Chasing Down May

A friend noted in an email that the previous week had gotten away from her. Same here, I said. I was chasing the previous week down the street, too. (If you see it, please send it back in my direction!) That's actually an understatement, it's really all of May that has sped past like one of those rapidly flipping calendars in a movie. What happened to May? The answer is what happened in May:

Week 1: I went (virtually) to a conference in Assisi. There was also the small matter of a papal conclave, which I live blogged for the Philadelphia Inquirer, along with four other local Catholics. Oh - and two tea related events. Motto for the week, most of it spent on Rome time: "All the jet lag, none of the gelato." Math Man did take me out for water ice when all was said and done. Habemus papam!

Week 2: There was a wedding! Math Guy, my youngest, got married. There were dinners and lunches. Philly food (more water ice) and family. Despite travel travails, everyone got here and home. We all celebrated the happy couple, we karaoke-ed (is that a verb?) and danced under the disco lights. There were 30 people at my house on the day after. We ate some more and hugged a lot. I definitely cried more than once.

Week 3: Wedding recovery. Whew - could I fit all the stuff from the reception in my Mini Cooper? Props to the staff person at the venue who did not say, "You can't possibly get all that in." I did, including the enormous disco ball which occupied the passenger seat. I chauffeured people to their flights. There was...laundry. Because there is always laundry.

Week 4: I facilitated two retreat days for staff from Catholic Social Services programs. Respite and reflection for 130 lovely folk, framed around pilgrimages and hope.  Reunion at the college. My students are writing books and talking about them. I talked to alums. I packed up and shuttered my research space after a 40 year run as an independent scientist. I definitely cried again.

It's been a lot. But I am welcoming what I hope will be a gentle June. Hi, June!

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Photos are of my sibs (The Wookie, The Reverend, The Artisté, my aunt, my sister, Geek Guru, and me. All in our disco best. I am so short.); a plant with a bloom peeking out at the retreat house, hope for sure; and the very first computer I had at the college.