Michigan: Four Children, Five Days

These are snapshots from a whirlwind five-day visit to Michigan. I stayed at Mom's for the first two days, then ran up (drove, actually) to Ann Arbor with Julia to see Margar, and saw (An)Drew in K-zoo on the way back to VA. I apologize for formatting problems with this post--I'm just too beat to try to clean it up right now. In these first picutres, you see me and Julia, me and Mom, Mom and the flowers Nancy Marie sent--the tree, the creche...I think that's it.







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Thom and his fellow-communists (that is the term, right?) are in the process of moving to recently acquired house. Here, at the old duplex, we watched South Park: The Movie and generally, uh...communed. Pictures are of Thom, at ease and at the computer, his amazing Lincolnesque fingers, a portrait with his maternal gene doner--and a nice picture of his longtime friend Corey.








In Ann Arbor: here is Margaret Kathryn in her apartment--pensive, in a directed moment of mad jollity, and with SCO (Significant Canadian Other) Jason Bell, who is visiting from Vancouver, for reasons both personal and mathematical.











Andy lives in a great narrow old house ("white house, new driveway, blue Lincoln Continental in drive") on a steep street in Kalamazoo's atmospheric student ghetto. Here, he burns a copy of his Rocket-Powered Armchair Sled exploit to disc for me, and rehydrates in front of gigantic self-portrait. Guitar is a work in progress...

The Christmas Party, 2006

On an unseasonably warm and clear December evening, the Clan gathers. It was crowded, it was loud, it was festive and amazing. Thank you, EVERYONE: Lisa H. is resplendant in red velvet; Deborah works her Ava Gardener mojo; Nancy brings her professor friend, Esther, and braves 45 miles of Highway 95 to see how the Other Half lives; Kip and Sherri make a return appearance and class up the joint; Mike Johnson works the crowded room (while Sharon dodges the camera handily); Stu displays the Ruark savoir faire; neighbors Big Rick and son Ricky dropped in; Doug Reneire adds an electric and sometimes downright puzzling presence (what are you doing with that chair, sir?); Jim and Charlene Robey are an edgy Mr. and Mrs. Claus, and Anne brought an amazing Victorian Christmas decoration and another decorative touch: her beau de jour, Dave.
Chad Kelso came and brought his amazing punch bowl, but opted for a nap rather than a photo op (thanks for the marbles!).

Kip and Sherri

Kip and Sherri Seymour visited us on Sunday, at sunset, in their white Mercedes, like a big chromey swan. Here they are. Kip is a photographer (filmmaker, gardener, editor, etc. etc. etc.) and he would have managed to finesse away the flash reflection in the painted cabinet behind them--think of it as reflected Aura. Enjoy the way Sherri curls into Kip's shoulder for a photo op. They are lovely.

The Cold Front

Stan displays his varied and infallible strategies for dealing with the sudden onset of winter: head for the couch! Stay on the couch!