Duplet - A set of two things; a pair of equal notes to be performed in the time of three
these notes, too, work best in sets
the 1996 world series
Parents were instructed to not take their kids out of school for the daytime ticker tape parade - but it was the first Yankees World Series victory since 1978. A moment in the family's history, a moment in New York's history, and a picture well worth 81 words.
It was fun walking over the Brooklyn Bridge and seeing the parade with you, Theo and Mom (and Molly). A pretty special team - a pretty special time to be a New Yorker! I'm glad we went! But now we have to hustle a little bit extra to get our work done this week! I'll try to help you with your immigration homework tonight - math too! I figured out the one about 50 eyes and cats and bats!
Mixed messages
A couple of undated notes - advising different kids, with different palates...
must learn
Not-so-gendered lessons on what it means to grow up - boy to man, girl to woman, kid to adult.
A boy must learn to be many things. If this was not true he would be born a man. But it is true. A boy is born a baby boy who must learn to be a man. He must learn the difference between what can be given to him and what he must earn with his own two hands.
He must learn that time does not last forever. The time between sitting up, crawling, standing, walking and running. The time between crying and talking, between marks on a page and reading, between a problem and it's solution. From soft, baby skin to a coarse, scruffy beard.
A boy must learn many things on his way to becoming a man. You are already on your way. I love you so much! I believe in you!
A girl has to learn many things. If this wasn't true, she would not have been born a baby girl, she would have been born a woman. She must learn the difference between what she wants and what is good for her to have. Between what is given and what must be earned. Between "like" and "love." She must learn that time will not drag on forever. The things she yearns for and works for and waits for will come in their own time. She must learn to accept that her mother's fear and frustration is her mother's love - part of the story anyway. She must learn that her desire to push time and grow up quickly can hurt her no matter how normal the urge is and how careful she is. Hopefully she will realize how much she is loved. And that simple fact will carry her through. I love you so much! I believe in you! I can't believe I have to miss your game w/ Poly... be yourself! Be your best!
P.S. don't forget to enter for DMB tix!
humbled & Excited
While Joanna and Theo were more into their sports teams than art classes, every once in a while, a project from school would come home that displayed an interest in Bob's other true love: art.
During his years at Pratt Institute, Bob experimented often with large-format prints. One of these prints hangs in the family's home, and Theo drew inspiration from it while in a ceramics class.
Vincent Van Gogh has always held a close place in Bob's heart - his first dog was named Vince, and Theo's namesake is the less-famous brother of one of the all-time greats. In both of these notes, Bob finds a way to express pride, encouragement, and say "thanks."
Cold this morning. Mom got up almost as early as me and left already for an appointment in the city. You knocked me over with the baby liberty plate you made. Incredible. You live a long life (not that I have yet) and you do things, make things, and you move on and they recede into the past and when someone discovers them, takes interest in them, reinvents them - especially when that someone is your child - it touches you inside in an indescribable way. It makes you feel like you haven't wasted effort - that what you've done has value. Thank you Theo.
Wow! Dr. Gachet! What a cool version of a very cool painting by my favorite painter! The crayon / watercolor resist was a great way to capture the swirling tension of the painting background. I wish you had time to do more drawing because it's like anything else - the more you do (practice) the better you get. How long - how many classes did that take you to do that? It looks like you really worked hard on it. I saw a couple other drawings after famous paintings - was that an assignment? Whatever the motivation, it's a very beautiful drawing and you should be proud. I am!