Five Happiness Lives! We have a new home! Our first, totally owned by us! We are excited by all the exclamation points!!
Seriously, we bought a 3000 square foot home on top of a mountain. We call it "The Treehouse," because every room looks out into the tops of the surrounding trees. Oaks, chestnuts, beech, dogwood, tulip poplar, and dozens more varieties.
Where are the photos, you ask? On their way.
Through the blinding light of eternal wonder, we don our collective shades of spiritual guidance, or, as the case may be, personal framework of vague principles, and witness the sweet beauty of what most call, but others do not, A Blog Of Note.
Monday, April 23, 2012
Friday, October 28, 2011
Return To Form
It has been forever, friends. My apologies. Much has happened in the vast interim since my last posting.
We thrive, we drink in life in gulps, then sated, sit back and watch the growing world.
Tallulah, nearly three years old, continues to amaze with her vocabulary. She asked her grandfather last week, "Papa, what's your availability to play with me?" I had to count the syllables on my fingers.
Harper, whom Tallulah affectionately refers to as "Fig," is quite literally the happiest child I've ever met. She wakes up laughing. She makes her needs known with polite chirps, and generally charms everyone in her path. It is a delight to behold.
This week we are in New Orleans attending the wedding of my young cousin, Carroll Ganier. I have known him since he was a toddler, and to see him as a thirty-one year old, grown, and moving about the world with confidence and poise, engenders a security in my heart for the futures of my own two young children.
Yes, life is good. And not to be too premature, but we just put down an offer on a house. I believe the appropriate phrase is, "Eeeek!"
More on that later. But not too much later.
All The Best,
Bradley
We thrive, we drink in life in gulps, then sated, sit back and watch the growing world.
Tallulah, nearly three years old, continues to amaze with her vocabulary. She asked her grandfather last week, "Papa, what's your availability to play with me?" I had to count the syllables on my fingers.
Harper, whom Tallulah affectionately refers to as "Fig," is quite literally the happiest child I've ever met. She wakes up laughing. She makes her needs known with polite chirps, and generally charms everyone in her path. It is a delight to behold.
This week we are in New Orleans attending the wedding of my young cousin, Carroll Ganier. I have known him since he was a toddler, and to see him as a thirty-one year old, grown, and moving about the world with confidence and poise, engenders a security in my heart for the futures of my own two young children.
Yes, life is good. And not to be too premature, but we just put down an offer on a house. I believe the appropriate phrase is, "Eeeek!"
More on that later. But not too much later.
All The Best,
Bradley
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
One Small Step For Bradley
After you've willingly exited an airplane flying at ten thousand feet, much of the rest of your day seems rather boring.
Such was my day, Monday, October 11th, 2010. After my dear friend, Josh Lozoff, took me to skydive as a gift for my impending fortieth birthday, I spent the rest of the afternoon fantasizing about doing it again, and again, and again. Never before have I experienced the complete zen, whole mind-a-blank wonder that filled me from head to toe as I rocketed out of the Cessna aircraft and sped to earth at 170 feet per second. Once I stopped screaming, I realized how extremely happy I was. That the Earth was clearly getting nearer made my comfort even bigger. I am in the hand of God, a time-rift without decided conclusion. Do i live or die? What bliss to know these feelings at least once before I smash into the Earth.
But the 'chute did work. I did slowly and gracefully float like a little wind-drifted balloon, back to the ground.
Some have called this a rash, selfish act. I am a father and a husband. These are my life's work, and I take them very seriously. My rebuttal is simply this: we take risks daily. Getting in an automobile and joining faceless thousands upon our highways is more of a crap shoot than working with a professional skydiver. Climbing a cliff, relying on my knowledge and ability is much safer than choosing to enter traffic at any given time of day. In addition, traffic, cars, and faceless drivers seem to detract from the sanctity of my daily life, not give solace, or provide me with an immediate experience with the miraculous. Perhaps I'm not looking close enough. I'm too busy driving.
In the thirty five seconds of free fall, I knew something akin to complete peace and spiritual understanding that has only increased my ability to be a present and loving partner and parent. That, to me, is not only important, but in my life, absolutely necessary.
Plus, it was cool.
Such was my day, Monday, October 11th, 2010. After my dear friend, Josh Lozoff, took me to skydive as a gift for my impending fortieth birthday, I spent the rest of the afternoon fantasizing about doing it again, and again, and again. Never before have I experienced the complete zen, whole mind-a-blank wonder that filled me from head to toe as I rocketed out of the Cessna aircraft and sped to earth at 170 feet per second. Once I stopped screaming, I realized how extremely happy I was. That the Earth was clearly getting nearer made my comfort even bigger. I am in the hand of God, a time-rift without decided conclusion. Do i live or die? What bliss to know these feelings at least once before I smash into the Earth.
But the 'chute did work. I did slowly and gracefully float like a little wind-drifted balloon, back to the ground.
Some have called this a rash, selfish act. I am a father and a husband. These are my life's work, and I take them very seriously. My rebuttal is simply this: we take risks daily. Getting in an automobile and joining faceless thousands upon our highways is more of a crap shoot than working with a professional skydiver. Climbing a cliff, relying on my knowledge and ability is much safer than choosing to enter traffic at any given time of day. In addition, traffic, cars, and faceless drivers seem to detract from the sanctity of my daily life, not give solace, or provide me with an immediate experience with the miraculous. Perhaps I'm not looking close enough. I'm too busy driving.
