all that's past is prologue...

I first knew Bain from the Children's Theater in the 1980s. We all know that "CTC in the 1980s" is its own deep statement, and I'm not going to go into it here. I was CTC-adjacent, but never attended the school, so my story is different. But that all is to say that I knew Bain as a performer and instructor when I was a teenager — and that looking back now all of those relationships were so very much more complicated than they seemed at the time. He opened the Jungle in a small storefront on Lake Street when I was at Jeune Lune, and I saw many adventurous productions in that little space that was akin to watching a production whilst crammed onto a 21A bus. I remember him cutting through the ceiling of the space (into his apartment above) to create an exit from the stage, many mesmerizing productions including a Waiting for Godot that I believe starred Michael Sommers and Kevin Kling and spoils me for any other production ever, and a generally robust mix of classic and...

 Rain (send some to Minnesota): Dinner at Randy and Diane's, with great company to boot: Chicken Salad Chicks: Beer and fish fry in Madison: Day drinking with friends once back:

It was my sophomore year of high school when I realized that my mother and I had very different plans for post-high-school plans. I went to St. Paul Academy, so was thinking of small private colleges. My mom had basically just assumed I would go to the U of M, because that's what you do.  It wasn't until several arguments ("Why am I even GOING to a prep school then?!"), and my mom attending a conference hosted at Princeton, that we came to agreement. I have to say that after that my mother worked really hard to make sure I could go to the college I wanted to, and when my big fat package (complete with financial aid) arrived for Tufts, she made sure I could go. She also made me understand, though, that I had to have a work study job, and earn tuition over the summer, and apply for scholarships. I don't know if she missed me as badly as I already miss Beatrix, and clearly I can't ask. I do know that, maybe because of that history, it was important to me that Bea...

Yesterday, after a few meetings and such, we embarked on an end-of-Minnesota double-header — the Fair and a Saints game! Beatrix was with us for the Fair but ended up bagging out on the Saints to pack, which was likely wise. I've never seen it so crowded on opening day, which is usually kind of chill! But we did get there when there was still free lip stuff left, and saw the stunt dog show. Beatrix likes showing off pull-ups to military recruiters like it's NBD: And she won a prize for a research paper she submitted: She and Patrick did a Pronto Pup vs. Corn Dog taste-off (winner = corn dog): After something like 18,200 steps, we ended the day with some Sweet Martha's: Then off to a Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation event at the Saints: The seats were great: The perfect place to catch the moon before the eclipse: We left early because the saints were losing badly to the Mudhens (final score 9-3) and there's a lot to do  to pack for college. But it was a great summer...

Like Patrick, I am finding myself utterly crushed by the passing of Dolly Parton . And then I think about the fact that my love for her music has come mainly from my yoga teacher, Viv's love for her and how she has shared that with us. We're a crew of Dolly lovers. And my yoga class is about to change a lot, as the beloved brewery that hosts us has sold and is closing after this weekend. So there's another change. We're in the process of moving from the summer house back to the winter house. It's highly privileged to say that's a stressor, but it is adding a measure of chaos. Last year when we moved back we had Ximena with us, but this year the house will seem very empty, very soon. Speaking of that, after some dorm placement drama and the craziness that is Sarah Lawrence registration (the students attend short zooms to learn about each potential class and see if they are a fit for it and the class is a fit for them, then they register — sort of like mini job i...

For the past couple of years, Beatrix has worked at the Rennaissance Festival, so we have not really gotten to go there as a family. She's gotten up early, slung chocolate all day (mmmm, that booth's wares are SOOOOO good), come home, and done it again.  Our other memories of the Festival come from when she was very young, and obsessed with fairies, and all the magic. So it was all kinds of magic that our friends Liz and Huxley graciously gave up one of their last free days before Huxley heads off to MIT to come with us today (and thanks to Lloyd and Rosy for the tickets!) We got to see not just one but TWO Danger Committee shows, plus Gabs the Fool, the Wacky Chickens, jousting, and parts of other shows. We got to see capybaras! We shopped a little, and had some treats (more chocolate! carrot fries! cheese curds! mead samples). We walked around and people-watched. It was amazing. Most of all, we had a beautiful, wonderful day together before these two extraordinary kids head o...