Tag: Family

Woodstock, Vermont

     Last weekend we treated the kids and their significant others to a weekend at the Woodstock Inn in Vermont – sort of an early Christmas present.  The Guy and I visited for the first time last February and loved it so much we knew the kids would appreciate it too.   So we booked last weekend well in advance, as it is indeed “Leaf Peeping Season” here in New England.  That means the tourists flood in from all over to see Autumn in all it’s splendor.    When I used that term in the truck on the way up to the Inn, the kids were hysterical with laughter because apparently I used SUCH A DWEEBY TERM!   LEAF PEEPING… A HAHAHAHAHAAAA MOM!!!…      Apparently they haven’t been on earth long enough to know  IT IS A THING –  and I proved it at the gift shop in the center of the INN when the person working the store used the term “Leaf Peepers” referring to the crowds.    A HA! At the very least, I’m not the only DWEEB.    
     Anyway… The Inn is spectacularly New England, the food really good (two restaurants and bars within) and the accommodations wonderful.  The bedding alone is worth the stay.  There are many places for small groups to gather in the halls, entry ways, gathering places…. game rooms, library, the spa which we didn’t even see….   So, even if the weather were miserable outside, the Inn is a holiday all it’s own.  I highly recommend it.  
 Quechee Gorge, the largest in Vermont.   Let me tell ya ’bout that hike down the hill from that bridge you see there.. actually the down was easy.. the going back UP… well.   My calves still haven’t forgiven me. 

Brave kiddo.. notice how the rest of us are dressed… 
The Inn…. 

 The main hall….

 Game room on lower level… these two attempting vintage pacman…

Billings Farm and Museum just behind town… 

   We did some cow kissing and some Pumpkin Ice Cream making….. 

 … and lots of admiring the beautiful scenery.

   It was a wonderful three day weekend spent with this crew.  I love these kids more than they will ever fully understand. What a blessing it is to be together enjoying each others company.   We almost.. ALMOST… got through the mini vacation without talking politics.  That lovely town hall debate happened to be on the tube (insert kids hysterical laughter at moms use of yet another DWEEB term, ’cause it’s coming, I’m sure) on our second nights stay… and we watched in utter horror  or giddy glee.  One thought it was horrendous  .. the other thought it – went well-.   You can guess who’s who in this house, can’t ya.

 Thank you, my family… for a wonderful, wonderful weekend of togetherness.  Thank you to my Guy for treating us all. It’s a beautiful thing.    Except for the Trump signs.  WHY in a Bernie state were there so many Trump signs?!  That’s not really a question, I don’t want to know.

Autumn at This Old House

  Blogging used to be a daily thing around here – When I picked up my editing job again for a local publication I  let it fall by the wayside, admittedly.  There’s just so much time in a day that I  am willing to give up in order to sit in front of a computer screen. For those of you who still drop by and join the conversations, I thank you for your time and sharing of views. 
   The blog was originally a way for me to document the restoration of This Old House here and people loved watching the transformation. I was happy to share. Some idiot on the internet started leaving really odd and sometimes nasty comments so I deleted the whole thing out of fear.   Never let fear get the best of you –  I regret it to this day, and cannot retrieve the archives… I tried and tried again…. Anyway.. I tell you this because there is a new project on the horizon, a renovation that I will share here shortly. Stay tuned…  I was going to start another blog on the transformation, but instead I’ll just keep tabs on it here.  Lets call it… Once Upon A Tide… 
   Have you peppered your home with autumn yet?  I love acknowledging the seasons with their hues, the natural elements brought inside and some whimsy too. This year both my children have places of their own and I have handed over some of the fall and Halloween decor so they can do the same.  They both appreciated the effort when they were younger and it appears they will continue the traditions as well, does my heart good to see it. 

     My son and his girlfriend adopted this beautiful kitten last week. They are head over heels in love.  Her name is Lily and she adores them just as much.  So many cats and dogs at the shelters all across the US – consider adopting when you add a pet to your family.  You are indeed saving a life. 

   Mom has been at a cottage on the water for the last two weeks of summer into fall.  We’ve enjoyed a few amazing sunset dinners on the deck, located on Long Island Sound… doesn’t get any better than that.

 Speaking of dinners.. this dish has been going around facebook in video form – Chicken Caprese- I don’t have the recipe but followed the video and will put it in simple terms below… easy, delicious, and good for you.

