We started "Neil Stone Updates" in January 2009 as a way to let friends and family know how Neil was faring following a car accident. Neil sustained a truamatic brain injury due to severe head trauma. In the days, weeks, and months that followed, the support we received from readers of this blog comforted and lifted us through the trials and difficulties of his healing. In January 2010 we felt it was time to make a change in the blog, and "Stone Soup" was born. Now, along with updates on Neil's progress, we've included family photos and activities. It's time to get on with life! Thanks for being a part of it!
I was there. I saw him: The Cutest Baby in the World. And it's true. He really is!
Just see for yourself:
T.C.B.I.T.W. after a bath
T.C.B.I.T.W. at the doctor's office
T.C.B.I.T.W. asleep on his mother's lap
T.C.B.I.T.W.'s first taste of real food
I'm feeling like a pretty lucky grandma. I only got to spend a few days with him, but those were quality days for sure. That is one cuddly kid! Now that I'm home, all I can say is thank goodness for Skype!
On a beautiful day last Fall, Neil and I went for a run together. I appreciated the company. He usually runs much faster and much farther than I do. As we plodded along at my slow pace he had the spur-of-the-moment idea to take me to a place I'd been asking to see since before his accident--the secret cemetery in the woods. He'd been there before with friends when he was filming a semi-historic video for a school project. Though he had agreed to take me there years before, it never seemed to be the right time or season to make the short trip.
I was surprised to see that the cemetery really is hidden. The unmarked path off the road leaves a quiet neighborhood cul-de-sac, then disappears into some dense woods. After sneaking through some one's back yard we found a less traveled path (grassy and wanting wear) crossed by many downed trees that we climbed over to continue the trek. Then, out of the corner of my eye I spotted the remains of a rock wall. Through a tangle of brush and wild roses we reached the entrance.
The headstones that are still legible show dates from the 1800s. The names are the same ones we see on the street signs in the surrounding towns. Only one is recent. The date on the only modern placard in the corner of the yard reads 1998.
Curious, I did some research. Why is this cemetery not tended to? Why is it seemingly unknown? Why is the path grown-over and blocked? I didn't find my answers, but I found this instead: Vanderveer Cemetery #1 I also found this map of my town from 1860:
Though the cemetery isn't marked, it sits right on the Vanderveer farm on the western edge of the map by the river.
This place feels sacred to me. More than a hundred years ago, the path would have been well-worn, the cemetery accessible. Families would have come quietly mourning, their tears very real. I feel connected to them, not because of family ties--my roots are buried in other parts--but because I live on their land. I plant my little garden where they plowed their fields. I drive across what was their forests. I hope they don't consider me an interloper.
When I went back for a visit recently, I was comforted to find a Christmas wreath on the newest grave. My neighbors of earlier days may be gone, but they are certainly not forgotten. I'd be glad to take you there. Then you can remember them, too.
Two Crazy Ladies (It's really hard to take your own picture...)
My mom came to visit me. She actually came to see Porgy and Bess, but I'm pretty sure she was happy seeing me and my family, too. I really, really like this woman :-)
MARCHING BAND starts in August--even before school begins. Then it's marching band nearly every hour of every day until November.
JAZZ BAND starts in November and continues through the Spring.
REGION BAND takes up December and January.
WINTER DRUMLINE is a winter/spring activity.
WIND ENSEMBLE goes throughout the school year and overlaps everything.
The band program at Eric's school is outstanding and he's had some wonderful opportunities to be involved in competitions and concerts all over the area. His proudest musical accomplishment for the year was making the Region band. (All State auditions are this Saturday. Good luck, Eric!)
Now it's movie time!
This is a one minute section from the middle of this year's Marching Band show:
Here's part of Eric's solo (starting at 24 seconds) in a little ensemble at a Barnes & Noble band fundraiser. (This was thrown together at the last minute with practically no rehearsal so it may be lacking in polish, but I love it anyway!):
And here's Eric with his new Christmas toy, a plastic trombone. It weighs practically nothing, but it sounds pretty good, don't you think? (Eric will probably be embarrassed that I put this up. He's just playing off the top of his head. Don't you love the Christmas carnage in the background?)
Besides music, Eric's new loves are Physics and Calculus. He comes home from school some days just bubbling over with enthusiasm for a new theorem or concept.
Here, he explains the first fundamental theorem of calculus to his new nephew. He was so animated in the telling, that Emerson watched Eric intensely for a full ten minutes or so.
I'm sure proud of this guy. He's a talented boy with a good heart. What more could a mom ask for?
First came Nadene, my awesome mother-in-law. She never stopped working. She raked leaves, washed dishes, tended the baby (more about him later), vacuumed, and dusted. I couldn't stop her! And when all the work was done, she was the queen of the games: Quiddler, 5 Crowns, Banana Grams, Shanghai Rummy, and more. Fun times indeed! Here she is with her delicious "Cloud 9" rolls for our Thanksgiving feast. Oh, and did I say she cooked? Well, she did that too!
Next came the Alison's family: Brandon, Alison, Emerson, and Brisquette, the dog.
You better believe there was a lot of baby spoiling around here!
Then came Carl, Brandon's dad. He came to be here for Emerson's blessing.
And now for some pictures, because we took a lot of them!
Let's say your son insisted he needed 16 female betta fish for a science project, what would you do with them when said project was over?
I borrowed this picture from the internet.
Before he even acquired the fish, I made mine promise that he would treat them humanely and find them good homes when he was done with them. Trouble was, not a lot of people are looking to adopt female bettas. Eric was finally able to get rid of give away some of them, but we were left tending way too many. As they started to mature, they got aggressive and ugly. Bullies picked on the smaller ones by nibbling on their fins and tails. We dutifully cleaned their tanks and carefully fed them, but the fish fun was over.
A few weeks ago, the East suffered a freak, too-early-in-the-season snow storm. Leafy tree limbs couldn't hold the weight of the wet snow and broke off, knocking down power lines all over the area. The power outages left our home without electricity for four days. We were inconvenienced and cold, but that was about it. Then we noticed the fish. Apparently bettas like to be kept warm. One by one, we found the poor little fishies belly up. I'm sorry to admit that nobody was crying when the cold did them in. Nature took it's course. Who can argue with that? I'm not even going to try.
Any one want a fish tank? We have three available.