In the thirty five seconds of free fall, I knew something akin to complete peace and spiritual understanding that has only increased my ability to be a present and loving partner and parent. That, to me, is not only important, but in my life, absolutely necessary.
Plus, it was cool.
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
Five Happiness Eagerly Awaits New Arrival
A hummingbird's one hundred and sixty beats per minute, our newest family member's heart rate, as was officially checked at Chapel Hill's Birth Center, earlier this afternoon.
It's true, we're expecting the currently moniker-ed "Zigan the Zygote" sometime at the end of February, (the 28th.) Tallulah thinks it's a boy. Bradley thinks it's a boy. Felicity thinks girl. I could be the proud father of two little girls. wow.
This is exciting for us, especially me, as I'm an only child. The idea of two babies running around is quite new and the challenge is wonderful!
So, that's all for now, but we'll keep you updated as we know more!
We Remain,
Five Happiness (we're firing a dog to maintain our numbers.)
It's true, we're expecting the currently moniker-ed "Zigan the Zygote" sometime at the end of February, (the 28th.) Tallulah thinks it's a boy. Bradley thinks it's a boy. Felicity thinks girl. I could be the proud father of two little girls. wow.
This is exciting for us, especially me, as I'm an only child. The idea of two babies running around is quite new and the challenge is wonderful!
So, that's all for now, but we'll keep you updated as we know more!
We Remain,
Five Happiness (we're firing a dog to maintain our numbers.)
Sunday, August 8, 2010
Closer and Farther Apart
Summer has been hot. Very hot. Last year at this time we visited Seattle for a wedding. It was a record breaking 100+ week. No one has air conditioning.
This week, as was the week previous, and promises to be next week, we endure record breaking 100+ degree days. So, I guess we're used to it. But this heat brings some serious challenges when it comes to entertaining a 20 month old...
Walks outside are impossible. Stuck inside, we get creative with all four rooms of our four room house. We visit the dogs in their air-conditioned garage. We go for rides in the truck (with the A/C!) and we rest.
Lu has always been a good sleeper, but now she will take it upon herself to find a spot in the middle of the floor, lay her head down on her blanket (affectionately dubbed, "Nightnight",) and say "rest." Then, five to ten seconds later, she's back up and running. It is good to see she has gained some useful skills for adulthood this early.
On a more somber note, this week Felicity rushed back to Utah after her father, Boyd, was hospitalized for a serious brain hemorrhage. He's not out of the woods yet, but things are looking very good for him. All of us at Five Happiness ask you to keep him in your thoughts throughout his recovery. Boyd is a strong hearted, athletic seventy-two. He's got plenty of things left to do. Teaching Tallulah to paint is only one of them.
In the interim, Daddy is parenting on his own, for the first time. I've cut my work days in half to spend more attention on my sweetie. She only inquires after mommy in the mornings, and sometimes after naps. For the most part she is taking this change in stride. Not much phases her, save low blood sugar, or fatigue. We have started video chats in the afternoon with Felicity and her Mother, Marie, who jumps at every opportunity to see her darling granddaughter. Who can blame her?
In hindsight we see clearly the strengthening effect calamity brings. Bonds are tempered and struggles endured for the better. But while they last it is hard to look beyond obstacles to see the greater picture. We see only the desperation of the moment. I am working very hard to keep Tallulah's environment as unchanged as possible, but even she knows something is off. But I can see her mind grow with every new thing she encounters. Somehow, being farther apart from family will bring us closer.
Yours, as always,
Bradley and Tallulah
This week, as was the week previous, and promises to be next week, we endure record breaking 100+ degree days. So, I guess we're used to it. But this heat brings some serious challenges when it comes to entertaining a 20 month old...
Walks outside are impossible. Stuck inside, we get creative with all four rooms of our four room house. We visit the dogs in their air-conditioned garage. We go for rides in the truck (with the A/C!) and we rest.
Lu has always been a good sleeper, but now she will take it upon herself to find a spot in the middle of the floor, lay her head down on her blanket (affectionately dubbed, "Nightnight",) and say "rest." Then, five to ten seconds later, she's back up and running. It is good to see she has gained some useful skills for adulthood this early.
On a more somber note, this week Felicity rushed back to Utah after her father, Boyd, was hospitalized for a serious brain hemorrhage. He's not out of the woods yet, but things are looking very good for him. All of us at Five Happiness ask you to keep him in your thoughts throughout his recovery. Boyd is a strong hearted, athletic seventy-two. He's got plenty of things left to do. Teaching Tallulah to paint is only one of them.
In the interim, Daddy is parenting on his own, for the first time. I've cut my work days in half to spend more attention on my sweetie. She only inquires after mommy in the mornings, and sometimes after naps. For the most part she is taking this change in stride. Not much phases her, save low blood sugar, or fatigue. We have started video chats in the afternoon with Felicity and her Mother, Marie, who jumps at every opportunity to see her darling granddaughter. Who can blame her?
In hindsight we see clearly the strengthening effect calamity brings. Bonds are tempered and struggles endured for the better. But while they last it is hard to look beyond obstacles to see the greater picture. We see only the desperation of the moment. I am working very hard to keep Tallulah's environment as unchanged as possible, but even she knows something is off. But I can see her mind grow with every new thing she encounters. Somehow, being farther apart from family will bring us closer.
Yours, as always,
Bradley and Tallulah
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