I have the coolest family

Why are there so few pictures of my sister?

This is the second year my sister has rented a beach house for us on the Outer Banks in September.


I just love being with my family. After growing up in New York, I went directly to the left coast for college and spent the ensuing 13 years moving from one stunningly beautiful, progressive, musical, artsy Western town to another. Stanford to Moab to Albuquerque to Taos to Santa Fe to Portland. 


Somehow never felt fulfilled until the last move I made, which was to a house three blocks away from my sister. 









My sister and I have a lot in common, not the least of which is our intense love for, and desire to rescue, dogs. 

While I've tended to go for the nondescript short-haired shepherd-something brown dogs, Nance has always been drawn to big poufy dogs. Two Akitas and a chow-chow.


Although come to think of it, there was also a nondescript brown dog she rescued from Mexico, who now lives in the 'burbs not far from us.











Here on the beach, my sister and I get to give our dogs the attention and time outside that they deserve. 


Lamar gets to relax away from the bullies, and although he and Genghis aren't the best of buddies either, with all this space the two of them are happily sniffing and peeing on the same spots, trotting along trails in tandem, and paddling around swimming holes together.













For both me and my sister, the very embodiment of joy is seeing our dogs have a good time, be accepted by other people, and have plenty of space to just be who they are. 

Last year, Barry, Mom, Uncle Johnny, and Dad all wore the
tie dye T-shirts I made for them. Yep, we went out in public 
like this.

And of course we enjoy being with our wacky family too.



Tomorrow we expect a perfect stormy spooky rainy day for my birthday. My one wish is that Lamar looks at me not-too-nervously when I ask for my kiss. What do you think the chances are?