Because
we all know that seasons change, people change, my dress size changes, jobs
change, friends change, priorities change, presidents change, policies change,
love changes, life changes, it all changes.
In the spirit of Heraclitus of Ephesus,
the saying goes, “the only thing constant is change…”
It’s
been almost exactly 6 months since the last blog. Things have changed. It is no longer winter –
we are deep into summer and DC summer is hot, hot, hot, and humid…
Feeling hot hot hot…
It
is so very hot. I have had the worst
luck with air conditioning units ever since I bought my first place in
Washington DC in Dupont Circle in 2002.
I lived in that first duplex condo, which I loved until 2012 – for 10
years. And for ten years I battled with
the damn air conditioning. I fixed it
and replaced it, but it never worked properly…
Then
we changed houses. We bought this
house in NW DC in 2012 and at first the air conditioning seemed to work… but
then quickly again epic battles with the air conditioner. After many battles with our air conditioner, freon
replacement, motor replacement, etc., it never really worked. And then, it just
completely stopped cooling the house - even though we are running it and using
electricity (do not even get me started on the electric bill!) so we must
replace (in other words change) the whole thing. We must change
out this unit for a new one.
I
made the deposit on the expensive new system, and our contractor started the work. As with all fixit jobs, just replacing the
thing isn’t enough – new valve and duct work is also necessary which requires
cutting open ceiling and walls – so that is what we got to do. Even the air conditioner prognosis changes once you actually try to fix it.
And
everything else in life has changed
too.
Six Months Seemed Like Six Seconds
The
kids are bigger, taller, stronger, wiser, better, madder, sadder, happier, -
just more of everything. In the past 6
months they have become little people with complete lives of their own.
Jonah
is a baseball fanatic and fan. His first
season in kid pitch division and his team unexpectedly made it to the division finals
and lost – a season that taught him both the thrill of victory and the agony of
defeat. His team – a group that has been
together since he was 4 – is one of those special groups that totally and
completely works on every level – coaches, parents and kids. It is diverse and inclusive and the essence
of what the word team should mean. In a
world of super competitive-type A kid sports craziness, our team, The Presidents
(named during the Obama Administration), is a little slice of heaven. The team motto remains -
#AlwaysBePresidential and #Tribe. But
even little league teams, they change. The kids have aged out their division and
must enter a draft… so we are going to move the team to a travel team together,
and maybe Jonah will play on 2 teams this fall.
Sometimes when life changes,
you need a work-around.
Vera
is my shining star. She has been ever since I can remember (She did have a
“Books and Broadway” birthday party a few years back.) But now she officially wants to be a “Star!” This past spring break she had her debut
performance as part of the chorus in Alice in Wonderland. A few weeks ago, she performed at the music
recital and sang solo the Moana song.
And this summer she will be doing a Broadway musical camp and a
Shakespeare camp. She has changed.
She is more grown up, more opinionated, more stubborn, more thoughtful,
more strong-willed, more committed, and more compassionate. She is changing and evolving into the person
she will become. No matter what she does
or how she changes, she will always
be my star!
Jonah
and Vera continue to do Jujitsu together. Every fourth months testing from one
belt to another. Changing to a new more advanced class.
They
can also be found obsessively playing on their tablets whenever they are
allowed. They hate me for instituting the “no
screen time” during the week rule. Whenever
they can, they want to be playing/watching – roblox, kidsyoutube, ps4 and other
stupid games or weird videos… I am not sure this will ever change – but I just cannot stand it.
