All Hallow's Eve

We celebrated Halloween in style with our wonderful and loving family in Carmichael, the Red Sultans. Cousin Armand, Grandmere S, Tia D, and Amu/Da-i B welcomed us as usual with open arms and warm hearts. They are such kind hosts and we enjoy their company so much, it's always hard to leave. But it's always that way, isn't it, with the ones you love?

Thank you for sharing your hospitality and making our Halloween so memorable.

With each passing day, I am moved by the love that touches our family and how these connections help our children grow into the magnificent beings that they are and will be.

Cousin Armand and BedHeadSid (BHS) played their first game of chess together. They are young and still learning the game, most importantly, the art of gentlemanly sportsmanship from brother to brother. As BHS sat in Amu/Da-i B's lap and Cousin Armand teamed up with a supine Pooks, both boys conferred with their respective uncle generals for tactical and technical advice. It was a sweet yet profound image of brothers, fathers and sons bonding over an ancient game of wits, a match that incidentally resulted in a draw, kindergarten style: with pieces being tossed from the board and giggles abound. Here's to the men in our family: let's hope there'll be more games of this caliber to teach our sons the importance of family.

And to the ladies, Halloween indeed brought out the spirit in us all! Halmoni wore her angel costume and graced the company of our candy pirate and baby darth sidious on their search for the sweet force of confectionery booty!

As we walked the upscale neighborhood and talked as sisters do, Tia D exchanged holiday cheer with her good neighbors, and I felt the spirit of the night in all the shared commaraderie and squeals of "trick or treat!", even as I nursed StinkyHeadMonkeyToes (SHMT) in the sling during the semi-lit moonlight.

The night was made especially endearing because Amu/Da-i B's mom Grandmere S was visiting from Iran. She has such a beautiful heart and visage that SHMT fell quietly in awe of her that day. As we bid our goodnights on Halloween, Grandmere S held SHMT aloft on the palm of her hand and SHMT stood high up in the air for a second, again in awe of the love and strength of this woman. SHMT smiled widely down into her eyes, and in that moment, the two of them shared the magic of the evening, and as the spirit flowed through them both, so it did through us all.