Olivia wanted a pet. She’s wanted a pet for months and months now. At first it was deep sighs and desperate pleadings for a kitty {and why not? Lyssy and ‘Azanah have at least seventeen!) And then it was gentle recollections: “remember when we had a doggie, Mom?” One day a few weeks ago Olivia asked me first thing: “Mom, can we go visit Cowboy today?”

An explanation of why that was not possible was followed with the statement, emphasized with all the feeling of a four year old heart: “I want a pet so bad.”

And so on Monday Wyatt surprised us all, saying: “Tonight for family home evening we will go to the store and get some pet fish.”

That evening, kids in tow, we visited our local PetSmart. We looked at the brightly colored canaries in their cages, we oohed at the bright tree frogs, and awed at the ginormous gilla monsters. Then we looked at the fish: Gold Fish were only 13¢ per. But the Betas: 30x more in cost, were 50x more hearty. So we were told by the acne-prone teenager with his pants cinched too high. I’m partial to Beta’s myself. Our 26¢ excursion turned into $11.79 with food.

As we climbed into the car, balancing plastic tuperwares of fish and water, we asked each elated child: what will you name your fish.

Olivia said emphatically: Cursey. I don’t know where she came up with the name.

And Cal said, as if he had thought over the “coolness” implications long and hard: “Fish, the Dawg!”

Saturday was the culminating celebration of many months preparation.

This girl and this boy were wedded.

The whole day I kept remembering when Leslee was just 18 years old – my family had just moved away from Salt Lake. Leslee and I were the only one’s left here. I lived downtown with my hubby as a newly wed. Leslee would come over three-four-five times a week to have dinner and hang out. I remember I would make Wyatt walk her to her car when it was late – we lived across the street from the homeless shelter. As I remembered that time, I felt a sort of emptiness: I should have done more, should have been more for her. She needed more, in ways I’ve only come to realize in the past few months, and I feel like I failed her.

And now she is starting a new life, with a new family. I am grateful Jason seems to want the best for her, and will support her and put her first in ways that the rest of us did not.

I love you Leslee. Congratulations, Happiness, Love.

In my home growing up, if one was sick, my mom would set you up in front of the TV – tissues, popsicles, sprite . . . everything one needed to be comfy for an afternoon. Sometimes my mom would just hand us the remote, but sometimes, if we were really sick, she’d turn on a musical -

And so I grew up watching: Camelot, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, Oklahoma, My Fair Lady, Fiddler on the Roof, West Side Story, and The Sound of Music.

Each has become very much a part of my movie-personality. I like musicals. Wyatt does not. Wyatt’s mom didn’t put them on when he was sick. Wyatt didn’t know color TV was invented until 1989. That’s beside the point.

When I was expecting Calvin, Olivia and I watched My Fair Lady every day. I had a small tv with a vhs player built in. I set it up on the nightstand of my bed, and Olivia and I would lay in bed, nausea abated by dreams of dancing all night.

When I was expecting Everett, Fiddler on the Roof and West Side Story helped me cope with long nights of house-under-construction and wyatt-working-late.

But for a long time I’ve been wanting to watch The Sound of Music.

I know what you’re going to say: then just watch it.

It’s not that easy for me. I don’t watch tv very often. No, it’s not that I’m so on top of my life that I never squander time. But if I’m going to squander time, I prefer to do it on the computer, not the boobtube.

And when the kids are in bed and I could watch tv without worry of them being in and out and all the complications that brings . . . well, then Wyatt is home, and he’s still so fascinated with color tv that he has a hard time relenquishing his control to my musical desires.

This explanation just got WAY TOO LONG.

Last week my mom was in town (Hurrah!) and she watched The Sound of Music with me. Calvin and Everett took naps during, so I didn’t have to worry about the destruction taking place while I watched Frauline Maria sing about frolicking goat love. And what’s even better? My mom sewed while we watched. It truly had the feel of sick days past, only I didn’t have that self gratifying thought that I was missing school for this.

Olivia even watched – three generations listening to the Von Trapp family – a future musical-lover in training – it was a good day.