Chicken Caprese –  Put some olive oil in a large pan, saute chicken cutlets (or breasts but we prefer the thinner cutlet) in oil six minutes each side or until nicely browned, salt and pepper each piece when you begin.  Remove chicken after browned/cooked on both sides and add balsamic vinegar and chopped garlic to pan. Sautee for a minute and add halved cherry tomatoes… simmer for five minutes, add chopped basil, place browned chicken cutlets over the tomato mixture, place slice of fresh mozzerella on top of each chicken piece, place cover over pan to allow cheese to melt over chicken… remove cover and serve with warm toasty garlic bread.   YUM! 

Getting back to what really matters

    I’ve been getting tangled up in the ugliness of our current political scene and my body has been telling me it doesn’t appreciate the stress.  I’m sure many of you can relate… when you’re the kind of person who can’t help but Give A Sh*t about what’s going on out there, how people are treating each other,  how disrespectful and downright hateful some of the conversation is…. well, it’s just hard to tune it out.  Every time I sit at the computer to work at my editing job or scan facebook, I peek at CNN and the headlines are always – not the good stuff-.  When the husband and I sit down at night to watch a little TV before bed, we check the news.  Same negative crap.   I was  just about to start a post on the increasingly obnoxious behaviors of our political candidates, one in particular who just keeps unraveling.. and yet!!…   (ah, but I digress).

   What’s a girl to do.

   I’m purposefully redirecting my attention to the little things.  They’re actually the big things, the most important things that bring me moments of peace and calm and absolutely, joy.

    My kids made me an empty nester this year – I’ve shared some of my horror at the thought with you in previous posts.   If you haven’t already experienced it yourself, I can tell you that it’s not all bad.  (Wow, did I just say that.)  Oh, I do miss the sound of their heavy footfalls upstairs as they rouse themselves in the morning, and the breakfast and dinner chatter that occurred on a near daily basis.  SOMETIMES I miss making big meals regularly that will feed four plus leftovers, but on that particular point I don’t miss the gigantic grocery shopping and I enjoy making simpler meals more often for just the two of us.   What’s awesome is both of my children live in the next town over, just ten minutes away, and they’re doing great – they are responsible with work,  love their own spaces and they take care of their “stuff”, including bill paying and learning to cook.   You know you did something right when they do those things and enjoy the process.

    Icing on the cake – we still see them regularly and they ENJOY coming home to visit.

A text I got from my son yesterday –   He had gone fishing after work…

 “So I didn’t catch anything but it was pretty awesome, no one else fishing, high tide, 3 people had easel set up and were painting the bridge, saw two horseshoe crabs and a really cool big dark brown bird with a huge beak was hanging out ten feet away. “

  …and this pic from my daughter –  Look at the  tomatoes on my girl’s window sill – she’s got two big patio pots on the back deck of her condo and she’s proud of the harvest, as am I.

  They’re noticing .. and appreciating.. the little things. The important stuff.

– It’s a beautiful thing.

  And because I can’t be anything but me…. let me just end this post today with these words of wisdom I would like to bestow upon the powers-that-might-be.….

 Enough said –

MV 2016

    I’m like a kid on Christmas morning when we roll into the Ferry line at Woods Hole headed for the Vineyard.  Then when the Jeep is safely tucked in the belly of the Ferry and we take our positions upstairs on the deck, the engines roar to life and the navy and emerald green sea churns below and I know…. we’re on Island Time. 
 Our first stop is usually the Black Dog Tavern – where the seafood and the ribs and their red wine sangria are not worth dying over, but pretty darn good.  Why did anyone ever coin the phrase – to die for – anyway?   Would you really be willing to die over an exceptional meal or slice of cake?  No food is that good.   Anyway – the Black Dog  cookbooks share some great recipes too, I recommend ordering one if you want to treat yourself. 
 This was our view from the Harborside Inn, where we’ve stayed when only on island for a long weekend.  Right smack in the middle of Edgartown and also on the water, it’s a convenient location, walking distance to just about everything in town…… 
… including Edgartown Light. Mike and I are early risers, and we’ve made a tradition of walking to the light and along it’s beaches before most people have fetched their coffee from Espresso Love. 
This year I found a live scallop… it hissed and snapped as I tried to observe it… 
 The quiet mornings before the rest of the tourists have come out to play is when I enjoy the island the most.  I can only imagine what the residents think of those of us who invade their space for three months of the year.  On one hand the tourism is great for business, on the other, a big nuisance for the locals. The population swells from 15,000 to 100,000 every year.. can you imagine.  Then throw in a Presidential visit!   We got in before the POTUS this year. 
  The walk to the light brings us past so many stately old sea captains homes and lovely cottages full of whimsy….. their gardens very well tended and brick walks add to the charm.  
This pagoda tree is absolutely HUGE, notice how little the man is standing next to it. 
The story behind it is pretty cool. 
My son, years ago at the same tree… 

 Just down Water Street a few blocks over is the Chappy Ferry – a three car, two minute ferry ride to Chappaquiddick.  
The beaches on Chappy or more wild and untamed with less people traffic.  The Mr. prefers it and so we go…. 

