There's Something Familiar about You...

Dear hearts,

It has been a little while between thoughts, and Miss Mich does apologise. It is not neglect, more the business of sorting things out “offline” if you will. Miss Mich assures you that things are working themselves out and going forward, the rest of the Capital letter worthy thoughts that present themselves in Miss Mich's pea will circulate more freely and find their way onto the screen before you. Before too long.

But today Dear hearts, Miss Mich has been thinking about what constitutes a family. I'm not talking about Mummy, Daddy and the babies. More about the eccentricities and rituals that make our families unique. That give us the memories, the opportunities to tease one another when we reminisce and the glue of shared experience that binds us. That makes us who we are.

The Baby and I were talking just this evening about this very topic. After a lovely hour and a half with Nuri, we floated out to the northern beaches listening to Angus and Julia Stone. Her choice. But how perfect. Exactly what I was thinking myself. All four of us have musical crossovers that make the Cottage vibrate with good vibes no matter who is the incumbent DJ.

Once the Sperm Donor left to concentrate on procreation with the English rose, we four banded together into a groove that was at the same time both comforting and liberating. I do love the idea that music provides for everyone, a timeline of significant events, even if it is just the Summer of 2004. (Christine Agulira and Justin Timberlake)

The sense of smell is the same. Miss Mich must confess to being very sensitive when it comes to smell. We all know, if someone doesn't smell right then.... I'm sorry.

My Darling boy, when seconded to the Scot's College country campus Glengarry for six months and two school terms of Outward Bound, cross country bike riding and dorm living, lamented that the thing he missed the most about living away from home, was the smell of his washing back from the laundry and not smelling like home. Miss Mich had tears in her eyes and a swollen heart at the thought of so significant a point of difference for the boy. This only inspired her more to subvert the the rules of no contraband (chocolate and sweets) to be sent to the boys via mail. Miss Mich went above and beyond and became the hero mother, by smuggling Furry Friends in CD covers, red licorice strips in packs of undies and blocks of Dairy Milk in her day pack for the Mother/ Son weekend trek. Nothing was too much trouble.

Family and Familiarity. Yes. Capital letters. There is nothing like feeling at home.

The girls and I wear blonde hairbands on our right wrists. We have for years. Long blonde hair swirls about the Cottage, has swirled about the Eastern suburbs for years. All the boys we have ever known are constantly extracting it from their clothes, their cars and their bodies.

Cuddles. The Songbird still hops on Miss Mich’s lap for a proper cuddle and often on a Sunday there would be many in the bed all snuggled up. My Darling boy will never be too tall or too manly for kisses or the greeting “Hello darling, it’s Mummy” on the end of the line. The Baby dissolves into giggles when we play the kisses that tickle on the neck game,ending up with us both screeching as she pretends she has had enough.

The Libertine is becoming more familiar with the ways of the Cottage. He loves my beautiful cloud of a bed and it loves him. His penchant for tomatoes and feta is impressive and the garden is responding well to his hand. His gentle energy is just what we like and his beautiful olive skin blends well with our aesthetics of beauty.

It’s time for a cup of tea Dear hearts. Twinings Orange Pekoe is the only way to go. I travel with it and promise you, I couldn’t live without it. None of us could. Sharing tea and conversation is just one of the familiar ways we share our love.

Enjoy tea and Sunday.

Love Miss Mich