A: What is the Question?

Q: What were Gertrude Stein's last words?

This probably apocryphal story about Gertrude Stein comes back to haunt me sometimes. For me it's all about the not-knowingness of this life. We build routines and rituals and relationships around us to make our lives feel safe and under control. But then things change--people come and go, so do careers. Natural disasters can raze a home that seemed so much to be who you were and are. You know what I mean.

Having a baby represents a major change for me, probably the biggest change I've experienced in many years. Sometimes I still can't believe she's here with us, a part of our family. And there is so much to learn, or if not learn, to assess and respond, making carefully considered attempts to do the right thing for this baby who cannot yet communicate in too many ways.

A wise friend of ours put it like this:

One thing's for sure, parenting is the best ongoing continuing ed. program there is & it lasts forever.
--Betty Martin