 While it’s nice to get away, just the two of us… I miss my kiddos when they’re not tagging along.    But don’t ya know… two of them  just happened to be on island at the same time. The family of my son’s GF rented a house just up and over a few blocks from the harbor.  We had a wonderful evening together, getting to know the new faces and sharing stories with the familiar.

  
We visited the Tisbury Farm Market and oh let me tell you… these jams are – not worth dying for, but pretty darn good.  Especially the Lavender Nectarine.  They ship, fyi. 

We also had breakfast one morning at the Right Fork Diner, at the Katama Air field.  This plane
was made in 1940, the wings made of cloth, if you can believe it.  You, too, can take a 45 minute ride around the island in this dual winged beauty.  We declined – as the Mr. said… “There are many risks in life, and you have to decide which are truly worth the possible worst outcome.   For me, This ain’t one of them”.  

 Alley’s General Store has been in operation since 1858… it’s so chock full of sillyness and well as the necessities, a visit isn’t complete without a stop in at Alleys just to see what’s new and  piled high and grab a drink or three for the trek up island.

   They say the Vineyard is for the Democrats and Nantucket is the Republican Island.  Judging by the amount of Bernie bumper stickers, I say it’s probably true.  The POTUS will arrive shortly for his yearly vacation with family, and I hope people will be kind.  Seems they either love when the Pres visits or hate it, depending on how much motorcade traffic and cordoned off restaurants they have to put up with, I suppose.  If I were a resident, I’d consider it an honor, just sayin – 
Thought this was kinda funny… I CAN RELATE. 
 Hope you’re having an enjoyable summer – we are, despite the drought and heat.
Until soon –  thanks for stopping by. 

Banned

 So the Mr. and I decided to take an evening ride down the shoreline on Saturday night, because it was such a glorious (summer!) evening.  We went semi topless, as that’s a heck of a lot easier than taking the entire top off the Jeep.   The evening was enjoyable, relaxing, a welcome reprieve… until…

Here’s where it got ugly.

  I take pride in being one of those Jeep Wrangler owners who participate in the long standing tradition of the Jeep Wave.  If you’re interested, here’s some insight from a serviceman on it’s origin…  If not.. scroll down to the post, continued…

New Jeep owners soon discover a tradition that has been around perhaps as long as Jeeps, the Jeep wave. Some may think its strange or even silly, but before you judge perhaps take a moment and consider this.

During WWII the Jeep was always on the move, often running back and forth from the front lines delivering vital supplies or urgent messages, or carry wounded soldiers, attempt rescues or bring reinforcements. Some say this is where the Jeep wave began as a way to know friend from foe or acknowledge an officer without a salute that might alert enemies of a high ranking official. Or perhaps it was just a simple gesture from soldier in one Jeep to another Jeep as they passed. A sign of camaraderie and respect between courageous souls in dark and dangerous times.

Others say the Jeep wave began after the war when the soldiers returned home. During the war the Jeep had earned a place in the hearts of many soldiers and as a result, many of those who made it home, wanted to own their own Jeep. Often the drivers of Jeeps passing on roadways would wave at each other, as they knew most likely each other had served. 

Finally some claim the wave began only when civilians started buying Jeeps and taking them off road. They shared fun and excitement of tackling seemingly impossible trails and obstacles in the nimble Jeep, naturally builds a kinship with other Jeepers. The wave acknowledges that shared understanding and appreciation of the Jeeps amazing capabilities and the enjoyment ownership can bring. So next time you see a Jeep, give a wave and if you don’t get one in return, don’t be offended. Just consider it a wave for the ‘One and Only Jeep’ and what it represents, our freedom and he brave souls who fought for it!

Being a Military Service Member myself, I think the wave started in WWII where many brave souls gave us our freedom we cherish to this day. For without what so many did for this country, we as fellow Jeepers would not be able to enjoy the freedoms of off road parks, trails, and just the simple freedom of driving down the road in the summer, top down and cruising. 




