The big boy played hookie from school today because I was too lazy to actually get him there on time. It was an unusual choice.

We wandered into our neighbor’s yard and just happened to have a big box with us. (That is something that would never happen to an adult: having a big empty box in your hands for no reason whatsoever. But kids are masters at carrying things to and fro). The big boy started gathering all the lemons beneath the lemon tree. It smelled so good under there. The exotic perfume of lemon and orange blossoms always makes me feel as if I live in a magical far-off land. But that same smell is the harbinger of the intense desert heat to come. It is bittersweet and too short lived. read more