Spontaneous Birthings
Monday, August 28, 2006
new home
please visit my blog at itsnew home.
it's the same, but different.
kristen at 11:43 AM
|Monday, August 14, 2006
50% Korean, 100% Jubilee!
It's official. I am Auntie Kristen.
In the spring, my sister asked me what I wanted my niece to call me. I hadn't even thought about it. It didn't seem like a big deal. But the question nurtured various possibilities: Aunt Kristen, Auntie Kristy, Kristen-ajama ("ajama" is Korean for aunt)...The more I thought about it, the more the excitement bubbled up in my chest, and I felt an undeniable urge to mimic what the names would sound like coming out of a 2 or 3-year-old, and all of a sudden, it became quite important.
I couldn't have her call me Auntie Kristy or Krissy. I've always disliked both names. I couldn't be Kristen-ajama, my sister and I both agreed. There was only one "ajama" in our lives - Julie-ajama - a Korean lady who greeted the both of us when we stepped onto US ground for the first time, who had helped my parents assimilate my sister and I into our new lives.
I didn't want my name to sound too plain, but I finally settled on Auntie Kristen. That was what my sister called me when she first told me she was pregnant.
Now the name doesn't even matter.
Lani Anne Derrickson was born last night at 5:56 pm. She weighed 7 lbs. and 8 ozs. I wonder why people always add the weight when discussing newborns, but I think I understand now. It's an amazing thing - childbirth - and the idea that a small, precious body was forming inside of the womb is still almost too incredulous to believe, so it's a tactile way for us to comprehend the miracle. It's almost like having proof that the birth actually happened.
I can't wait to meet Lani, who I've been promised has chubby cheeks. I can't wait to watch her grow and become her favorite aunt - because of course, that's who I will undoubtedly be. Most of all, I can't wait to hear her call my name - however she wants to say it.
kristen at 3:59 PM
|Thursday, August 10, 2006
the starbucks shakes
print date: 7/11/06
author's note: punching never recommended in real life
Too funny. Reminds me of Starbucks and the unsuspecting mind shakes I get sometimes when I order a drink. "Do I have to say grande? Should I just ask for a small?" But I admit I adhere to the rules. Saying I want an iced grande chai makes me feel like I deserve it.
This is from Pearls Before Swine, a must-read during my morning commute.
kristen at 5:41 PM
|Tuesday, August 08, 2006
notes from san diego
I was only in San Diego for 4 full days, and yet, I was able to collect enough hearty, feel-good-ness to last me a month. Being reunited with a childhood friend for a few days rejuvenates the spirit. And when you can both share in the wonderful effects of cheese, then even greater lessons are learned.You can watch Madagascar, laugh out loud, and not feel ashamed about it. You can watch it with your friend and revel in the fact that it gets better with multiple viewings.
Here in DC, you drink coffee to wake up. In San Diego, you drink coffee for the sake of coffee-drinking and all of the daydreaming that is allowed when sitting on a wooden deck, overlooking a lush, homemade garden. You watch a lotus flower at the center of a small brook as it opens its arms at daybreak and goes to sleep at night.
You eat burritos and steak and more burritos and more steak because you don't worry about getting fat. There is no room to worry when your belly is full. There is, however, always room for cake.
You go to the zoo even though you don't have any kids. And you laugh and point at the monkeys, coo at the baby monkeys, and giggle when a boy yells "What are they doing?" when he notices an unabashed pair procreating (who the adults had been watching but wouldn't dare to comment). And you laugh loudly because you wanted to all along.
You notice how the attraction to feel-good cheese grows stronger the more you age. You notice because you see it happening to your friend. And that makes you smile even bigger.
kristen at 5:15 PM
|Tuesday, August 01, 2006
fight for life
"The earth's too big," you say. "I'm a wee person and I can't stop the glaciers from melting."How about helping yourself? Seriously, you can help fight global warming by promoting life. Healthy, boy this feels good!, life. Here's how:
1. get off your ass and watch less TV or play less video games. our ozone will thank you.
2. teach yourself basic means of survival. wash your dishes by hand instead of using the dishwasher.
3. exercise. walk to the convenience store that's 5 blocks away. leave the car in the driveway. get rid of the suv!
4. relief your life of stress. take the train, the bus, or ride a bike to work. who wants to sit in hours of traffic and get to work all red-faced and angry?
5. talk to others about it. sing very, very loudly while walking down the sidewalk, "Recycle, recycle, recycle now! if you don't know it, then i'll show you how. tell your mama and your papa and your sister too...Recycling is the thing to do!" (anyone else remember from elementary music class?)
6. go do something. plant a tree. try not to hurt any worms.
7. vote for politicians dedicated to energy-saving programs.
8. preserve open spaces. turn off the ac, and get out to a park. use your parks. it can help add romance to your life, together time with family, peace to your busy schedule.
9. feed your brain. read about global warming.
10. and for the ladies, stop being vain! blow dry your hair only a couple times a week. who wants brittle hair anyway?
kristen at 11:04 AM
|Monday, July 31, 2006
taking sides
"What's your opinion on all of this?"I had been listening to the conversation between two new friends, their voices rising as they made their points, their hand movements growing more animated as they talked, the other waiting for a pause so he could jump in and continue, making the same conclusions but from a different angle. I sat and listened for about 10 minutes, occasionally nodding in agreement, ocassionally shaking my head, but was silent.
We were talking about the Israeli attack on Qana. One of my friends who faithfully practices Judaism (let's call him "A"), expressed frustration, "You know, I've always supported Israel. But they have got to stop. They're killing women and children over there." More was said, but I don't recall the exact words, but as he spoke, he inched closer and closer to the table. His face turned red, and the words stuttered from his mouth filled with anger.
My other friend ("B") admitted, "You know, it's hard for me to stay neutral. From my experience, I've found that the Arab people are the nicest people." He had been born in Beirut, and was raised in Cairo. "They both have reasons to be angry and to want revenge."
"A" pitched in, "Israel learned to become a combatative nation. It had to. It had to protect itself from the time of the Crusaders. This goes way back."
Both couldn't agree if the Israeli-Palestinian conflict would ever end.
I couldn't even answer the question. My knowledge of the conflict is minimal. I am ashamed to admit that I understand little of the politics behind the daily headlines and top news stories. However, whenever I read them, my heart drops. I fear that it is has become an expected part of our daily lives -- Every morning I read The Washington Post's Express, a paper for metro commuters, and every morning I expect another bombing and more civilians killed. Will we become desensitized to the brutalities? Will it keep going on?
Recently, I've developed a deep interest in Arab culture and the tumultous timeline of the Middle East. I wonder if, in a way, I'm taking sides. If there's a side I'm on, it's definitely for hugs.
kristen at 3:32 PM
|Sunday, July 30, 2006
chit chat tree
a tree full of staccato chit and chatscannot help but to whistle along
to the songbirds' conversation --
a blending of scattered chatter
and the hush of evening
in between symphonies,
a cluster of birds flee, as if dared
by jokesters that shriek
to the thrill of the tree's sway