   So, particularly on Memorial Day Weekend, you see why the wave is increasingly important to uphold, right?   Apparently.. the Mr… doesn’t wave.  He’s one of those who thinks it’s silly, and if YOU are one of those, just hush.

   My mistake was  I let him drive.  Every Wrangler we passed – and admittedly there are many –  I could tell those who were going to wave as they approached. I can spot the snobs a mile away now, no kidding.  I said, please wave.. don’t be a snob.  He.. Did.. Not.    I began waving FOR him as we rode down the waterline,  the shoreline neighborhoods, The Boston Post Road.  There are several waves, to be clear. Some hold up their hand, some stick them out the side window, a side wave. Some give the peace sign (me) and some lift there hand and wave the full out wave, side to side.   He started holding my hands down, giggling!!…  The nerve.


SO…  He is no longer allowed to drive my Jeep, which while in my possession will represent the upholding of the time-honored tradition of the Jeep wave.


    To all the service men, women and service animals who have given of themselves over the many years of our country’s history, Thank you for your bravery and courage.  Thank you for the freedoms we have, Thank you for your service.  










  

Clowns to the left of me…

.. jokers to the right.. here I am.. stuck in the middle with you.

(you’re humming that tune, aren’t ya)

 Kinda how I feel right now … what with the Hilary/Trump decision looming.  And the kids-leaving-the-nest situation glooming.

 Thank you all for your comments and commiseration and  kind words and wisdom through experience.  We moved my daughter and her boyfriend into their new condo and they are settling in to figure out whether they’re good together for the long haul.  I happen to think that’s a very wise choice.  M and I did nothing of the sort because it would have been frowned upon by his family and he did not want to rock the boat.  So we jumped in with both feet, rocked our own boats dramatically and had a baby a year later.  When you do that sort of thing, you had better hope it was a wise choice, because you could also find yourself looking at the other, saying “WHO the HELL are YOU?”.   And you know.. by then it’s kinda difficult to extract yourself.   SO… I cheer them on and wish them well and miss the clatter of their feet up and down the hallway stairs and the morning chatter and even the bickering when they ask your opinion but don’t really want it.  (That’s one of my favorites).

K’s new kitchen..

     Meanwhile, back at the ranch.. the manchild and his GF went on their first major shopping excursion last night, because they will need just about everything.   I can’t really throw them a “living in sin” party, either… SO….  They decided they really want a new comfy sectional sofa, not the old couch we have in storage.. so they financed it.  It’s his first major purchase besides his vehicle, but a good way to build credit.   Now, this is the kid who would have to visit three sneaker stores before deciding on a pair… even when he was SEVEN YEARS OLD!  I knew what they were in for. … So.. last night while they were out shopping, the text went like this…

Me:  How are you making out?……

Him:  Struggling.
          Sneaker problems.

     Long story short, a couch was purchased in espresso, not the off white they almost got.. because I think I brought home the point that eventually someone with new blue jeans was going to sit on that white couch and leave blue dye smudges all over it, and heaven forbid blue jean baby has a glass of red wine in hand and does an oops…. or perhaps the dog will get into the Valentines chocolate box sitting on the sofa table and smear it all over said white couch while you’re out to dinner with your significant other who PAID for it… the couch and the chocolates…   (I wish I could tell you I’m not speaking from experience.)

  I’m happy for them, and I’m getting used to the idea, and doing what I usually do when I need a distraction.  Spend.   New blue hydrangea bowl on the dining room table, because *s*t*r*e*s*s*

     In the midst of the moving, we’re having some beautiful days… here are a few shots from the garden…

  The pansy pot was found out in the woods, it’s a perfect pansy pot, don’t ya think? ….   Just to give you an accurate picture of ME right now… picture fingers in my ears… singing La la la la la la la.. and just looking around not really focusing on any one thing… because THIS….

I’m looking at the woman in the mirror

 
   I shouldn’t write this post today, because the emotions that stormed in on me this morning are still brand new and raw.   And yet here I go… can’t help my inclination to dump out the emotion du jour, as immediately as possible.

 See this chick?    That’s me this morning… before the bomb dropped.   I took the picture because my profile pic in a few places is so -last year-.    I’m currently growing my hair long, just because holy shit, I’m 51 !!!…  and how long can you get away with long hair, you know?  Some women pull it off in older age rather well. My grandmother  Elsie wore hers in an elegant bun and it looked blond and fabulous till the end.  I hate buns, and ponytails and clips and barrettes and headbands and scrunchies… because I can’t stand the feel of them on my head. … so that’s not going to be an option lest I go insane trying to deal with the phobia.. or headache of those contraptions.

