Meanwhile, Back at the Ranch ...

Jasmine E. Michaelson: Soooo ... uhmmm ... hi.
American Dresdner: Well, well, well. If it isn't JEM.
JEM: Yeah, about that ...
AD: Do you have any idea how much you worried me? I had all the neighbors out looking for you! I called the police ...
JEM: You called the police? What did you tell them?
AD: Just that I hadn't heard from you in a long time and it wasn't like you and could they look into it.
JEM: Wow. I had no idea I'd upset you so much.
AD: I just knew you were dead in a ditch somewhere. Anyway, they wanted to know what our relationship was, and when I told them they told me not to abuse emergency services and hung up on me.
JEM: Well, listen, I'm really sorry.
AD: [silent, refuses to make eye contact]
JEM: C'mon! What do you want me to say?
AD: An explanation would be nice.
JEM: I guess I don't really have one. It's actually been a pretty boring couple of weeks. In fact, that's the main reason I haven't stopped by. I haven't had anything interesting to report. For the most part, it's been gray and rainy, and the Chairman of the Board has been a real taskmaster lately.
AD: Who?
JEM: AD: Oh, right, him. He's really starting to hammer a wedge between us.
JEM: Hey now, he's just a baby. He needs lots of care and love.
AD: AND I DON'T?!
JEM: Anyway, we haven't really gotten out lately because he's been sort of moody. But we've had lots of fun here at home! Here, let me show you. [removes photos from wallet]
AD: Oh, jeez. Here we go.
JEM: He rolled over for the first time:


And I finally caught him on video laughing (apparently the way I was fluffing the pillows was pretty funny):


And, when he's not freaking out in public, he's been darn cute.

Thanks for the outfit, Grandma M.

But I can see your eyes are glazing over.
AD: No, no! Please keep going!
JEM: Are you being sarcastic? Because I will keep going, if you want.
AD: I was being sarcastic.
JEM: Oh.
AD: There must've been something interesting that happened. Something with a little drama and intrigue. Something that will hold our two remaining readers.
JEM: Well, today I polished off my last jar of Jif Crunchy Peanut Butter, but fortunately I recently discovered a German peanut butter that's relatively edible. That was pretty exciting.
AD: You know what? Why don't you just disappear again for a little while.
JEM: You don't mean that.
AD: Oh, I do. I really do.

My Little Rhodes Scholar

I always knew we'd have brilliant children.





JEM

A Morning in the Garden

Germany has miserable winters. They're not that cold compared to the frigid winters I spent growing up in Idaho buried under 10 feet of snow for four months solid. But even at its coldest in Idaho, nay, especially at its coldest, the sun comes out and the skies are bright, bright blue. Here, however, thanks to our higher latitude, the days are much shorter (10 a.m. to about 4 p.m.), and thanks to our wetter climate, the skies are dismal and gray for weeks at a time. So when I woke up last Thursday and could see patches of blue out my bedroom window, I nearly wept. And then I took Jethro to the park.

Even devoid of leaves, Dresden's Großer Garten, or Great Garden, was glorious. Carpeted in gold and purple crocuses and filled with birdsong, it reminded me how much I love it here.

I parked the Kinderwagen next to a pond and sat Jethro on my lap to watch the strolling people and the swimming ducks and swans.
And I was once again struck with the nagging feeling that wherever I go and whatever I do in my life, I doubt I'll ever find myself living in a more beautiful place.




JEM