Boston, Part 3

When I met Tom, he was working as a legislative aide to State Representative Peter Koutoujian at the Massachusetts statehouse. He loved his work, primarily because he liked and respected his boss--enough to invite him to be a groomsman in our wedding, in fact. 

As Tom had long hoped, Peter is now running for Congress. In a trickle-down effect, John Kerry was appointed Secretary of State, former representative Ed Markey won Kerry's former Senate seat, and the Massachusetts 5th Congressional District is open. Peter has declared and launched his campaign; the special primary election will occur in October. Peter had a solid progressive voting record in the Massachusetts legislature, with a particular focus on violence against women and other issues affecting vulnerable constituents. Now serving as Sheriff of Middlesex County, he has received positive press for his efforts to create viable re-entry programs for those who have been incarcerated.

Although he was in the middle of launching a campaign, while managing a full load and a staff of 800 at the sheriff's office, Peter and his wife, Elizabeth, and four-year-old daughter, Isabelle, made a couple of hours to spend catching up with us. Anyone living in or near the Massachusetts 5th (a newly sprawling district stretching from Framingham northeast to the New Hampshire border), talk up his candidacy!

 

P.S. Yes, Peter is tall.

Having enjoyed their company at the baseball game, Edith and Alice were happy to spend a night at Toby and Gabe's house, playing Battleship, riding bikes, splashing at a great neighborhood swimming hole, and dressing as pirates and burying treasure in the front yard. Is it typical for four year olds to come into the kitchen and ask their parents to write down an ancient alphabet, so they can make their treasure map properly antique? Whether usual or no, the kind of independent imaginative play that the kids initiated and enjoyed throughout our stay is just what I dream of for Edith and Alice on a regular basis. How do we find a Philly neighborhood with Toby and Gabe counterparts?

 Battleship. Don't they look like they've been friends forever?

My high school friend, Miriam, and her two boys, Sammy and Jonah, hosted us at their lovely home in Porter Square on a rainy Friday. In the time since I lived there, Porter Square has added a great toy store and independent bookstore, both big boons to the 'hood. Miriam was reader extraordinaire when we visited the bookstore.

We also visited with my friend (and frequent blog commentor) Andrea, and her fantastic kiddos, Sam and Frida, but somehow we didn't manage to get any pictures. It was a great visit, in which we were reminded of the joy of friends with whom one can discuss both family and parenting and books and ideas...including what promises to be a fascinating book by Andrea's husband, coming out this fall. How many of us can boast rave pre-publication reviews by Steven Pinker and Peter Singer? I don't know if Andrea wants her personal life linked online to her husband's professional life, but do email if you want the title. Tom and I will definitely be reading it.

I will also remain grateful to Andrea for handing me a helpful new way to frame turning 40, which I will embrace with deep appreciation in a few years. To be unveiled then, but it's already helping me come to terms with where we find ourselves now.

Final installment of Boston pictures will follow, from the third annual GOB*Fest (*Gathering of Bogers).