thankful

we have
a lot
to be
thankful for
this year
more than
any other year.

i finished
my phd.

we moved
to switzerland.

we had
a little
girl.



sometimes
we forget
amidst
the worrying
about
this and that.



we tend
to focus
on what
we do not have
because
sometimes
these things
seem
insurmountable.
those are
the things
that use to
keep us up at night
before
we had a baby.



i won't
deny that
we are often
lonely
far away
from
family
and friends.
it seems
strange
to be lonely
when
i have grub
and
he has me
and
we have
wee grub.



but
anyone who
has moved
knows
this
type of
loneliness
well.

plus
parenthood
can be
quite
isolating
in its
own way...



we are
home for
long stretches
of time
focused
on
the care
of
one little person
which would
seem
to be
a
very simple task.
but
it takes
all your time
and
you
are
suddenly
absent
from all
social
interactions
until you
can muster
up the energy
to face
the world
outside.



for
these reasons
celebrating
thanksgiving
seemed especially
important
to us
this year.

we searched
for the
traditional
ingredients
in neuchâtel
and
finally found
a whole turkey
but
i failed
to find
pumpkin
in a can.
grub
cooked
up a storm.



i dressed
wee grub
in the
appropriate
turkey day
garb.



a little
pair
of socks
arrived
in the mail
from eliza
to complete
the outfit.
and
we celebrated
with our
new friends.



as we move
into
the
holiday season
in a foreign land
we will
savor
what we can
of
our new life
and
enjoy
time
with new friends.



we send
our love
home
to those
we miss
but
we will
see them
again
very soon.



hope
you all
had
a
wonderful
thanksgiving.

xo

s i o n

when we lived
in
washington dc
grub & i
loved
to
take autumn drives
in the countryside.
it's our
favorite time
of year.

the vineyards
around neuchâtel
began to
create
a patchwork
quilt
of yellow
orange,
and a
deep red
we both
were itching
to get out
of town
and see
the autumn colors.

we put
our wee grub
into
her carrier,
packed
a bag for
the day,
and headed
to the train station.

grub chose
our destination.
the town of
sion-
the capitol
of the
valais canton.












a fog
hangs over
neuchâtel
at this time
of year.
we heard
the climate
is milder
and drier
in sion.
sion
is surrounded
by vineyards
and,
not one,
but two
medieval castles
overlook
the town.
valère and tourbillon.

unfortunately
it was still
a grey day
in sion
but the weather
was warm.
we
wandered
through
the tiny streets
and peeked
into
courtyards,
wandered down
charming passageways,
and
caught glimpses
of
the mountains
and
the castles
perched
on the
hills above.

as evening
fell,
we headed
home on
the train
with
all the
commuters
anxious
to begin their
weekend.
the train windows
became
mirrors
reflecting
the
faces
of strangers.

xo