Sunburn

 We probably all got our first sunburns of the year this weekend. We have these pockets of summer in April that tease us and leave us; yesterday, the high was 82! Today, rain and 60. More sober weather for work, I suppose.

The changeable weather can be invigorating. Conflict produces rainbows. 

On Saturday, we did a round of mini-golf with my local twitter friends! All in the picture are people I've met through twitter. Jon calls them my imaginary friends.

I'll let you decide how real or imaginary they are. 

Sunday included one of three major annual street festivals I have learned to look forward to: The International Street Fair! We had less time than in previous years, but the kids I soaked in as much as we could. Jon is working vigorously on his Master's thesis these days and needs all the time he can get!

We lingered a while in the Saudi Arabian display because the guys there were so friendly, and the tent was so cool and pleasant!

A Saudi guy just goes, "Here, you can hold a sword!" 

Do you love this look? 

 The costume was a leeetle bit big for Adele. She still wore it like a queen, if you ask me.

They wrote his name in Arabic for him!

We lingered during some Indian dancing. All three of us were enchanted.

Blacksburg should look like this every day.

There were, of course, loads of people wearing national dress as a sort of costume as they worked their booths or performed in some way. But a LOT of folks in saris, in hijab, in turbans, and in other colorful ethnic dress were just there to participate and wander. On such days you see how many international students and residents there really are in this town, and I wish for a Blacksburg where folks felt like they could wear their national dress and be out and about and seen every day. Sign me up for any collective effort to make it so. Blacksburg was even more beautiful than ever on Sunday. An Indian professor who's been at Virginia Tech for years told me that she used to wear Indian style dresses and blouses, but after September 11, 2001, there were so many incidents of people harassing anyone who looked foreign (though let's be honest, it was people of color, who looked foreign) that she no longer felt safe or comfortable wearing Indian clothes and began to dress more western.

It's a pity if xenophobia denies us beauty, color, variety. Though, of course, it's a greater pity if it makes people afraid to be themselves in their own towns.

The kids share a bubble tea.

They are so crazy about each other. Their spats are fierce, but short-lived. They're quickly back to mischief and giggling. It's like music.

In the car today (on the way to kindergarten orientation, no less!), Miles began talking to Adele, only to realize she wasn't there; we'd already dropped her at daycare. He was so disappointed.

I mean, he got over it; we were going to kindergarten, after all! He's so excited to go to elementary school.

After the fair, the three of us frolicked on the hillside, until Miles said wistfully, "I wish I was good at climbing trees."

Well, what am I supposed to do but find him a tree to climb?

He had one boost from me and he was up. My heart was in my throat, but his delight in his adventure was infectious.

On April 27, this is what Alive looked like.