She Looks so Peaceful

It was a nice morning in Austin. We went to play in Bull Creek. Too many dogs and too little water. So we drove to Barton Springs and waded into the cool water just downstream of the pool. Vivian loved it.

Then we ended up at Chez Zee for brunch. Vivian was ready for a nap about the time we ordered. When that happens, she doesn't get drowsy. She gets moody. And she is ready to throw a fit without notice. So she smiled and charmed a few folks, but, for the next 30 minutes, some of guests around us were probably wishing they were somewhere else.

I overheard our waiter compliment the nice family at the next table. "These lovely girls are the best behaved little girls I have every seen". When he got around to us, all he could manage was: "...and she looks so peaceful".

Here are pictures of before, during, and after the morning swim:

Carpe the Day

Vivian - every once a while, an almost perfect day happens. And it's up to you to know when it does. For me, that was today.

It started at 6:30am, and didn't even seem as good as yesterday. Vivian woke up and didn't wave to me and didn't say "daddy, daddy". Instead she cried. But it got better. In a little while, she clambered up beside me and pointed out the window and said "go outside".

We got donuts and kolaches from Sweeties and, with Jo and Grandma, hiked down to the lake. I took off my hiking shoes, and Vivian took off her clothes, and we got wet in the turquoise blue waters of Canyon Lake.

Then we got to the pool and plunged in. It was Vivian's second day in her personal flotation device, and she had a blast swimming by herself, and hanging out in Grandma's not-so-personal flotation device. And in Mom's arms. And Jo and I practiced our synchronized swimming and diving routine. Divine.

In the afternoon, I lay Vivian down for a nap and I drove off to another lake - Travis. And spent the evening sailing and swimming with Grant and Vanesa and Alan and Kay and people with breathy European accents.

Nothing that I can quite put my finger on. But from the moment I opened my eyes this morning, it's just been an absolutely lovely day. The way the morning sun reflected in Vivian's eyes. The way Jo felt in my arms. And the wine tasted and the boat heeled. And the wind on the drive back home.

To put it according to Horace:

envious time is fleeing: seize the day, put no trust in the future

To put it according to Robindranath's Alo:

Nache alo nache, o bhai, amar praner kachhe --
baje alo baje, o bhai, hridôe binar majhe --
jage akash, chhoţe batash, hashe shôkol dhôra.

or

Ah, the light dances, my darling, at the centre of my life; the light strikes, my darling, the chords of my love; the sky opens, the wind runs wild, laughter passes over the earth.

To put it simply, I walked around all day with the biggest freaking grin on my face. Dearest Vivian -this is what you live for.

Periodic Clan Pictures

It would be interesting to measure Vivian's journey by taking pictures of her at regular intervals. My neighbor does this by taking a picture of his son laying/crawling/sitting/standing next to his own personalized Louisville Slugger on his birthday each month.

Alas, we are not organized enough to mold the present, and instead must look for patterns in the past. One such pattern was recently discovered. For two consecutive summers we have taken family pictures at Alu's. The first is from May 22, 2007 in Ann Arbor. The second is from Aug 2 in Rhode Island.

This year, Vivian looks prettier. I look younger. Everyone else looks the same.

The Ocean State

We spent a few days at Alu and Michelle's home in Rhode Island. Vivian learned to play the piano from - surprise - Alu (sample lesson: "one finger, one key"). And sing and dance with Michelle. And climb up the stairs by herself using the handrail to go find Dadu. And ride (actually, be pushed around) in a lovely little trike that Eric and Kathy brought over for her. And ride in ferries and boats all over the place. And visit Beavertail lighthouse (the third oldest lighthouse in the US). And tour Newport harbour (including a couple of America's Cup winners) from a boat. And have tonnes of fun being spoiled rotten by her uncle and aunt and grand dad. And learn all kinds of new words. Some pictures from the trip: