I’ve been thinking about this topic for a long time…how people approach life and integrate experiences into who they are. After I returned from India for Theresa and Atma’s wedding, I realized how much the trip had changed me, and how India will now always be a part of me…becoming part of the tapestry that makes me…me. This has always been how travel has affected me, and it made me wonder if it is the same for everyone, or if other people are able to enjoy the places they visit but don’t come out of it feeling ‘different’. Which is what led me to the concept of weavers and wrappers.

If each person is like a unique and beautiful tapestry, do we start out as an empty loom? Do we have some fundamental design that we get from our family that is built upon throughout our lives? Or is our design set? Here is what I think:

A weaver integrates the experiences of life into their tapestry, meaning they will never really know what the final outcome is until…well, I guess until the end. Each day, each new place, new experience, each person who touches our lives adds to the color and texture of what we are. This means though, that our tapestry is really never finished.

A wrapper takes comfort in knowing who they are and where they came from. Their design comes from their family and ancestry, their nationality, or whatever they feel truly defines them and makes them fundamentally who they are. This doesn’t mean they do not enjoy new experiences, or are closed to new cultures. It means that they observe and appreciate these things with some level of detachment, much as an anthropologist must remain unbiased.

I consider myself a weaver. What are you? What do you think about this theory?

So, I’ve been away on business for 9 days…not straight, but almost. When I got back and saw Stan walking thru the airport with the kids, I was struck by how much bigger Jonah looked. They came running up to me and Jonah repeatedly kissed me on the lips and hugged me….as did Zoe. Happiness is truly the love of your children. Anyway, we waited for my suitcase and once it arrived, Jonah took my computer roller bag and dragged it all the way to the car for me. Such a little gentleman! We headed to dinner and Jonah asked me to take him to the bathroom, which I was very thrilled about. I was pretty sure it wasn’t going to actually result in him successfully using the toilet, but wanted to be encouraging anyway. I was wrong! Yay, Jonah. I tell Stan and he says that they had been working on that, especially before bath time. So when we got home, I ran their bath and Jonah wanted to try and use the potty again…this time he said he wanted to stand up. You know, like boys do. So I put the seat up, he peed, shook and was done. I. could. not. believe. it. I told Stan and even he hadn’t ever seen him do that.

In a little over a week, he’s grown up so much…if a year is the equivalent to seven dog years, how does a week equate to toddler years??

Last week as we were driving up to visit friends in Ashland, Oregon, we stopped at Lake Shasta for the night. At breakfast, both the kids ordered hot chocolate and, as expected, there was a spill. Not Jonah, the 2 1/2 year old, but Zoe the BIG kid. She spilled the WHOLE cup all over herself. Luckily, she had diluted it with like 9 little creamers, so it wasn’t too hot. But she was

covered

in hot chocolate. A chocolate covered Zoe. So, we excuse ourselves and hoof it back to our room to clean her up. On the way there, she licks her arm and says, “MMMMmmm! I taste GOOD!” And it reminded me of this, which I found on StumbleUpon.

As you may know if you’ve read earlier posts, my younger sister got married in India last year. We were all struck by how beautiful the hand crafts were there, and as a result, Theresa and Atma have opened a little online store. Check it out…

So, for the two or so people who actually read this, I realize I left you hanging…it wasn’t very fair of me, was it? Well, just to close the loop, all is fine with the biopsy…it came back benign. The relief I felt really can’t be described. I’m left with a very small scar, which continues to diminish with time…

Tomorrow is the big day. I have a valium. My hubby will be with me (not while they actually do the procedure…). I am quite anxious. I hope I find out the results quickly so I can put all to rest.

If you were told you had a one in four chance of winning the lottery, would you be excited? Would you feel like you had a pretty good chance of winning?

If four out of five dentists recommend using fluoride toothpaste, wouldn’t you do it because most of them say you should?

Here is my conundrum. I had a mammogram yesterday – the second in a month – to take a closer look at some breast calcifications. The result was that they are ‘Indeterminate’ calcifications. They want to do a biopsy. The statistic is that of the women who have a biopsy, 22% (or 1 out of 4, as stated on CPMC.org website) turn out to be malignant.

Which side of the statistic would you want to be on? I am trying to stay positive, but jesus. It’s scary.

If anyone is bothering to still read this after it’s been soooo long since I’ve posted, thank you for that.

I have been completely consumed by work…it is so busy right now that I don’t even have time to play Scramble on Facebook. *gasp*

Also, I’ve been working on a post that captures the essence of Jonah…seems like Zoe is getting all the attention on here lately, so my little man needs some airtime too.

Anyway, just wanted to say, still here. Just totally swamped. Going to Dallas next week for work. Then home for a week. Then to Las Vegas for four days for work again.

Oh yeah…I’m also trying to learn how to play the guitar. I’ll be back.

A conversation from Sunday:

Zoe: Mama, if I was an ant and you found me in your house, would you kill me?

Me: Uh….(pause)….If I knew it was a Zoe-ant I would very gently pick you up and put you back outside where you belong.

Zoe: Oh.

Geez. Where does she get this stuff from?