Toyota Corolla (1991-2004) Dear Corolla, your years of service to have have exceeded our expectations and your role in our lives has been larger than we imagined. You were a gift, a reward for Mom's board certification. We learned the roads of south central Pennsylvania with you. When we close our eyes and dream of driving, it is you we are steering, your wheel at our hands. We feel the smooth and familiar curves of Evergreen road, lined with more farmland than evergreens but still the pastures are rustic and pure. We envision Cumberland St. with its straight posture but tormented identity, ever changing, one unfortunate business idea after the other but it is the major artery for the pulse of our childhood-- to church, to school, to Boscov's. Oh, Corolla! You have been a zippy ride, we all have different images of the adventures we had with you. How many states have you seen? Better yet, how many times have you been to Tito Ven Tita Cora's? You have appeared on the horizon and been the getaway rescue from the heat and stress of sports practices, highschool dances gone bad, and been the turn signal of hope when it seemed that everyone else's ride was here except ours. Pulling into the driveway of 1610, oh Corolla, is an image burned behind our eyelids. Your slender figure and "You've Gotta Friend in JESUS" front plate, you would turn in, and make your entrance onto the sprawling 2 acres of our home. The dictionary says that your name is Latin for garland, fitting for being the reward that you were. Makes sense, someone wanting to bestow a reward on his wife, a berry-colored and zippy garland that would serve her whole family for 13 years. What a gift. On December 23rd a man from Salvation Army brought a tow truck for you, dear Corolla. He had filth-creased hands and said he had poor vision when he photographed us, which by the way, I'd agree with, anyway he came to take you. We gathered your effects, registration forms and holy water, and you rode down our street, in the night, turned right but this time plateless and without any signal. We will miss you, Corolla. We'll never forget you.

Our True Benici turned 2!! The full-torso head butting is water under the bridge.

T-giving football MUST have huddles. Yes, that's right it was the triumverate of meats-- turkey, ham and tenderloin of roast beef. "Big Dad is at the top of his game," said Geoff.

The battle was hard-fought but in the end, I lost. I heard myself say, "Toad would be sad if you didn't wear the mask," and that was it-- I realized that I had crossed over the celebration of getting dressed up for fun and entered the realm of parental-projection, putting my needs on my kids, something I knew if I did, I would want to get on the next train to DYS headquarters. So, in the end, 45 minutes before Trick or Treating, I found a bag of hand-me-down toys from an 8yr old neighbor from Boston. I think I counted 2 swords, 3 breastplates and numerous shields. This inspired a scintillating brainstorm of belligerent and arcane characters we could emulate. Anyway, Benici was psyched to be Goliath and Manny was on board for David when Geoff emerged from the basement with a freshly-sawed slingshot. How Benici went from Goliath to a baker was Geoff's work, a conversation I would have paid to hear. In the end, both boys were decked out to hit the streets, the sense of excitement and suspension of reality still intact. We did an on-the-fly costume improvisation as a family, something I think we can all be proud of. We will mount the frog and toad heads in their room a la mooseheads in a lodge and next October, remind me not to embark on a head-dress costume.


Ready to take on the meanest Philistine. Double wristbands and the headband for that understated giant-slayer look. Benici True- the pizza maker. Look out Pietro and Bertucci!!Manny's drum circle, to end out the evening. Notice the tupperware and the overturned pink colander.

Today was too good not to share. We spent the morning at Nursery School's Harvest Day Party--I was psyched just for the photo op but what I didn't expect was the sense of unity and beauty and organization that we experienced. Arrival had that feeling of being at Homecoming or Prom where everyone seemed to be seeing eachother with wonder and new eyes for what transformations had taken place. Manny definitely sensed this, he greeted his friends, "Hi, what are you dressed as?" Different parents were assembling a Harvest Maiden, made of veggies that we were asked to bring. The finished Harvest maiden and a co-op father led the costume parade. The father played the penny whistle as we all paraded to the grove adjacent to the playground. We gathered around the sugar maple and sang songs. Picture 36 kids, 2 hulks, 3 wild things, countless princesses all gathered face-paint garrishly smeared, pouf sleeves askew, taffeta hems dragging in the grass as we sang. We parents also in the circle, patching the gaps, holding ghoul hands and gloved fairy hands, while holding infants and cameras. The parade concluded at the playground where
the kids went town the slide and into a pile of hay, where parents had hidden pumpkins. They emerged from the hay, smiles as wide as the pumpkins themselves. The whole morning was amazing, a mix of loving and thoughtful planning and also a measure of benign neglect. I love how much they include Benici. At snack time he surveys the tables and asks, "Where's my spot?" And of course, he has his pick of seats.
Anyway, we are thrilled to be finding our parenting way with the help of this school community. Some days, we both go to school to pick up or drop off, not wanting to miss a beat. I just looked in on the sleeping pair, Frog and Toad after a long day of bearing the weight of their papier mache heads. We love this work, day in and out with these boys as they leap over from toddlers to what seems like Edmund Hillary.



Frog and Toad feet.

Inside the Harvest Tee Pee built by a Co-op dad.


Frog and toad's unabashed political affiliation. Harvest party at CNS. Manny's the one in a bowtie, top row, fourth from left.