Hibernate Blog

[July 29, 2009 - A month late. What can I say? August got busy...]

My friend Jessica and I went for a swim in her pond as the sun was beginning to say farewell to another spectacular day. The sky still a vibrant blue with a token passing high cloud. Out in the middle of the pond I floated across the water. Gazing up at the crystal clear blue July sky, the sounds of the world became muffled by the echo of the water that covered my ears. Serenity. Stillness. Peace.

The height of summer – the trees and ferns that surround the house seem to wrap their arms around my kids.  These days are what childhood is made of – part of what will mold them into who they become, define the texture of their personality and add or subtract to their temperament. Unbeknownst to them, my children, their cousins and friends are creating simple yet unforgettable memories. Frogs, blackberries, fireflies. Bruised knees, chlorine skin, ice cream smiles.

They have no care about issues to understand, goals to reach, purposes to achieve, quagmires to solve. They lollygag, they explore, they grow.

Here’s to summer and doing everything or nothing at all – underneath a sky so blue.

This is baby Aiden captured in a peaceful moment during a recent photo shoot.* Courtesy of Sarah Neal, the [extremely] talented photographer behind Sarah Neal Designs in Flagstaff, Arizona. Thank you for sharing your work Sarah!

Little baby boys. One day, swaddled in innocence and love. He is content and finds peace in nothing more than your arms. The next, you’re making dinner and hear him yelling at the top of his lungs. You gander out your kitchen window, speechless, as he has found peace by blasting holes with his 4-wheeler in the pool inflatables.

*LEGAL DISCLAIMER: In no way, shape or form does SaraBear Company or any authorized person, employee or affiliated person of SaraBear (past, present or future) condone or promote the uses of products seen in this blog post. Never place a baby in a SaraBear diaper caddy. SaraBear Company is not affiliated with Sarah Neal Designs. Melissa takes no responsibility for keeping clothes on her son.

The day, which was forecast for rain, was turning out to be quite pleasant. The sun played hide-n-seek through the high clouds and a pleasant breeze flirted through my windows.

Although Father’s Day, Ben was working. So by late afternoon the kids and I decided to head out to the park.  We hopped in the car and headed to their favorite playground. Wouldn’t you know – two miles down the road it started to rain. We knew the swings and slides would quickly be all wet.

Oh well. In need of a new shower-head for the guest shower I thought it would be a good time to swing into Home Depot and pick it up. Besides, the kids are always game for the Big-Orange-Tractor-Store.

So there we were…walking through the Queensbury Home Depot. As we headed out, into the front aisle came a woman walking with a dog. I wondered why someone would have a dog in the store? Must be one of those “dogs-in-training” I assumed and we kept on by.

But then, as I navigated the kids around the particularly happy pup I recognized her. I haulted the kids and stopped dead in my tracks. “Oh my God Sara, that’s Rachael Ray! It’s really her! She’s with her Mom and that’s her dog!”

Sara and I quickly contemplated what to do. We both got very nervous and decided we couldn’t do it. No way could we walk up and bother her in public. Clearly, she just wants to shop in peace like the rest of us. Nate tugged to show me the John Deere lawn mower he wanted me to buy – so we started to leave.

Then thank goodness my common sense took over. There was no way I was leaving that store without meeting her! And like any honest, quick-thinking parent I would say that my kids really wanted to meet her dog.

So we walked up and said hello. Rachael was 100x’s more beautiful in person. She introduced her dog Isaboo, we passed a few words and we then said thank you and goodbye. Having just sent Rachael one of our SaraBear diaper caddies (our continued forging PSI PR efforts) the opportunity to meet her in person was beyond thrilling.

Back outside, the sun was peaking through the clouds again and the weather had shifted. As I buckled Nate in his car seat I rambled on to Sara about how famous Rachael Ray was. And of course I texted my friend Tina about what had just happened.  I couldn’t believe we had just met Rachael Ray! I was high and giddy.

Although just a brief 30-second exchange, surely it will always be memorable for me. Sara and Nate will hear this story a million times as they grow up. How silly is it that meeting a certain other human being could be so exciting? Not too bad for a rainy day.

(Rachael Ray and her dog Isaboo. Originally from Lake George, NY, Rachael has a home here and her mother still lives in the area)

We met in the 6th grade. Two complete opposites: I was lanky, freckly, and quiet; She was voluptuous, dark and spoke what was on her mind, always embarrassing me in public. (The girl is half Greek/half Italian). We grew up in a small New England town and both shared a constant uneasiness with our surroundings. We couldn’t wait to get the hell out. During life science class early in the 12th grade we had formulated our plan… never mind these cold, snowy winters – we were going somewhere warm! (it was also the only place we knew existed outside of our town because we saw people party there on MTV).

In June 1988, ages 17 and 19, we packed the Ford Escort and Chevy Camaro and hit 95 South to Daytona Beach. Mercifully, my mom and dad drove with us to help with the drive, but mostly to try and give us the best chance at survival. We sat through 20 lectures from my father, including his demonstrative course and dissertation in self defense. My mother helped us hang curtains, clean and grocery shop. But she mostly cried. And cried and cried. I still harbor enormous guilt over the pain my mother must have gone through. (I’ve told Sara she is living with me until she is 40). But my mom knew I’d go with or without her blessing. Tina and I were stubborn and determined and had wings we wanted to fly.

As so there we were. We had $500, no jobs and our very own cockroach-infested kitchen stocked with Ramen Noodles, cheese, and Hi-C. We were psyched!!

Who the heck were we kidding?! Fast forward 10 months. Between us we’d gained 40 lbs from the 2-for-$1.00 noodle diet, held and lost 6 jobs, witnessed a drug-bust outside our bedroom window, battled hundreds of cockroaches (including one burrowing in my hair), been robbed by a prostitute, narrowly escaped a nasty car accident, gone through 2 other room mates (one turned out to be a thief and the other was awesome but had a nasty illegal drug habit), eluded a very creepy guy on campus, were living in our 3rd place (including my car for a few days), my hair was falling out and we had no money. The thrill was officially gone.

Fast forward 20 years. Tina and I find ourselves in NYC at Cassidy’s Pub on W 55th, reminiscing and laughing hysterically over a 4-cocktail lunch, texting our friend Adam in Chicago like high-schoolers. I haven’t laughed that hard in a long time! We broke some rules and certainly were acting like fools, but it’s New York – no one noticed anyway. We ate, drank, were pampered at a salon, people-watched and shopped. For 36 hours we escaped our reality and acted like a 17 and 19-year-old, leaving the responsibility of motherhood behind for just a little bit. The thrill was back. My BFF Tina – thanks for the laughs!

Professional iPhone photo

Adam, this one’s for you

We have a new dog. His name is Harvey. He is an absolute L.O.V.E. He lives for approval and there’s not a mean bone in his body.

That is, unless, you are a toy made of plastic. (Amanda, this photo looks like something from your house!)

A beautiful day outside – Whilst I shampooed the “kitty pook-up” stain from the white berber in the play room, the kids were supposed to be merrily playing with the dog.

No Barbie is safe here. Apparently, either is my washing machine.