Suddenly, Summer

Summer seemed to officially start with Mother’s Day, with the cousins coming together to see the other wildlife at the zoo. It was Elizabeth’s idea, and no matter that it was bound to be hectic, it was exactly what Bonnie and I wanted to do. Jack was in his element, pointing with excitement at the animals in the exhibits, chasing ducks at the pond, riding the train for the first time. Patrick made Bonnie’s day with a surprise visit to the picnic in the park. Later in May, we met up with Matthew and Sharon for a weekend in San Antonio where she was starting her internship. It was a disappointment to find that some things were not the same—our favorite El Mirasol was not on the map anymore—but the quieter part of the Riverwalk was still beautiful, and the Hotel Havana proved to be a good vantage point. In the hot summer days to follow, Mark and I split our time between the two cities, spending weekends in Austin and most weekdays with our grandsons in Houston. Elizabeth and Andrew were ready for a getaway in June, and it was our vacation in Asheville that brought all the family together. Matthew and Sharon drove over to our rental house from Durham. Mark and I made the two-day drive with all the baby gear, minus the babies who flew over with their mom and dad. I expected all the usual pleasures Mark and I have experienced in Asheville—the great restaurants, breweries and sights on mountain trails—but two-year-old Jack’s determination and stamina climbing to Craggy Gardens blew me away. Benjamin, all three months of him, rocked with the flow, growing cuter by the day.