Oh, the serenity.. the contentment that all was right with the world after some stressful times …… even liked my hair!!!……  it was a fine moment this morning….  lasted almost  half a day.

 We’ve just learned we are going to be  (GASP)……

EMPTY NESTERS.

  I envy those of you who actually LOOK FORWARD to the day.  Oh, the happy dance I’ve seen some of you do when the last chick flew the coop and you settled in with a glass of wine or scotch on the rocks  out on the porch to enjoy the quiet, to come back to the YOU or the TWO OF YOU that you were all those years ago, before the kids came along.    Some of you are wishing for the day to hurry up and arrive, bemoaning the hustle and hassle that is often family life.  That’s never been me.  NO.. I rued the day.

  Truth, I  love my guy.  Second truth –  I have always identified strongly as a mom with all the mom stuff that comes with the territory of raising kids and having them, you know.. AROUND a lot.    I like a house full of family. No, I love it.   And now we’re going to be just two again… the kids out on their own, hopefully happily moving forward into adulthood and all it’s responsibilities.. and the two of us will rediscover what it is to be the two of us.  I have faith in my kids for sure, and they won’t be very far away… but still.. the .. Empty… Nest.

   We resurrected This Old House six years ago with all of the family still in -growing up- mode.  Now, the entire second floor will be … vacant.   As much as I love this house and we put every fiber of our being into bringing it back to life.. I look around today and feel the weight of it’s size.

 Weird, this. The woman I see in the mirror… someone different now.  Reluctantly.  Why does a song from Metallica keep playing in my mind…

Here I go…. turn the page….. 

American Museum of Natural History

  Last weekend mom and I and a few of the kids took a trip into NYC and the AMNH.  As is usual on a sunny spring Sunday, the city was jammed.  We drove in, because parking is pretty easy at the museum and also at the Marriott Marquis, and I like the idea of being in control – ha.  The passengers in my vehicle may have had a different experience.  I am a people watcher through and through – and there were thousands of interesting people to… watch.  Driving and watching, unless we’re talking street signs and signals… don’t mix when every two seconds you need to make a decision.

Anyway!  We’re still here to talk about it.   What a feeling it is… to look at the same exhibits I first viewed 40 years ago –  (did I just say that?)  And of course there were new exhibits, as the museum rotates special ones out periodically. 
 As you enter the museum at it’s main entrance, a statue of  Theodore Roosevelt on horseback greets you.  Standing on either side of him are an American Indian and an African American, meant to symbolize the continents of Africa and America.  

 The buildings and the architecture in this part of the city… with Central park at it’s core.. is just beautiful.  
The Dakota, a residence just down the road, also flanking Central park.. is just one example.. quite a history if you’re not familiar with it… also the place John Lennon lived and was shot in front of.  If I had to live in the city, which I love but would never want to inhabit… this is where I’d like to be, although my finances beg to differ. 
     Inside the museum… We walked through the butterfly exhibit, which houses thousands of different species of butterfly…
And viewed the same stuffed animals I saw as a child myself… staring through their glassy eyes at the millions of visitors who pass before them for many years now.  Funny thing… my son had a look on his face and shook his head slightly… I knew exactly what he was thinking, cut from the same cloth, you see.   ” Dead animals”.   “They were killed just to be stuffed and mounted here for decades.  Whole Families!”… said he.    Sad fact… the Black Rhino is among them… now.. extinct. 
Museum Selfies…
The Dinosaurs are truly amazing and the museum has quite a collection, I’m guessing the largest available. 
 A new exhibit is the Titanosaurus…via the museum website…  ” In January 2016, the Museum added another must-see exhibit to its world-famous fossil halls: a cast of a 122-foot-long dinosaur. This species is so new that it has not yet been formally named by the paleontologists who discovered it.  Paleontologists suggest this dinosaur, a giant herbivore that belongs to a group known as titanosaurs, weighed in at around 70 tons. The species lived in the forests of today’s Patagonia about 100 to 95 million years ago, during the Late Cretaceous period, and is one of the largest dinosaurs ever discovered. 
The remains were excavated in the Patagonian desert region of Argentina by a team from the Museo Paleontologico Egidio Feruglio led by José Luis Carballido and Diego Pol, who received his Ph.D. degree in a joint program between Columbia University and the American Museum of Natural History. One of the 8-foot femurs, or thigh bones, found at the site is among five original fossils on temporary view with The Titanosaur.
  To stand next to this baby is hard to describe…  see the size of the folks in the picture?  Godzilla comes to mind. 
The Hayden Planetarium is a sight to behold –  no pictures allowed while viewing.. on the right is a self sustaining living sphere, whos eco system works in harmony so that no outside influence is needed. 
 Outside in the park, people, dogs, horses, cyclists, joggers, enjoyed the good weather with spring in the air.  We illegally fed pigeons pieces of pretzel while two of my people strolled in the park – they  are in the V of the tree, do you see them? 
 After our museum visit  we drove to the Marriott Marquis in Times Square and mom treated us all to a delicious dinner at the revolving restaurant at the top – The View.    The elevators go up 45 floors…traveling very fast, it was a scene out of Star Trek, I’m telling ya. 
 It takes  about an hour for the room to revolve completely, so the view changes as you dine. 
  A good day was had by all.  

