@theterrace

June has been a whirlwind, and the first week started us off with a bang. Let’s break down the day-by-day with a play-by-play.

Monday morning, June 4, began with a visit by royal visitors from California stopping by en route to Namibia. Mom and Doug showed up at 7:00 am ready to rock and roll, while the rest of us held our eyelids open manually (or not, in the case of Tatum). They had a brief but spectacular three days at Tomlinson Terrace and as usual, managed to socialize, rest, shop, read, plan, fix and entertain despite the brief timeline.

Monday evening ended with a bang when Dad led a Meet the Author event at the Bethesda library to share from his book Eyewitness to AIDS: On the Frontlines of a Pandemic. It was very exciting and a little nerve-wracking job of moderating the event. Dad eventually, after much cajoling , let me introduce him and ask some questions. I didn’t ask too many, however, only three, because the room was packed. People were even sitting along the sides and back of the room. We do have a big extended family who showed up in force to honor Dad, but there more other people than family–we think there were almost 50 people there. Dad was amazing, very engaging, full of stories and facts. After the formal event, people lingered to ask more questions and have books signed. Staff had to try three times to shoo us out of the room. We quite literally closed the place down. Way to go, Dad. It was a gift to me that my three pigs got to learn more about Dad’s career and get a hint of what a bigshot he was. He is one the top 20 most-cited infectious-disease doctors from NIH. (Fortunately, I caught his error in that sentence, which originally suggested he was one of the top 20 infectious doctors.)

Tuesday, with the exceptional help and hard work of my beautiful, big-hearted goddaughter Marley, we packed a picnic and fled for the hills…of Wolf Trap. It was a big gift from Mom and Doug to take 10 of us to the lawn to listen to the R&B vibes of John Legend. I felt like I was on the island where Moana lived with the most idyllic temperature and stars and woodsy vibes. Mom made a steak salad with potatoes, dill and tomatoes that was literally from the 1970s Wolf Trap picnic cookbook. It was such a treat to have my parents here to celebrate the start of summer and my new year.

Wednesday brought an intense work load, as with the rest of the week, as I pushed to complete a draft of a paper for my World Bank Pakistan team on maternal mental health, stressors and child outcomes…go ahead, people, let the jokes roll. A civilized lunch at Dad’s broke the desk monotony, and evening included Mom’s chocolate sauce and angel food cake from Marley—my favorite birthday dessert—and a victory in at least one round of Kids Against Maturity. If you haven’t played it, it’s the least likely game ever to catch Mom and Doug playing (good work, Finn!) yet they won most rounds. For the record.

Wednesday and a half. It was most unpleasant when I looked at the clock and realized the time was 1:30 am. I willed myself to return to my dreams but my mind insisted on trying to cross the border between Poland and Ukraine with Kyiven. I was unexpectedly anxious all day Wednesday and through the night knowing he was entering territory targeted by missiles on a daily and especially nightly basis—“unexpected” because I thought I had processed all the catastrophic thoughts and fears earlier. He said the city is beautiful, people are out and about and they are unwavering in the goal of victory. Yet, people hold photos of young men and cry, and his first night in the city included three hours in the bunker. Electricity outages are all the rage in Kyiv these days, we learned.

Thursday was a happy-sad day, it being my birthday, hooray, but also the departure date for Mom and Doug. Although, to be honest, that was only a boohoo for me, as they were thrilled to be headed out on the most incredible adventures in Namibia via Paris and Aix-en-Provence. Finn also gives the day a thumbs up: he’s officially a sophomore (to Clara’s lowly freshman status). The day was capped off by barbecued chicken, my favorite birthday dinner, on the porch at Hampden Lane, followed by a (not) homemade lemon meringue pie. According to the candle, I am incredibly wise for my age.

Friday delivered relief as I turned in my paper, until we held a team meeting and decided to converge two papers into one. It marked the one-week anniversary of Tatum being home from Stuart Hall School and a frantic effort to unpack before starting work (life guarding at Palisades) in order to be able to socialize. Finn packed for a weekend away for speed camp in Virginia Beach with friends. And I lived vicariously through Hugh’s travels in Amsterdam, plus-plus.

Saturday, by tradition, brought the bright blue skies attendant to the Strawberry Festival for now 50 years. I captained the ticket table, Tatum helped kids with bird house painting, and Clara scooped ice cream and fizzed whipped cream into strawberries, good practice for her future dream job at The Creamery. We made $8,000 for the church, but more importantly, I bought four stripe-stemmed wine glasses for $5. Meanwhile, Kevin teleported to Singapore, where he lived the high-life quite literally at Marina Bay Sands above the Indian Ocean (where he ended up meeting by zoom with people down the hall due to a Covid case on the team), and Finn did whatever 15-year-old guys do on the beach and football field.

Sunday. Thank God for Sunday. I have nothing to report.

