It’s Tuesday of the week before classes restart. Faculty meeting today and tomorrow; everyone trying to get things started again. I wonder if you have made progress on your summer internship. I’m sure you know this, but I would be happy to help in any way I can. I also wonder if you are missing your URI friends and talking to them while you are on break. Breaks can be both wonderful and super hard. Hoping yours is peaceful and joyful.

Alana started her job today – so excited for her. She has been looking for a job since she moved into Willowbend early November. Rejections and non-responses are both not fun. She is really excited about this job. She gets to work with animals!

I’m sore from cross fit yesterday. They had us (read: me) doing back presses – a bar bell across your back with as much weight as you can put on both ends and doing deep squats. THEN sprinting on the bike followed by 50 – yes, 50! goblet squats with weights. My arms and legs felt like jello.

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That said, the cool thing is that I think my running pace is getting faster because of the strength training, and I don’t feel so out of place at a gym.

Jojo is doing great – his eyesight and hearing are definitely not great, but the vet said he doesn’t have a heart murmur which is a big problem for many aging dogs. I was trying to look up a picture of Winnie (Sp?) on my phone, so I searched “dogs.”

There were 1300 pictures, mostly of our little star. I had to shower him this morning; I used to be so grateful to you for taking up that job. He actually stood quite calmly in the shower water like he liked it. Strange. This pic is Alana trying to “show Jojo” what it feels like to have someone beg for your food. I’m not sure he cared, but it made her laugh:

I need to make my way to campus.

Hoping you’re having a really great Tuesday.

I love you, Peanut! With my whole entire heart!!
Momma

Hey there Peanut

Since I think of you nonstop, I thought maybe I’d start writing to you. Can’t believe 2026 is already here… time is flying by in some ways. Jill has been helping me think about ways to update the house to center on each of your passions and personalities. We have a professional photograph of a SpaceX rocket in Dan’s room (along with my very rough sketch of it which served as a placeholder while waiting for the professional one to come), the wreath of pictures in Madey’s room with updated shots of your, Dan and her friends, and some fun plants and bedding for your room – with your art around the room, of course.

I’m also very into making fires in the fireplace – a great way to zone out at the end of a day.

Whenever I drive by Impact Earth or Tapas, I wave, tell you I love you, and blow you a kiss.

I’m singing for MLK again. The directors are so good; I love that it challenges me cognitively as well as musically, and it generally turns out great.

I went to the Fairport Goodwill a few days ago – have you been? I think you would love it! It is so clean, but also so large! I ended up walking out with a hat for Alana (Science STAR living with us), red jeans (too big, sad face), and an adorable Groot t-shirt. They give away a free book to kids each time they come in!! Not surprisingly, that melted my heart!!

Life is back to being very busy at UR – going great and very busy. I’m teaching a doc class this spring. I taught it once before in 2023, but it’s still a relatively heavy lift for me. I love working with the doc students though. That’s how I met Molly and her whole crew.

Speaking of heavy lifting, I’ve also started cross fit classes. Whewee! (is that a word?). It’s kicking my butt! I will be sore and wobbly, and though it is NOT a race, I definitely life the least weight and it takes me the longest to sprint. The main coach is awesome though; so encouraging. Been running too. I’m trying to run 62 miles in January; 2 miles/day for cancer research. I’m on track so far.

I want you to know that I have been doing all you asked.

I love you every minute of every day with my whole heart.

I heard a quote on the radio that made me think of you:

When someone lives in your thoughts and heart for a really long time, you can’t help but carry them everywhere you go when they are not with you.

Someone from the Grateful Dead talking about the lead member.

Know that I carry you with me everywhere I go.

I love you, Momma

I miss you so much, Kid. It sounds like you had a good first week. I haven’t gotten to talk with you yet, but you appreciated how the photography class had tech support come in to get you all set up on Adobe for the term. After the busiest day of 5 classes – physics and others – you reported having a really good day. We’ll take that!!

Moved you in yesterday! Coddington Hall is your new home… overlooking a beautiful oak tree and the stadium. You moved from joyful to NERVAcited to nervaCITED over the course of the weekend as is COMPLETELY normal!! Greta made her drive from IA safely, and you checked in with Hope.

Can’t tell you how proud we are of you!! Takes a lot of courage to go to school far away from home, and your determination is inspiring. We left you yesterday with basically a blank canvas of a room. Can’t wait to see what you do with it and your year. Can’t wait to see how your professional interests continue to deepen. You started with an interest in chemical engineering. Now you are considering an intersection between material and chemical engineering with a focus on the environment – maybe something along the lines of biodegradable packaging. It means so little if this is the direction you actually end up going, but you are deepening your understandings of the field and your interests, which is FANTASTIC! You are listening and prioritizing your own brilliant mind and beautiful feelings.

You are so strong, so capable. Spend a few minutes every day thinking about these amazing gifts you’ve been given!!

A few pics from the weekend – we probably should’ve taken more… I’m losing my touch.

A very detailed handoff from Dad to you; you were a good listener asking many important questions. You are a really competent driver! I had the privilege of following you for the 6-7 hr trip to school, and you handled the car great.

One of the biggest gifts of the summer has been your jobs at Tapas 177 and Impact Earth. You are so loved and appreciated at both places. At the first, you have personalized desserts made for you almost every time you work. Here are a couple pics from your Tapas Fan Club from our visit a couple days before you headed back to school.

And Impact Earth – your home away from home for sure!!

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