And the sun will rise…

  No matter what happens in life (and death) the sun always rises. Life goes on. Sometimes in the greatest losses, that concept seems surreal.

   Mom and I flew down to Melbourne, Florida last week to be with family as we said good bye to our Uncle, Father, Husband, Grandfather,  Father-in-law, Friend.   While the occasion was a sad one, I couldn’t help but note that my Uncle also loved getting together with family and friends. He was always a big presence at gatherings, and more than a few of us felt he was among us  in spirit as we gathered from all over the country  on the beach and at his service and his home afterward.

    I’m not religious, as I’ve stated here before.. but I do believe there is more to the human spirit than we fully understand… our bodies are a series of nuts and bolts that work together miraculously, but it’s our essence.. what makes us individuals, with feelings, emotion,  empathy, etc… that cannot be explained by mechanical means.  That energy in some form, I believe, remains.

 We had a few days to soak up some Florida sun… the weather was perfect  and we enjoyed  the glorious sunrises and sunsets, as well as time spent with family.

 Have you ever tried Frickles?  ( basically beer battered fried pickles)   Lord, let there be no Heaven where there are no dogs, horses and frickles.   –   Just sayin. 

Gains and Losses

  A belated Happy Easter to you !

      We got together with some of our extended family  and enjoyed  a conversation filled  -catching up –  meal together.   While I am not religious, Easter represents renewal for me. We’re spending more time outdoors.. there are buds on the trees, birds hunting for good nest sites…and, I get to spoil my kids with baskets full of chocolate, a few spring clothes items and some silly fun things too.  They’re grown now, but the tradition will continue because I can’t bear to give it up, truth.

   I picked my  father up from the nursing home and he was glad to join us.   I imagine one of the hardest realities for him has been giving up his car – his independence.  I had to sign him out  and it felt weird .  He was taken back by that simple act too.  However… it is very obvious from his conversations with us and his growing relationships with the staff that he feels safe where he lives now, he is content.  Huge gift for both of us.   When I brought him back and he returned to his room, he sat down in his big easy chair, exhausted…and at peace.  I don’t know how else to describe it.  Who would think life in a nursing home would bring comfort… and yet, for some it really does.   In this environment he has gained the stability, routine and even companionship that he was never able to establish for himself in his earlier life due to his choices. Now, with no choices, he has what he wouldn’t give himself before… and he is doing well. In his new life path, which he did not choose, it seems he has gained more than he lost.  Ironic.

   Our family lost a patriarch last week –
      I grew up on Staten Island, and at 19 moved to Connecticut to live on my Aunt and Uncle’s horse farm just up the road from This Old House.  I brought my adopted ancient horse with me, and lived with them for four years, helping care for their horses while attending college and finding my way to the life  I’ve made here with  my husband and children.  The opportunity they gave me will never be forgotten.
     D had conquered cancer about nine years ago, but the  harsh treatment rendered him weaker and encouraged Parkinsons to bloom in his system.  D was a very vibrant, very active athlete until that time.. and from there, although his spirit never once gave in, his body eventually gave out.  My aunt and uncle have been a team since they were both very young – they’ve been through many changes in life together, some hardships, many joyful times. Both have lived their lives fully, and together.   Their children and grandchildren gather around my Aunt now, and together they will move forward.  My heart goes out to her. I have no doubt she will be OK and I know she won’t be alone. There is no way to avoid  navigation through the new reality of life without my uncle, but she’s made of the stuff that will see her through and there is still a life to live. My uncle would want that for her.

 Peace be with us all in this season of renewal.