Tatum’s home and summer has started! Her friend Anna and Marina were tearful about her departure, giving the best compliment ever: “You’re the most girl’s girl I’ve ever met.” Dean of Advancement Katy also loved Tatum, as did several other staff and faculty

But there’s no holding her back when summer awaits. She will spend the next two days in full-day lifeguard training, hopefully followed by a job at Palisades pool. But the biggest, most pressing priority from the eyes of Girl, 17, is the driver’s license. She has completed her practice hours—thank you, Highways 66 and 81, between Staunton and Cabin John—but needs the class and exam passed.

In the meantime, she’s engrossed in her childhood Lego set, searching for the elf house, Little’s pet shop and the tiny horses. But that’s after an evening at home with Indian food, boyfriend Beaman and family…discussing how challenged and inappropriate immature high school boys are. Adolescence is an interesting time. (May I live through them and not in them.)

I’m so happy for Tatum that her summer has started; two weeks for Finn’s and three for Clara’s. Work has kicked into high gear for me so I will be thrilled when four weeks have passed, if I lived through them with grace and deadlines met. That’s when I’ll put my flip flops up by the pool, with a dewy lemonade in my right hand and a novel in my left. And I’ll watch other people swim—namely Finn, who just joined the swim team—and do nothing with great joy.

Finn rocks. And skips and jumps. With Clara along for the ride, we headed down to the Raleigh-Durham area a couple of weekends ago for the Super Slippers Classic. We were thrilled that Brooks and Presley came up from South Carolina AND Noelle and Mica drove west from Wilmington. We dined at Chili’s and remembered some glory days of me serving the famous Awesome Blossom.

Finn got plenty of ribbons, as usual, but let’s get to the important part: Team Brooks sneaked by Team Presley for the win in axe throwing with a slim margin of two points, 83 to 81. I see a future with a new sport if jump roping doesn’t work out. Or consulting for the World Bank. Love our family and friends, such favorite people.

I love these three little pigs. Every year on Mother’s Day, Josie and I are treated to the sweetest brunch. This year, Sophia and Tatum decorated and cleaned and cleaned, and Clara, Georgie and Finn served us delicious lattes on the front porch while the dogs ran circles around them.

There’s nothing sweeter than coffee stirred with a laugh and a dash of love, even if I am “bruh” on occasion.

It’s confirmed! Finn and Clara have finished the youth group year with a visit to the National Cathedral to be confirmed under strands of stained glass blue sunshine and gospel blues.

The girls in their pretty white dresses and Finn in his borrowed blue suit jacket knelt before one of the priests in his ruby red robe and we laid hands on them and felt blessed. Bishop Marian was an excellent speaker—joyful, humble and clear.

Deacon Adrienne commented more than once on Clara’s very thoughtful comments and questions throughout the study process. She felt called to the occasion strongly, it seemed. Finn was more skeptical about the need to get confirmed having been baptized in late elementary school. Both perspectives were great. Having twins is so interesting.

Lunch afterwards at Cactus Cantina was a nice way to close out the year. “Eating together brings joy,” as Strega Nona advised. Amen!

Email from Regional Director Martin Reiser, South Asia Region, The World Bank

Sent via bcc to ALL SAR colleagues

Dear Colleagues,

I am pleased to announce the selection of Kevin Tomlinson as Operations Manager in the Eastern Europe CMU in ECA VPU.

I would like to thank Kevin for his dedication and contributions to our region as Practice Manager for SSI. He has ably handled a number of sensitive issues and built an exciting program of engagement on issues of inclusion and social sustainability. This new role will open up a very different but no less important set of challenges, which I am confident Kevin will take in his strides. Please join me in congratulating and wishing him all the very best in ECA!

Below is Kevin’s kiosk announcement that will be posted shortly. 

Best regards,

Martin

Kevin Tomlinson, Operations Manager, Eastern Europe CMU, based in Kyiv, Ukraine

I am pleased to announce the appointment of Kevin Tomlinson as Operations Manager in the Eastern Europe CMU, in the Europe and Central Asia Region (ECA). Kevin will be based in Kyiv, Ukraine.

Kevin is currently Practice Manager for Social Sustainability and Inclusion (SSI) in the South Asia region, based in New Delhi. Kevin, an American national, joined the Bank in 1998 in the Environmentally and Socially Sustainable Development Department in the Latin America Region (LAC) as a Project Assistant. He has since held various corporate and operational positions. Prior to his current assignment in the South Asia region, he was Practice Manager for SSI in ECA.

In his new position Kevin’s top three priorities will be to: (i) oversee timely pipeline delivery in the Eastern Europe CMU with a strong focus on quality assurance; (ii) support effective implementation of the portfolio delivering integrated development solutions to our clients; and (iii) lead and mentor the Eastern Europe CMU operations team.

Kevin was selected to this position through the Bank-wide competitive managerial selection process. His appointment is effective July 1, 2024.

