Why Moms are Like Jupiter

Earth vs. Jupiter

Last night at dinner, Baba (what my kids call my father-in-law) was talking about the moon. He told us what the full moon in September was called in Japan, and mentioned that there had been no clouds in the sky all day, so we would be able to see it very clearly.

Miles got excited about the outer space topic, so before bed we found a cool space documentary to watch.

Side note: Isn't technology amazing? It often gets a bad wrap I think. We hear about the over use of technology, addiction to video games or our smart phones, a disconnection with our bodies and the earth...but really, how amazing is it that when you have a question or inspiration about something, you can instantly find a resource to feed it. It seems to me, like most "things", technology isn't the problem, it's whether we use it for good (discovery channel) or evil (*cough* real housewives *cough, cough*). 

Anyway, the program counted down the 10 most cataclysmic disasters in the Universe. The basic premise was that the relative calm and order to our present solar system actually comes on the heals of billions of years of Armageddon like disasters, instability, and violence. Planets crashed into each other, switched orbits, some were flung from the solar system, and others were bombarded with asteroids for a million years.

If I were a science person, I might geek out about the technical aspects, the mathematics, or the evidence that lead to these discoveries. But alas, I am a writer, so those things are lost on me. Instead, I make everything into a metaphor:

One of the things I found fascinating was the Comet Shoemaker–Levy 9 collision with Jupiter. Basically, it was a comet that broke apart and the pieces collided with Jupiter in succession, creating 21 Earth size scars in its atmosphere. While the scientists explained the event and its significance, they said that Jupiter probably actually protects other planets, especially Earth, from these kinds of impacts. It's so large and its gravitational field so huge, that it draws comets and asteroids to itself, and maybe away from Earth.

Hubble Telescope image of temporary craters 

So there I was, with my kids curled up in my lap, imagining that I was Jupiter; deflecting all the hurt, disappointment, and dangers away from my little Earths. Of course, there are always some that get through, but hopefully, the big magnetic field of self-esteem, courage, and love that we try to cloak them with, is enough to burn up any intruder in the atmosphere before it does too much damage.

Then again, sometimes it takes a little intrusion, a metaphoric "big bang" if you will, to get to the place of perfect planetary orbit.

Either way, we'll always be standing by, a watchful giant, willing to take the biggest blow.

Full Circle

Despite my silence here on the blog, the last couple of months have been quite eventful. 

Since the last time I wrote, we spent a week away on vacation at summer camp

outside the cabin at camp shehaqua, Koichi, Sky, me, Miles, and Mimi (my mom)

moved out of our apartment and back to my in-law's place

This was the second truck load...what a long week...

and Miles started Tae Kwon Do lessons...

His class is too cute, and the instructor was impressed that Noni is trying to teach him Korean!

With my computer also being out of commission for a few weeks, it made for an unintentional, though welcome, break. 

So here we are, settled back at my in-laws, the place where I first lived when I came to NJ, where Koichi and I lived during our first years of marriage, and where we brought Miles home after he was born.

It's a transition, which in general is my least favorite place to be, that strange middle ground of uncertainty. We don't know how long we'll be here as we are hoping to buy our own house within the next year. For the time being though, we're comfortable, and looking forward to spending some more time with Noni and Baba (grandma and grandpa), and taking advantage of their big backyard! (no more playing in the gravel drive way)

Certain things haven't changed: the company of course, the hum of the airplanes (the house is right next to Teterboro airport), we occupy the same two rooms and bathroom upstairs that we did four years ago.

In the last four years that we've been gone, however, the house itself has transformed in many ways. There are new solar panels on the roof, a new kitchen and dining room floor, and the whole basement is now an entertainment/play room. There is cable for the first time here since...ever? (HBO and Showtime, too!), and a nice shiny grill on the freshly painted back porch. 

The biggest change though, is us. We've welcomed our second son, Skylar, who is now 2. Miles is almost 5. Bertrand, the family dog, who used to just burst with energy, now has trouble keeping up with the boys, though he's still amazingly patient (thanks Bert, and sorry!). 

For my part, I'm more grateful. I'm grateful to have a place like this to fall back on, for an extra set of hands to help with the kids, and for the close bond my kids will always have with their Noni and Baba.  

Three generation living is not for the faint of heart, but I certainly appreciate the benefits much more the second time around.