Thank you all for the kind welcome back; it's much appreciated.

***

Tonight Avadore and I are making quinoa, potato and corn soup. Sha la la la. He's currently studying the soaking quinoa intently.

As Avadore ages I fall more and more in love with him. He and LD are two of the best decisions I ever made. I really have been enjoying them, and as Avadore ages he becomes such a lovely, charming person. He's lovely company. I hope we're cooking together and going grocery shopping together for a long time.

It was entirely possible that I would have ended up without children, for so many reasons. Though, if that were the case, I probably would have shot someone by now. Have you ever noticed how the people who understand the least about one's life are so frequently the ones who try to "helpfully suggest" what one should do with their life, particularly where procreation is concerned? Busy bodies.

I have an acquaintance who insists on giving me a hard time for leaving academia and research to have a family. And that I married? Oh, horrendous. What kind of feminist am I? Well, one who believes in choice. I respect her choice to not marry (until this weekend) and to choose not to have kids. It's a personal decision, and one that should be respected on all sides.

But the fact remains this is one of the best decisions, for myself, I ever made. There is a love and connection there that results from the nurturing that is unlike anything else I have ever experienced. And I cannot imagine the world without them.

And so I am grateful for my children. I adore them. I hope they turn into fine, kind men. And in the meantime we can share our adoration for superheroes, and Star Wars, and things that go BOOM!

This surely doesn't mean that they never drive me crazy. Oh, the insanity...

***

There is something about the connection and relationships one has with someone else who understands where they come from, who has experienced a similar life first hand. I look at my brother, the J-Spot. We have a similar sense of humor, and can share jokes that no one else finds funny. It's just quirky and weird and dark enough not to be terribly common.

***

One of the most beautiful things about being human is how social we are, how much we need others, how much we need affection and love. And when we connect with others, and love them, and have compassion for them, sadness when they have trials and joy when they have success, then it's a fabulous existence.