525,600 minutes

A year since I’ve written, and I know because it has been a year since I had the freckle removed. This morning was my annual skin check which made me realize it has been a year. How the heck did that happen? And more importantly, what the heck happened?!? How do you measure a year? (Rent is one of my all-time favorite shows, but that’s another story.)

So, how do you measure a year?

Milestone birthdays? I turned forty in April. I was determined not to dwell on getting older, but to revel in the joy of all the people who love me. My husband who knows more than anyone that what I wanted was a party all about me. My brothers and sisters who helped him make it happen, right down to the decorations, games and cocktails. My friends who came and laughed and celebrated, including my college friend who flew in from England for a 24 hour speed visit. That weekend alone could last me a year.

Memorable vacations? We had a vacation of a lifetime in February when the five of us took a week long cruise in the Eastern Caribbean. New England weather tried to hold us back, but once we finally arrived it was like no other time away. We loved it so much we booked another while onboard. I hope the second can compare to the best vacation ever.

Saying goodbye to a friend? This summer I had to put on a happy face when neighbors of ours moved to California, which had been their dream since the day we met. Although happy for them, it was so hard to say goodbye to a friend who I completely trust, enjoy and respect. It was a reminder of how people pass through our lives, touching you along their way.

Moments of joy with your children? Standing at the side of a pool watching your child struggle to simply finish his first ever 200 meter race and seeing the sheer elation on his face as he climbed out of the water. Listening to your eight year old play Beethoven on the piano for 80 people. Seeing your first born become a teenager and every single day see something new in him.

Dancing in the kitchen. Motorcycle rides. Watching grass grow. Good books. Laughter. Smiles. Joy.

I guess the answer is... lots of ways. If you are lucky.

The great corned beef crisis of 2010

It's a busy time of year for the Cashew Family. Passover begins tonight at sundown, and Holy Week continues until Sunday with Easter. The house to clean, Easter baskets to fill, Matzoh Ball soup to make... no one said the life of a shiksa is an easy one.

Tonight at sundown our family will sit down to our Seder and celebrate Passover. For me, this is the Super Bowl of all Jewish holidays. Yes, Hanukkah is stretched out over eight nights, and we try hard to have holiday treats every day, but the holiday is rather laid back and it is what you make it. Roshashanna is another favorite, particularly for the kids, since our New Year celebration consists of a dinner predominantly made up of of fresh challah, apples and honey. Yom Kippur is low maintenance since Jason can't eat anyway, I just need to make sure we have a good meal to break his fast. But Passover is an entirely different story.

The word "seder" actually means order, as in the order of the meal, the order of the story, the order of the celebration. For approximately 4000 years Jewish families have sat down together and gone through the same exact "order" to celebrate the holiday. Talk about pressure for a shiksa trying her best.

Our family has developed our own traditions for Passover foods, one being a glazed corned beef for dinner. I like it because it's preparation is simple and works well with the fact that we sit at the table for what could be an hour before it's time to eat. No, it's not a traditional recipe, but a brisket is, and this is about as close as I can get to it.

Saturday morning I hit the grocery store in search of my corned beef and I was dismayed to find not one corned beef. The butcher's response "it isn't the season anymore." What?! Same story at two other stores. Apparently they stock up for St. Patrick's day and then it really isn't on their radar to get more until after the Easter rush for turkeys and hams. Not a corned beef to be found. I realized that in years past I always would buy the Passover corned beef when they were on sale for St. Patrick's Day, but I guess this year I wasn't really thinking of it. So on the eve of our seder I found myself corned beef-less. Jason says it doesn't matter. We'll do chicken. Which he also says is the Jewish answer to any menu-planning crisis.

Off to prep the chicken, wash the parsley, and set the table, and if I'm lucky I can get a quick run in to the store to get some things for the Easter baskets.

Alanya Flower

When you buy a new home, there is a year or so of discovery as you learn things about the new place you live. The furnace might make a weird clicking noise. The ceiling fans may wobble on high. The refrigerator may sweat when it’s over a certain temperature. New discoveries are made every day, and the same goes for your yard. What color will those leaves turn? That area of the driveway gets covered in ice because of bad drainage. Is that a weed or a flower? Should we pull it or hope for the best?

Seven years ago was our first year in this house and I was also pregnant. It was a learning process as we discovered what each flower bed had to offer from the previous owners. Out near the mailbox we had a number of things coming up, and one plant was taking a longer time than normal to show itself. It was nearly August and still no flowers, although it was bursting with buds. What would it be?

In the wee hours of August first we left for the hospital. That morning we called my mom and the boys at home to tell them about the new little girl in our family. Much to our delight, my mom told us that the mystery flower had burst open over night, and it turned out to be spectacular pink and white stargazer lilies. A celebration of pink and perfume for our little girl we had waited so long for.

We call them “Alanya Flowers” and every summer she continually checks to see how they are growing. Finally, within days of her birthday they burst open just for her. I’ll never in my life be able to look at one of those pink blooms without thinking of my little girl.

Just as good as Farter's Day

Not too long ago, Jason got a card on Father's Day and one of the boys had written with sure confidence "Happy Farter's Day". It was classic. They had no idea, and we didn't let on that it was wrong. The other day Alanya gave me a book that is just as good as that Farter's Day card. Here it is with all her original spellings. It doesn't get much better than this when a little hand writes these words for you.

Happy Mathrs Day.

Tobay is mathrs bay. It's may 10th the best day evre.

Because it cams wants a year. and the best prt is that I mad a book for my momay.

It is not abut you. It's abut your mom. the best persin ever.

It's fun fur every won. The best day of hre life. I love you mom.

Happy 40th Birthday!

It was a beautiful May day when this gorgeous guy was born 40 years ago.

The hair got even longer, and he got even cuter if that was possible.

Then the unthinkable happened... he became a teenager in the 80's!

Luckily it's not the size of the hair, or the number of years that matters, it's the Happy.

I love you!

Birthday Parties... 21st Century Style!

After our coast-to-coast skype of a wedding (read all about it here) I thought I'd add another chapter to how great technology can be. The other night on my birthday my parents took part in my virtual birthday party. All the fun with none of the calories I guess!

My parents had sent a birthday package earlier in the week, and much to the dismay of my children, it sat unopened. When we were ready to pull out the cake, we skyped my parents down in Florida. They sang Happy Birthday to me with Jason and the kids and we captured it here in this picture.

While they watched us all enjoy my cake, I opened their gift and we visited. Later I carried the laptop into the living room and Ben and Alanya played the piano. We wrapped things up by taking them down to the basement so they could see how the construction on the new family room is coming. I can't help but think twenty years ago this would have been an episode of the Jetsons. Pretty amazing, isn't it?

Happy Birthday to Me!

I was 5. I was in my favorite outfit, a blouse with denim gauchos and a matching vest. The party was at Papa Gino's and I got to go in the kitchen and make my own pizza. The cake had jelly beans all over it, my mother must have snagged a deal on clearance candy after Easter. And I got a Super Star Barbie. The first time I can remember wishing for a certain gift, and I actually got it. Like my wish really did come true!

Back then who would have thought that 33 years later I'd spend my day with my family, racing out of church afraid we'll be late for our baseball game. Sitting in the sun while my two little ones buy too much candy from the concession stand, and my oldest strikes out three batters. My husband buying flowers and a cake and taking us out for dinner. That little girl never could have imagined how it would turn out. Like a wish really did come true!

Happy Birthday to me.