While you were gone

by Irene

Dear Helen:

You have done such a fantastic job keeping us all posted on your travels! I’m so glad you guys recorded videos and posted them (as well as the pics)! I thought…now that you’re back, I should give a quick updated of everything that has happened since you left – though, truly, it has not been much at all!

Let’s see….one weekend Ivan and I rented a car and we went camping in Mendocino National Park. That was fun – we swam in a lake, we wore SHORTS because it was above 70 degrees, we drove for miles and miles on unpaved road in a rental car, we slept in the TENT that you and Adam got me for my birthday! Great tent, by the way – perfect size for two people. It was very nice to get out of the city.

Then, one night I hung out with a friend I made in Ireland when I was there last summer. She’s actually French, and she and her boyfriend were visiting California. We went to a bar and then we ate delicious pizza and I had a really good time! We spoke some random combination of French and English, mainly English.

As you know, of course, I also cut my hair off. Which reminds me…I really need to donate it. It’s somewhere in my closet in a bag. I quite like the change – and it IS a change. I’m now shopping for jewelry/accessories so I don’t look too much like a boy. I think you said this and so has everyone who has ever seen mom – that I look a lot like her. Anyway, the hairdresser did a great job. I was nervous at work before going to the salon, but once I was there she was so excited to do my hair and just didn’t have a doubt that I would love it.  People’s super positive reaction at work has been really nice too. Everyone was just wowed by it.

Most recently Leo and I hung out when he came up north to visit Shark, his brother, and me. As Leo had just turned 21, we could go to bars, which we did. It was really weird but also totally natural at the same time. He’s so much older than the kid I usually associate him – you know, with bangs covering his eyes and not coming down during the Christmas party (when I was in high school) because he was so intimidated by all the people there. Quite a different Leo now!

And, of course, throughout all of this two predominant things have been happening:

1. I’ve been playing a lot of tennis, mainly with Laura but sometimes with Ivan too.
2. Happy hours after work.
3. Brunch and coffee.

Oh, also, I have been using the le creuset you guys got me – have made Moroccan chicken twice now – and it’s delicious. My favorite part is the way the couscous comes out, because it calls for cinnamon, turmeric, and cumin and you add raisins which really puff out. Anyway, it’s delicious.

Comments

[The Mother]

So glad that you are talking too now!
Your life is full of events and bid journey that Helen is already undertaking is also in front of you!
Love
Mom
PS Dad does think that you look like you with short hair, not like your Mother