just trying to pay attention

The boys went back to school weeks ago now, as referenced in the last entry. Since then there've been fall play auditions and homecoming court nominations, several marching band performances and lots of ice cream. Hank has crocheted a cardigan and more creatures than he can name, Tucker has composed stand tune arrangements and college application essays, and Tolliver is a Madison county wiffle ball tournament champ.

My tears changed their mind about six times yesterday alone. I suspect I feel torn because I am paying attention. And I'm not sure I want to ask more of myself than that.

all Betz are off

First day of school in Grandview Heights - twelfth grade, ninth grade and sixth grade!

still an annual test of my stoicism, heightened by this last first.

And still, very few things are out of their grasp.

annual RiverFam

The RiverFam text thread is year round full of invitations: moms to the movies, kids to play putt putt, big boys to babysit, always ripe with birthday greetings and bourbon discoveries and Glen Powell memes. Once a year the conversation happens in real time, over a weekend on the Ohio River, and the texts traded are mostly photos of kids learning to ski, parents tending to not-their own children and talent show preparations. It feels fortunate to claim each other as family and to watch everyone grow in the process.

While we were at the river, Tucker was further south, visiting a friend and touring UNC and Duke!