usual Summer Shakespeare audition. Only this time? I really care. Eep.

Thursday: Sad
Thursday*
I'm usually really quite heartless about these things but the Pike River disaster made me so so sad.

Friday: Train Station
Friday
Wellington Train Station. Late. Again.

Saturday: Pistachio Gelato
Saturday
Post-audition gelato (Pistachio!) with my mama, sister, and a lovely Nun.
Yep. She called me Sue and said I was pretty. Also, she told us about how she "buried" her dog by dumping the body off the end of a wharf. And no, she didn't see why that was illegal.


&


Late on Saturday night

* Also? Unfortunate juxtaposition. Explosion at Pike River next to explosion at Mt Ruapehu.