Iggy Pop

When I was pregnant with Sophie, Ygal called us pretty early in the pregnancy and said he'd like to visit right around the time of the due date.  He wanted to be there for the big arrival.  Alain and I were both touched by this but worried about the timing and that he might miss out if the baby decided to come early or late.  Being so far away, Ygal had to make a decision and buy his ticket early. A last-minute ticket from Switzerland can set you back for a long time!  Against our advice to wait and arrive about a week after our due date, he made the decision to come for two weeks ~ one week before my due date and one week after.

I took this photo during that visit.  Every time I walked in the room with my bulging belly, he'd look up quickly and ask, "Is it happening? Is it time?".  In the photo above, I caught him just as he looked up at me to ask those very questions.

As some of you know and as others might have guessed, he missed the birth.  Ygal and Bianca left on their flight back to Switzerland with nary a contraction in sight.  As fate would have it, I went into labor about 24 hours later.

Even though Ygal wasn't in town for the actual birth, I will always feel very touched by that visit and how badly he wanted to be there for the birth of his first niece/nephew (we didn't know the baby's gender beforehand).  Once again, this example shows Iggy's commitment to his family and his desire to be a central part.  I relay this story to friends and family fairly regularly so my weekly posts wouldn't seem complete without telling it here.  

It's also nice to think about Sophie reading this post one day in the future and being reminded how very much her Tio wanted to be there when she was born.

SOPhie Was Here!

Where is Sophie?  I can't find her anywhere.  She must have headed down to the beach.  I think I'll head down there myself to look for her....

That footprint looks to be about her size.....I think I'll head in that direction.

Aaaahhh, yes, a happy looking girl with a sunshine and a puffy cloud. I must be getting close.

Well, I'm now sure she must be close by. 

Yep, there she is.....playing in the surf.  Catching sharks at that!

This is a very common sight when you're on the beach with Sophie. And it's a real pleasure to come upon her happy little drawings and her name scribbled all over.  I love that she views the sandy beach as her vast canvas!!!!

Life is Good.....at the Beach!

The four of us are enjoying a few days at the beach with some of my family. It's been so nice and fairly relaxing. Yesterday morning, while Clara was napping, I had the luxury of spending a few minutes at the beach with my camera.  Aaaahhhh, now that's what I call a good time!

PS ~ That is the same umbrella that's been shielding me from the sun since I was a young, young tot.  And it still looks amazing!  They definitely don't make them like that anymore!!!  And, personally, I think it's the nicest one on the beach. Nobody else has a wicked cool vintage beach umbrella...

PPS ~ Sitting on the deck last night, after the kids went to bed, I saw six shooting stars.  It was also the first time that I actually saw the Milky Way clearly.  DIVINE!

What in the world could be more delicious.....

.......than a bubble bath baby????

Iggy Pop

You might be asking yourself why I would choose to post the above two photos of Ygal for this week's post.

Easy.

Iggy was one of the coolest and most confident dancers I've ever known.  It had to be said.  Just look at his form and that swagger. The grin that he just can't help but let out. As someone who also enjoys tearing up the dance floor, I always loved that about him. Immensely. He was just a phenomenally fun dance partner!  These were the only two dancing pictures I could find of him and they were also taken at his and Bianca's wedding back in 2009.

I will miss many things about Ygal but dancing with him would be at the tip-top of my long list.

Smiling Upon My Reflection

You are only real if you can see yourself, see yourself clear and true in the mirror of your soul and smile upon the reflection.

~ Anna Quindlen

PS ~ Thank you, Alain.

Iggy Pop

This week I thought I'd post photos from Ygal's most recent trip to visit us.  He and his family came to Charlotte in late February/early March of this year.  As it turned out, it was the last time we saw and spent time with Ygal.

Ygal was the quintessential family man.  Seriously.  I know people sometimes say nice things about people once they're gone that aren't necessarily true.  I'm not doing that here.  Ygal was a true family man.  He made the long, expensive trip to visit us every couple years or so.  Think of how big the world is....the possibilities are endless....but he came to Charlotte.  Charlotte! I can't tell you how much we appreciated that and loved his visits.  Ygal always made such huge efforts to bring his family together....a family that just happens to spread out over half the globe.  

Regarding that last visit, I am most thankful that I got the chance to see Ygal as a father.  I was actually caught off guard at what a good father he was.  I had no reason to think he wouldn't be...none at all....but he was just that good (and I am not easily impressed). Yaron adored his father and his face would light up when Ygal walked in the room first thing in the morning.  They had a really close relationship.

I'm glad I got the chance to experience that firsthand because Yaron will need and want to hear about that in the future.  From everyone.

And I, for one, can't wait to tell him.