These past 6 months saw lots of fun, adventures, meltdowns, drama, birthdays, holidays, family time, and more. Here is a list:
HeatherStatedHerNewLawFirmPartnerJob*Women’sMarch*TuBshevat*PresidentsDayTriptoNY/NYNYToyFair*GroundHogsDay*ValentinesDay*DentistCheckUps*Purim*StPatricksDay*DrSeussBirthday*Heather&Jocelyn11thAnniversary*SnowDays*Passover*RockNRollShow*Baking*SydneyTurned7*VeraTurned7*VeraAndPopHadReverseBirthdays07/70*JocelynTurned44*UofMDVisit*SolarSystemDay*Vera’sAliceInWonderlandShow*MarchForOutLives*AuPairShabbot*SelaIsraelFest*SelaBlackHistoryMonthShowcase*Baseball*Jujitsu*20yearUTLawreunion*GymnasticsShow*StartingGirlScouts*MusicRecital*Shavuot*Mother’sDay*MemorialDay*SwedishMidSummerShabbot*ObamaPortraits*GregsBachelorParty*Movies*NjFriendsVisit*JonahTurned9*IKEAVisit*LittleLeagueFinals*PoolTime*BostonTrip*CampHavayaSleepAwayCamp*CousinsTripToAntigua*GregAndEwanGetMarriedInLondon*Winsome’sBday*FunHouseAtTheBuildingMuseum*ErasureConcert
We went back to London a few weeks ago for an amazing occasion - our best buddies, Ewan and Greg - got married. The best part - they met at our wedding more than 11 years ago. I helped officiate the wedding - it was a wonderful honor and privelege. While we were there - without kids over July 4th weekend, Jocelyn and I went back to the hotel that we lived in in the summer of 2004 for about 5 months and had a drink. Guess what - the hotel has changed names and been redone. Then we walked the three blocks to the office building we worked in every day during those same 5 months - guess what - the law firm we used to work at is no longer in Tower 42... because you know what - things change...
And the world, it continues to change.
And the world, it continues to change.
Burning Up and Seeing Red
We
still have a president who is incompetent and truly evil. We have a government that is failing us on
every level and in every way. This
administration keep changing the
rules and making it harder for people in this country to live. Whether it is the trade wars or the tax plan,
it is clear this administration’s changes
are aimed to hurt Americans. The polices
are based on greed, power, xenophobia, racism, and sexism. The world keeps turning and American is changing – but not for the good. The world is laughing at us and protests
worldwide confirm that the USA is failing in its position as a global leader to
be a force for good and positive change.
With every new tweet and press conference, we see more clearly the dysfunction
and treasonous space we are now living in.
Children are being ripped from their parents at our borders as they plead
for asylum because their homelands are too dangerous to return to safely. The Supreme
Court is about to be changed in a way that will affect Jonah’s and Vera’s kids if
we all live that long. Mueller continues
to investigate and indict. Conspiracy and collusion are terms we all know and
talk about? The world is still getting hotter. US citizens have higher taxes and worse health
care coverage. Teachers across the country went on walkouts. Unions lost in the courts. Corruption is
rampant in this Administration. And then
there are the latest news reports that Putin has been invited right before the
misterm elections and the big Veteran’s Day Military Parade. And this is the 100,000-foot
view of our crumbling democracy. These changes for the bad – they come fast and
furious. It is hard to breathe or see through the fog of depression and
despair.
Putting One Foot In Front Of The Other
So I
march. I Facebook. I try to recycle. I try not to use straws. I give money. I try
to speak truth to power in little ways every day. I remain #StillVigilant. But
we also live our lives. The mundane
every day lives. I try to talk to the
kids about the world and what we need to do to make it better, including standing
up for people when they need our help. But we also got to work and school and
camp and music lessons…
Remember
I started that new job just a mere 6 months ago. I have been intensely working each and every
to develop my practice and engage on a new level as a lawyer to leverage my
past experience and be successful. And
then – as is pretty typical in my life – there is a curve in the road…
A
few weeks ago, I got an offer to move jobs. After saying no a few times, I ended up saying
yes to an offer I just could not refuse.
I am excited about this new opportunity to tackle this challenge. It wasn’t an easy decision as I was committed
to what I had been doing and loved my team and colleagues. But everything changes and sometimes even after only six months, you realize it is
time for you to move on. Friday, July 20
was my last day at my old great gig – Monday, July 23, I start my new
adventure. Tomorrow, I leave on a jet plane
with our au pair and the kids for a week in Seattle. I will stay another two weeks (for total of
3) of onboarding and orientation and then as coincidences have it – I will
start in the DC office on August 20th – the same day the kids start
2nd and 4th grade.
New adventures for us all. Wish us luck.
Looking Forward Six Months
As I
have told myself so many times before – just wait six months and see what is
going on and what has changed. In the next six months, the November elections
will be completed, and I will have turned 48.
We will have a new au pair, the year will have moved another digit, and
we will be in the dark of winter and counting the days to Spring, and hopefully
I will be able to report that my air conditioner was completely fixed! What other
changes await us? Who knows.
Let’s
do this…
