all about kin. . .

So, Rachel's been posting on her blog about letting go- she's preparing to return to the States, accomodating all her possessions in 2 suitcases. What would I choose to include in 2 suitcases? Rachel's conclusion: reminders of people take priority over books-for books are replaceable.
But recently while digging through an entire suitcase of the Smith's books sent back to Texas with the younger siblings, I discovered this treasure: Wee Gillis, by Munro Leaf, illustrated by Robert Lawson. (creators of Story of Ferdinand)-it's inscribed: to Malachai, Josu, and Selma~love Aunt Rachel.
Wee Gillis lives in Scotland; he spends half of each year with his mother's people in the Lowlands where he's taught to herd long-haired cows, learning to call them in the heaviest fog. Then Wee Gillis spends the other half of each year with his father's people in the rocky Highlands where he learns to stalk stags, holding his breath so as not to make a sound.
Whether in the Highlands or the Lowlands, Wee Gillis rises early each morning and eats a very large bowl of oatmeal with his kin-each side is eager for the lad to settle down and adopt their ways.

this picture book delights me so-perhaps it's that huge bowl of oatmeal? or the freckled nose?

but really, I'm thinking about Malachai, Josu, and Selma in California with their father's people- on the Pacific Ocean, eating round scoops of ice cream in lovely waffle cones -how nice.

And very soon the children will be with their mother's people in Texas, here in San Antonio's southside, where the ice cream man rides his bicycle through the neighborhood, his bell jingling, selling Mexican style paletas for "un dolar".

we'll buy some and make a memory. . .