associated in random thought

photo of the day.

since i am obsessed with all things digital these days, i thought i'd start sharing some of my favorites with you over here, if you don't mind. (if you do, tell me. i'll stop. immediately. or when i get tired of doing it.)

this is my favorite photo memory from thanksgiving. my helen and her boomp. boomp in his chili pepper apron.

this was the first year in a long time i was not up north with my family for thanksgiving. we do it up big in erie; we all gather for ridiculously delicious meals on thursday with my sister, peggy, and then again at mom's house on saturday. we sip vodka-based beverages all day (compliments of eileen), until we're silly and flush-faced from the duralog in the fireplace. usually, it's snowing. i smoke outside with frozen fingers.

this year, work and the economy kept me in texas, and so helen and i drove to houston for the day to spend the holiday with her family: mom, boomp, aunt janis and cousin jessica.

everything is a first for them this year, as well. grandma (or gommi) died in january, leaving her faithful husband and caretaker, boomp, to go it alone with his dog jake. at 89, he is a bachelor with a new leather couch, and a quietly grieving heart.

the day was lovely, full of wine and pie. five pies for six people. [we gave one of them away to the guys at our favorite convenience store in austin: the foodspot. sean thanked us and gave me a hug from across the counter. his boss, abdul said god bless your kindness, and then confessed he is diabetic. he promised to have a bite of crust despite...] the dinner tasted familiar, like i was at home with my own family--and i was at home. i get kisses from boomp. helen's mom, beth, tells me she loves me and kisses my cheek as well.

i caught boomp in a quiet moment that night, as he was once again showing me all of his digital photos. he paused at a photo of his wife, taken at a time when she wasn't feeling well, and he rested his hands on his lap for a long time. "i still talk to her, you know," he said, maybe to me, maybe to her. "crazy isn't it?" i was crouched beside his knee. i shook my head no.

just then helen entered the room, and boomp announced to us both, "it's good that you have each other."

we have the classic don't ask don't tell relationship with boomp. i'm just annie, part of the family somehow. i do believe his statement was his blessing. i kissed his bald head.
Posted by bananie at November 30, 2005 2:49 PM | TrackBack