I was planning to visit my granddaughter Robin in New York City this weekend, I had some gifts to bring up and was looking forward to that smile and steely gaze. Robin definitely has the look of an old soul, when she is not being a terror, and she seems quite bemused by the state of the world.

I got her an abominable snow hat (see below) and a cloth three house with critters. But I had to cancel, I ran into the geographic complexities of  living too far away. It isn’t that far to New York City, but it is in many ways. Maria would have to get up early to drive me to Albany and train, and then come later in the day to pick me up.

She’s swamped getting ready for India, just a little over a week away (we went over tickets and itinerary today, she is ready). I’m still getting over my cold and cough, and I am swamped with work. A member of my family is having some troubles, and I have to be available for that. I might also have to do some work on the new refugee front.

So it’s not turning out to be a good day. I think this is the geographical reality of me and Robin, the visits there will just have to be occasional, and we will just have to work around that. She looks like she’s going to be fun to be around, I’m shipping her presents up and perhaps can get down to see her when Maria gets back from India.

Life happens. She’s starting to remind me of Buddha.