The Byrne Diaspora

A new life year

It's blue skies again along the eastern seaboard--a perfect moment to pause and breathe and celebrate: about a year ago, Melleray welcomed another new member of the family, Pam! After a while of dating long-distance, Pam and Don made the leap and Pam made the Big Move. We are so happy you did!...what derring-do that took...what adventures have unfolded...what beauty and energy and wonders you add to life. Welcome, Pamela! Happy anniversary of a year in North Carolina. And happy continued loving to the awesome couple. Above and below are pix of Pam and Don on Martha's Vineyard in late June. Also, you can meet Pam's daughter Meghan, her husband Aaron, their gorgeous babygirl Kiera, and Sammy their big puppy.  They live in Pennsylvania. Pam recently returned from a summer trip to see how much Kiera has grown and "had a blast," she wrote. She also keeps up with the PA family via weekly Skype chats. Hello PA family! I'm sure there will be more meet-arounds in the future.--JEB

Coming and going

Our Mary Anne Tietjen Byrne died today ten years ago. Since then, she is ever coming and going, in dreams and presence and travels. And she will "keep your going out and your coming in, from this time forth and for evermore," like the psalm says...she and all the saints, in whatever way the saints do that, and everyone and everything are saintes, holy, which she always said. Here she greets her dad on a 1973 trip to Chicago for her sister Laura's graduation. Love to all who loved her today! All the lovewaves she made keep circling the earth, rippling the cosmos.--JEB

The little muse

When we were celebrating Niko's birthday last month, Nicole brought out the beautiful little pair of wool-and-lace booties she'd made for the baby to come. Yes, they (we!?) are expecting a girl in November. This auntie is having a very hard time restraining herself from buying lots of presents for her. I have to remind myself she hasn't been born yet.

Regardless, we had a good time sitting on the porch and thinking of names. Donny cracked the D'Aulaires Book of Greek Myths and started making a list. Selene? Terpsichore? Atalanta? Whatever her name, we can't wait for her to come :)  --MCB

Dust and wind

Our cousin Jesse is of the family of Ellie, Eddie and Lucy--the Lone Star State diaspora! This summer Jesse relocated from Austin to Lubbock to start medical school at Texas Tech. Here are pics of Jesse, his mom Ellie, his kitty Lilly, and his friend Shayna-in-the-shadows. All of the southwest is being hit hard by the drought, but Lubbock is in a dry area of "exceptional intensity." Jesse writes that the time there so far has been "very pleasant": "it will be a privilege to learn medicine here."  Then he added: "Dust and wind."--JEB