Tough Love

It's makeup, not black eyes.

We have been selfish.When one meets the love of his later-in-life, one tends to want to make every minute count. Everything we wanted to do, and could afford to do, we did.  And do.  Then along comes Benji. The selfishness expands to cover our little family.  What will be best for the three of us?  Every precious minute is a chance to make life better for him.

This kind of commitment isn't easy.  It takes courage to come to decisions that are uncomfortable - and sometime not easily explainable.  Our cabin in the Catskills - our beloved Muffalda - was our stability through three moves in the city.  Wherever we were and whatever the stress-du-jour, Muffalda had a hundred chores that felt so much more important to complete.  She put the lie to the Manhattan grind.

Leaving Muffalda was tough..  We said our goodbyes and cried separately, Juan leaving with Benji while I stayed behind to clean.  I needed the time alone.  In the end it's just a house, but our memories will inhabit it and vice-versa, through bedtime tales and fading photographs shared with Benji until new ones crowd them out.  We built our foundations on foresight and will furnish rooms with our stories. And little man, we're doing it for you.