We're Matt and Sally - and these are our little ones: Francis, George, Samuel and Scout (the dog, not pictured.)
We bought this domain name for our wedding 10 years ago and it evolved into a family blog when our oldest was only 3 months old. There have been lapses of writing here and there along the way, but we're back and hope to do better.
Matt is an attorney by day and woodworker by night. Sally is a momma, photography enthusiast, and Grammy Award winning freelance graphic designer. She designs album packaging for the Nashville music industry - having designed albums for Merle Haggard, Brooks and Dunn, Amy Grant, Blake Shelton, and Kenny Rogers to name a few. ;)
Our goal is just to live life creatively. The blog is simply a family journal. Our hope is to record as much as we can for our kids to enjoy someday. Because unfortunately, we bought the baby books, but never filled them out. Here's to hoping this makes up for that.
Sally and I enjoyed a documentary called Street Fight a few months ago. The film follows the effort of a young mayoral candidate in Newark, New Jersey to defeat a popular and seemingly corrupt incumbent. The candidate’s name is Cory Booker. He lost the election documented by the film, but won the next one. The perspective of the film is very pro-Booker, and you can’t come away from the film liking the incumbent, Sharpe James.
I noticed this morning that things got a lot worse for ex-mayor James last week. This news reminded me that I really enjoyed this movie, so put it on your Netflix queue, and watch it with the knowledge that Sharpe would eventually go down very hard.
Last summer, there were a number of elm trees removed from our block. Here’s a bowl that I turned from that wood back then. It’s been sitting in my garage all winter, drying and taking on a pretty extreme oblong shape. I went ahead and finished it last night.
This morning I was digging through my dresser looking for something gold for Francis to wear to “maroon and gold” day at her school and came across my Cayuco Race Patch. For those of you who don’t know, I lived in Panama from ages 11 to 15 and consider it to be the best years of my childhood. It was truly a unique and beautiful place to grow up. In so many ways, I am who I am because of that experience.
There is an annual race there called the Cayuco Race. It’s a 3 day race through the Panama Canal via dug out canoes that somehow end up being a cross between a canoe and a kayak. Participants prepare months in advance; preparing the boats and training physically. I remember vividly getting up before school and going paddling.
Year after year, the same boats would be in the race with different crews and new paint jobs. Certain boats had a legacy of winning and came with extra pride and expectation. Some boats were all about having fun. I paddled in a boat called “The Short Cut” (featured at 1:36 of this video)and I’m not sure where we stood historically, but we were definitely out to win. An all girl boat, I think we came in 5th in the girl category. Not bad, but no trophy. 😉 That said, every participant received a patch and although it doesn’t sound like much, wearing the patch in Panama meant something. Seeing it in my drawer this morning reminded me of that feeling of pride – being apart of something so unique and challenging. It’s fun to have one.
In 2000, the canal was handed back to the Panamanians and the US left. All of the bases are now prime real estate and what used to be my house is now the Nicaraguan Embassy! It’s a bit emotional to go back and see so many changes. Typically, when visiting an old hometown, you can find connection and comfort in all of the things that have stayed the same and enjoy the few things that have changed. Panama is a different world. What used to be the Canal Zone is now a booming resort area. Truly bizarre and sad for many of us who grew up there. And I’m saying that as a Army brat who only lived there for only 4 years. Many of my friends spent their entire lives there – generations of their family lived there. Their grandparents built the canal and their parents worked for the canal as well.
Watching this video today and seeing the “Short Cut,” I got a little teary knowing it was the same boat. There is meaning in that somehow. Legacy and history in a place that is so mixed up and lacking it due to the turnover in 2000.
I’m looking forward to the day when I can tell Francis and George about it…maybe even go stay at the “Grand Hyatt” in Gamboa (which used to be the base/neighborhood my friend lived) and see it in person.
*I’ll see if I can get some pics from my race posted.
Lea Parrott -I got all choked up as well. Mick hung my paddles in our front room as my source of "pride" at the house….Can't even tell you how often I wish I could go back. Ahhh those wonderful memories!
April 17, 2008 - 3:49 pm
Sally -I forgot to add that my sister paddled in the "Pursuit."
April 17, 2008 - 3:56 pm
Sally -For some reason, blogger isn't letting me edit my original post so I'll add some facts here. I paddled in 1988 and this video is from the 1999 race.
April 18, 2008 - 1:13 pm
Lea Parrott -I was in the Prime Cut and I paddled in 1991. My boat was co-ed, and we came 4th, not bad for us since we were 2 guys and 2 girls, and the boats that beat us were 3 guys and one girl.
Here’s a quick unedited video of Georgie getting his first haircut. He just started “nodding” in the last few days and it is so adorable. If you don’t like cute, don’t watch this video!
We went to what we affectionately refer to as the “train mall” today and had George’s hair cut for the first time. He sat in a miniature NYC cab, watched Elmo and took it like a little man (pay no mind to the leopard print cape he was sportin’. ;)) He walked away with a red lolly in his mouth and I, a tear in my eye. They grow up so fast.
by Sally
Lea Parrott - I got all choked up as well. Mick hung my paddles in our front room as my source of "pride" at the house….Can't even tell you how often I wish I could go back.
Ahhh those wonderful memories!
Sally - I forgot to add that my sister paddled in the "Pursuit."
Sally - For some reason, blogger isn't letting me edit my original post so I'll add some facts here. I paddled in 1988 and this video is from the 1999 race.
Lea Parrott - I was in the Prime Cut and I paddled in 1991. My boat was co-ed, and we came 4th, not bad for us since we were 2 guys and 2 girls, and the boats that beat us were 3 guys and one girl.