"you don't love people at their best, sweetheart. you just love them because you can't help it."

-Amy Lane

afternoon at the lake

things learned: 

the rope swing is my friend. 

the branch that trapped my foot as i was climbing out of the lake and made me fall and faceplant back into the lake -- NOT my friend. 

le graduate

baby brother graduated high school two weekends ago and we decided the best way to celebrate was to spend the rest of the day on the boardwalk in santa cruz. 

there was no complaining well only some complaining but just cuz we didn't get to play laser tag (it was a laser tag MAZE, you guys) 

(okay it actually wasn't a maze per se it was more just like an arena BUT in my head it was a maze and in my head it was awesome).  

but perhaps the best moment of the morning was when the graduating class was announced and the graduates stood and momentously switched their tassels to the other side of their caps and the crowd was cheering exclamations of congratulations, my dear sweet mother was cheering loudly, "I NEVER HAVE TO DO THIS AGAIN!!!!" 

......

good job brother.

(we love each other)

really proud of my yittle bro and the man he is becoming. love you booger. 

small animals barn

it's all fun and games 'til your big sister puts a baby chick on your head. 

ps: at the ranch for the summer. gonna heal my heart and get a wicked tan. 

the missing comes in waves of heavy noticeable-ness, while a less noticed, constant ache of the heart just kind of sits there softly and rests in the surf. during those inbetweens are the little things, the empty spaces that used to be filled with that laugh or a t-shirt hanging over the desk chair or toes slid just underneath my leg on the bed. those empty spaces are just so much more noticeable now, you know?