(1) the casting of a most important vote* (2) the castaways at work together on their cushion raft (3) and the find of the weekend: four antique Louis-something chairs, for a song, one with the 'cast' for the cushions I'm going to make in order to prolong the life of their caning.It was a very busy, very good weekend, filled with friends, old and new, and some quiet times so lovely that they took my breath away. It ended weirdly, spectacularly, with a bout of gastrointestinitis that made itself known to Tomi and the rest of us in the group as we waited for the train in Rosheim. Luckily, I had hurriedly stashed a pair of underwear and two plastic bags in with the rest of the junk in the backpack before we left. Even more luckily, our friend Alain had some wipeys, also for 'just in case.' And then, the weather was not only on our side, but brilliant. So the little sicky on his mother's lap in the train, wearing only a sweatshirt and undies (even the shoes and socks had to be bagged up!) wasn't too uncomfortable, after all. His mommy (ahem!) was wearing about 25 kilos of pumpkins and pumpkin beer on her back and 18 kilos of sick boy on her front, though, so she is still hurting from the exprience.**
And here is an article that went straight to my heart and head on several different levels. The compassion and caring for humanity that the various members of this family have shown - starting with their son and brother, Tom - is immense and uplifting; the thoughts and feelings shared, concerning loss and grief, are extremely well put; and the political parts are not only clear and concise, but serve to illustrate and as food for thought for so many other situations, political and otherwise.
* Please excuse the 'do.' The picture was taken before the bath was.
** His daddy can't do this any longer, because of a work-related back injury that would be all the more horrible if it were given any cause to flame back up.
