Back Home Again in Indiana

Memorial day weekend is always a weekend that leaves me feeling homesick. May has always been special month in Indianapolis. It means one thing and one thing only, the Indianapolis 500. And though I was never a huge race fan, there is a little part of me that feels like I am missing out on the party in Indy.

(photo of Opus and Rosoce by our friends at The Zoolatry)

Wishing everyone back home a safe and happy holiday weekend!
Have fun at the track and, for heaven sake, behave yourselves!

My Friend

My Mother has always had a young soul. When I was a kid, my friends liked coming over to our house because they knew that they could count on my mom playing with us. "Your Mom is so much fun," they would say. "I wish mine would play me." I knew she was special, even back then.

In the summer time, she would set up a tent in our backyard. My brother and a guest would get the tent for a week. Then I would get to spend a week in the tent with one of my friends. I remember one year we even had cots, a camping light, and even a little chest of drawers. She always made sure that we had plenty of snacks to keep our bellies full, even though it caused an occasional ant infestation in our tent (but only when we weren't careful).

For many years, we had a small swimming pool in our backyard. Nothing big but larger than a normal wading pool. My mom spent many summer days floating on her raft in that pool, arms and legs in the water while the rest of her body rested on the raft. We joked that in her past life she must have been an alligator.

(Mom, Scott, me and one of her alligator friends; 1975)

I think our neighbors must have hated that tiny pool. It didn't matter that it was only a few feet deep, the sounds trailing from our backyard made it seem as if it were Olympic sized! My Mom, the eternal child, always begged my brother and I to join her for a dip. And when begging didn't work, she always resorted to blackmail or bribes. "Cyndi," she would call from her raft. "If you come out and swim with me, you won't have to clean your room today."

I always fell for that one.

Not much has changed. Though we may be older now, my Mom is still a kid at heart. Her youthful spirit is what makes her fun. Who else would have joined me Venice during carnival in a mask?

(Venice, winter 2006)

I never wanted to live this far from her. I miss the days when she would come visit me in Indy. Whether sipping margaritas at our favorite Mexican restaurant or hanging out in my apartment watching movies in our pj's, Mom and I always had fun. Sometimes I am sad to think those days are over.

(Goofing around Chicago when we went to see Wicked; fall 2007)

The silver lining is this; though I may not get to see her as often, when we do see each other we well make up for lost time. When I go home to visit or when she and Dad come here, we get to spend a month (or more) together. I am just counting the day until our next visit....

(reunited in Italy; Bologna airport Feb. 2006)

I love you Mom. I can't wait to see you.
Only six more weeks until the adventures begin!

Happy Mother's Day