I've been in California for six weeks now, not counting two days in DC and three days in Altoona PA for a story on the DelGrosso sauce family business. And one hour on a Philadelphia pilgrimage to the Liberty Bell to read the first amendment engraved on an iron plaque: "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances." Simple enough to make a person cry. It's beautiful, and unusual. 

John's story on NYU Abu Dhabi came out on Friday. Since I started this freedom vein of thought, I should say that he was happy with the editing process. It is part one of a two part series. It is an uncensored labor of love. Of writing, truth, and balance. Read it. 

Six weeks of home. And two more in front of me. They've been good for iola and me and John for the three weeks that he was here with us. Iola said her first word a couple weeks after arriving: Echo. The name of her honorary grandma Sande's dog. At first she pronounced it Eh with an intake of breath Goh exhale. She would practice in a whisper under her breath and then say it out loud whenever any dog came in view. She doesn't yet say mama or dada, but how does a first child know what to call her parents? No one else calls me that, and I rarely refer to myself in the third person, so I am still the unnamed ever present love of her life. A name would be useful. 

Yesterday at the DelGrosso amusement park in Tipton PA she started saying Wow. Practicing and practicing, then Uh Oh. Before that she had also noticed things with Oooooh. 

I would like to write more about the actual days; the people who visited, John's appendicitis, my family. I had it all written out in my head as I was driving home in the dark tonight. But it was a long day and I'm tired. I left Altoona a 6am and arrived in Ukiah at 10:30 pm. It could have been worse! I got the standby that saved me and iola six more hours of waiting around like vagabonds in the airport. I'll post another one soon. 

Oh, and she took two steps in DC. Inspired by three-year old Henry and his little friends. Since then, she's been more cautious.