Antonella Bassani

Regional Vice-President

Europe and Central Asia Region

 

What to do with two teenage girls on yet another day off school? Bonus points for being outdoors AND incorporating history AND having enthusiasm from the peanut gallery? Go on a field trip of course! Clara and Georgie were genuinely joyful about this mini road trip to Morven Park in rural Virginia, a home and manicured grounds with 240 years of stories and about as many paintings of hunting and hounds.

It was a nice respite in these months of a Barbie clothed in barbed wire. Two girls laughing, happy to do history and a little walking, and thrilled at the prospect of rolling down a huge, green hill. No concern about grass in the carefully straightened hair or eye rolls at the whimsy of such a childish activity.

In Leesburg proper, we browsed a sweet boutique and ate fries at a family diner and giggled over dumb stuff. I guess this unremarkable day was remarkable because the girls were back briefly, leaving their armor of self-tanning spray and disdain at home. I love these girls.

It can be weird to have worlds collide, but Tatum handled it with her usual grace on her 17th birthday. We brought together family, friends from Jakarta, Marina from Stuart Hall and Sophia and Georgie. Plus the relevant grown-ups. And we ate at our newly favorite restaurant, Artha Rini Indonesian in Kensington. In classic Indonesian style, they didn’t have staples like nasi goreng or jasmine tea, which made it quite perfect. Tatum ordered her favorite, sticky rice, but it didn’t compare with Ibu Nengsih’s.

Following explicit instructions, I made a funfetti cake with Betty Crocker strawberry frosting, but the shark candy, mermaid candles and seahorse cookies were by own contribution.

Tatum still wants to become a shark researcher and is looking at colleges with a marine biology program, handily being those along a beach. She is indeed on tap to take AP Environmental Science next year, so she’s on the right track.

Her teacher comments have been glowing—she contributes the most of any student in her physics class, has made top gains in precalc and has “sophisticated literary analysis skills” and is recommended for AP English next year (along with AP statistics and art). She’s not loving school, but she’s doing a great job despite that. They love her.

And her friends span the Maryland-Virginia divide: in addition to lovely Marina from Brazil but a fellow boarder at Stuart Hall, Tatum is spending lots of time with Sophia, Tommy and new beau Beaman, all students at Whitman. Prom was a big highlight this spring—for Josie and me, as well as the kids. It’s something to celebrate when the children you love are doing happy things.

It was so cold! There’s nothing like the word spring to make a little chill even chillier because all one wants is for the sun to have the decency to shine. Especially if one goes south like the birds. Spring in Nags Head was a little indecent, to be honest: cold, windy and cloudy.

But we made the best of it. Well, I guess that depends on perspective. Clara said on the car trip home, grumpy for lack of UV rays for spring break tanning, “Mom, we went to four museums in four days. Is that, like, your perfect vacation or something?”

We went to the beautiful beach at least once a day, although usually we didn’t stay more than ten minutes because it was so blustery. The waves were raucous and even Bali ran from them and not into them. But we were together, except for Tay who had finished her spring break two weeks earlier. Trent, finding his Master’s at East Carolina, joined us for two nights also, happily.

One of the “museum” visits that Clara so enjoyed was a stop at a wildlife refuge near Alligator River. Aside from having a very nice visitor’s center, the back roads there were perfect to give Finn and Clara their first turns behind the wheel. The roads were made of dirt or gravel so the rare other cars on the road were going only as fast as bees sliding on honey. Clara was cautious and cool, Finn was elbows up and foot down—driving a little faster than expected! They both did great and stood a little taller when they stepped out of the driver’s seat.

Other highlights included going to Kitty Hawk and learning more about the wonderful imaginations and methodical discipline of Orville and Wilbur—and their mother’s uncanny ability to build and fix things in the home; getting brews and beer for Kevin; driving through the gorgeous campus of William & Mary; seeing the Cape Hatteras light house and learning about German U-boats being nearby during WWII and the resourceful isolation of families living in the light house; playing Bananagrams; watching the show soap opera-style but somewhat historically realistic Jamestown and visiting the actual Jamestown or at least it’s replica.

I loved the visit to Jamestown, although it wasn’t the site of the archeological dig of course. It is impressive to think of the courage and creativity all of those first arrivers had to call upon. The efforts to recreate life from England must have been both so comforting and so maddening. The Native Americans must have been astonished by the bizarre sights—neck ruffles and corsets could hardly have been helpful.

Having been to the very spot on the other side of the earth, the Banda Islands or Spice Islands, that other European ships were reaching at the same time, I can see in my mind’s eye cosmic history’s lines colliding and bursting into flame in the arc of history. The galvanizing of globalization.

Overall the trip was good family time with the exception that Tatum couldn’t be there, but it wasn’t perhaps the most springish of spring breaks because of the overcast and blowy weather. Next time, maybe we could “spring” for a place with a hot tub—or better yet, a place with sunshine. Kevin loved it though, climate and landscape alike being a true break from the frying pan that is Delhi.