When I grow up, I want to be like my friend Paula Kenyon-Vogt.  A nearly tireless woman, Paula does more before noon than I do in a week, with grace, style, and serenity.  Long-time married woman, Nona to two little boys, mother of two women, Whole Foods guru and home-health nurse, Paula nonetheless wears humility easy and soft.

I still can’t make it through a day without some Paula K-V love, so last night I stopped at the K-V residence.  I ate rice and raspberries on their couch while their grandson Chaska snuggled with Sheldon and watched an educational puppet show.  I tried to leave after rice but Chaska said, No, Auntie Corinne, don’t go! so I stayed for raspberries.  Chaska nibbled his dinner and shared a soft pretzel with me.  I told him that I would trade raspberries for a piece of pretzel. He considered, tore off a portion about an inch long, and said, I’ll take two raspberries for this.  I offered three.  He graciously accepted.

Even with  crazy days and ways that  plague me,  failures that haunt me,  lamented losses that I feel I could have prevented, my life somehow can never be considered wholly worthless.  As long as the Kenyon-Vogt household still welcomes me, I know that I will never be completely alone.

Sheldon and Chaska.

Look closely! It’s Chaska at the Matt Ross Community Center!

Paula and Sheldon