"My name isn't 'Wibby'! It's 'Wibby'!"

The title of this post was spoken by Libby, my sweet friend. She's almost four and is very grown up and has an opinion about almost everything. She doesn't quite pronounce her "l" sounds just yet but she can certainly hear them (and hear it when YOU miss it). She is Mama's helper and is most likely to boss her sister around, but not because she's malicious. She just has an opinion.

Clara is simultaneously more laid-back than and more tightly wound than Libby. She hesitates to jump into the pool sometimes and doesn't dig the ocean's unceasing waves. She is a cuddler and asks about my family a lot. She asked about my Papa and I told her I had a sister, so she asks about Jen almost everyday. For the first time she asked me about my Mom yesterday...she asked about her name and if she was a good Mom. I replied with answers in the past tense. She then asked if she lived in Heaven and if I missed her. I looked at Michele and she looked back at me and I replied yes, and yes. I don't know HOW SHE KNEW. Michele said that she'd not had that conversation with her girls. Seriously, I don't know how she knew.

It was a strange and wonderful moment. And as is the case with little ones, just as soon as it was here, it was gone.


Speaking of my Mom, I woke up this morning kind of sad. And just in case you wondered, yes it is hard (but possible) to be sad whilst in paradise. I couldn't remember the sound of her voice. I can see her face and remember things she would say, but when the sound comes out, it is someone else's voice. Sometimes it's Jen's voice, sometimes it's someone else's, but not hers. This is the first time the memory has failed to come. It hasn't even been three years. I can't believe I can't find her voice in my thoughts. I want to remember. I just can't quite get it. It's not a good thing. It has been a really tough day because of that. I can't believe I can't remember. Crap.

I need a job. Ugh.

everything is easier in the caribbean

I'm in Puerto Rico. I honestly can't remember how many days I've been here so far. It's strange. I arrived so early the day I did get here that that day seems like two or three (broken up by a shower before lunch and a nap afterwards). I'm all discombobulated.

This helps, though.


We went to Old San Juan today, the part of the city that surrounds the two forts that protected this island way back in the olden days. (how's that for a lack of specificity?) It was really remarkable and old. America is such a baby nation that seeing something that was five hundred years old was really amazing. My internal history major (who doesn't get much chance to come out and play) was in her glory today, reading all of the plaques and taking pictures like a tourist. (I do want to state for the record that I understand the Americas were settled and civilized long before Europeans arrived.)



I did have a bit of an incident though...I had a skirt on today. It was windy. The wind might have caught my skirt. I'm certain there was exposure. Yikes and Oops. Oh well.

I drove today! I went to the store all by myself! Granted, I didn't say anything to anyone beyond "hola" or "gracias" but I felt very international, even though Puerto Rico is a part of the US. No bubble bursting!

I haven't had much time to think since I've been here. It's been so great to catch up with Michele and Scott and their precious, amazing girls and I don't want to miss any of that. There will be time to spend with my thoughts, I am sure. They are pesky little buggers.