t.j. had a poster for spanish class that was apparently VERY IMPORTANT because he suggested that i drive him to school since his poster was so precious....and grace  was delighted to join since her school was right next door. 

of course.  any mother worth her weight in salt would be thrilled to have a child so proud of his work!  i had to respect that.

UNTIL my sweet teens began to fight over who had "shotgun"....yup!  it still matters.  still.  when the pilgrims came over on the mayflower, after years and years, they are still doing the alternate plan....you go there and i'll take it home. only this morning, there was a dispute over who had been in "shotgun" last.  yes, a discussion ensued. no big deal.

no big deal until, grace would not budge. t.j. was calling her names...loudly....back and forth...stomping. back and forth.  did i say loud?  I meant VERY LOUD! on our quiet  street, i might call it EXTREMELY LOUD!  did i mention that it was 7:00 in the morning.  if i had just let them take the bus.

you would think after a minute that the games would be called off.  NOPE.  not with our little "donkey krauts"...that's what biff calls our variety of child....with and irish/german mix....irish/german = stubborn X 2 = VERY STUBBORN, but very cute when they're getting along...which is often...not very often since they've become teens....but, i'll settle with often. i know they'll get back....in at least 10 years or so.

i might not have minded there bickering...i was peaceful.  i had the car running. i sat and waited for them to work it out....tic tic tic tic.  nope. this called for intervention. i was tired...i took a breath and began. "get in the car t.j.".....NO it's my 

TURN!  TELL HER to get OUT!

it continued a bit longer.  THEN i did it! i cracked.  i used my mother's thing...i  used "the clench" and "the voice"...the combo platter!  i only use it in a time crunch....and when i feel that there is a chance of my children freezing in place....stubborn freeze....it started way back....when we had to pull our kids away from the mini-merry go rounds at supermarkets when i only had 1 quarter for 2 kids...usually at the most inopportune moment...when we had to be somewhere.

i like to stay calm....after all, it was only the front seat!  it wasn't a trip cross country.  it was just more than a mile....they've ridden their bikes.

"the clench" is a touch of locust valley lockjaw.  l.v.l.j., my friend

 sue used to call it. it goes like this....clench, grit and talk. like. this. would. you. GET.

in. the. CAR. NOW. with em-PHA-SIS on the last syllable...unless it is at the end of a statement...then there is em-PHA-SIS on the last 2 syllables. 

 

 

they seem to recognize "the clench"...it's when i use the grit that they look puzzled...or terrified.  i don't like to use it often.  i don't.  i don't let them rile me...if i did, i'd never "win."  the mom and dad have to WIN!   the whole parenting world will crumble and the kids would rule the world....we have a responsibility.  to the world.  and to our life.

in the middle of the "clench" and "the grit".....which took place after the big loud booming name calling began........i became aware that our  neighbor, the quiet and friendly  congregational minister of the church on the green......husband and father of 2 who have long been off on their own.....living in one of those quiet houses with no shoes at the door or socks or backpacks or sand from the beach.

he was out on his front lawn with his little dog....not the big friendly goldens like we have      (read> fitzy, who has run through their back door at full speed, stopping in the kitchen, only to look for food, then continued  through to the front door and out and back towards our kitchen....that was their welcome wagon. read> friendly like daisy who runs to say hello after rolling in a muddy puddle...and shakes her muddy water over his nicely ironed khakis)..............he was peacefully pondering his gardens when i noticed him. i was mid "clench"....i was tightly "gritting" and i had just raised my volume for effect....slow and steady, that's how i roll!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

that's when "the clench" and "the grit" began.  "GET IN NOW OR I WILL MAKE YOU BOTH WALK!"  ......that's when i had to keep clenched and be quiet. i waited. i waited. i waited. i won.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

henry ford never mentioned this.... moments after he finished his  outrageous invention, he took it for a test drive......he drove home....pulled into the driveway....left the car running......called out to the family.....they all came running out to see the car........THAT's when  the "shotgun" wars began....right then and there.  i think it was shortly after that......he invented the ford country squire.....with the "WAY BACK"....just to avoid the "shotgun wars."

 

 

 

 

 

*******************************

i am blessed to know a big bunch of recovering alcoholics. biff and i have had lots of exposure to the disease....through the years working with lots of different people....myriad friends and family along the way.  first of all, i'm irish!  second of all, they tell me that they are 1 in 4!  wow. guess what?  i hardly had a clue that some of the people i love were struggling.  they "NEEDED" a drink!  third of all, they all say that they had signs, personal sign posts or warnings along the way....accidents, blackouts, D.U.I.s or missed work among the many.

different people.  different places.  different things. circumstances. wall street guys with families and big houses in beautiful towns with lots of beautiful kids....friends, who had to have a couple glasses of wine after work and kept drinking into the night......an old friend from my hometown who started drinking when her kids went to kindergarten.....a guy that was drinking since high school when it was fun with friends and now his friends have moved on to other successful worlds......a friend who has taught at the finest universities in the country who couldn't write a paper unless she had "a few".......as we've all gotten older, we hear lots more!  and now...we've had sadness of knowing some who just couldn't make it "one day at a time."

for years....they drank and drank...until they just woke up sick and tired.  they tell me that they were "tired of being sick and tired", some had family who did interventions and some who had a day that really scared them...realizing the affect it was having on family who loved them.  they tell me that their life was becoming "unmanageable" and they couldn't hide their "secret" anymore.

way back when, we all did....now, as time goes on, some can't stop!  for real...CAN'T STOP!  wow. now that's what i call a disease. 

the coolest part of all....their lives sober than they ever could have imagined!  there lives are healthy with healthy friends.  they have more energy.  they have more time in the day to be active.  they say drinking stole their lives away....drinking took up lots of time and energy.  they have fun.  they have faith.  their friends can enjoy them now.

some people feel sorry for  recovering alcoholics. ironically, the recovering person feels sorry for them.  the drinkers think it's too bad their friends and family "can't" drink anymore.  the sober are so grateful their life is so great that they have an"the attitude of gratitude."

now, that's someone i want to be around.  someone who is grateful. someone who makes the best of any situation. someone who doesn't judge.  someone who is accountable for their behavior. someone who looks at problems as a challenge.  someone who's honest with nothing to hide.

"one day at a time" sounds pretty good to me....not too overwhelming...a little bit at a time....baby steps....mom....taking care of our babies/kids/teens.......if i thought about how much there is to parenting too much, i'd be overwhelmed. 

i'd rather be grateful, thankful and take it one day at a time......even if it's my blog.  everything is easier...one step at a time. 

that's how i'll write the blog and

let's see how that goes. i think i'll be happier....enjoy it more...have more fun....so will the people around me!  thanks to the many friends and family who have shared their healthy way of living! 

.....and prayers everyday for the people we know who struggle with this hideous disease....and the people loved and lost from this vicious disease. may they find comfort in sobriety and a healthy way of living.  one day at a time.  this blog's for them.

not quite as simple but....it seems that lots of  recovering people work at seeing how to find the solution rather than dwelling on the problem.

i can learn from that!  i'm still open to any help or chance to learn along the way.....to oversimplify the recovering lifestyle.....if life gives you lemons, make lemonade.

one post at a time

my style.  i love to write.  it's much more concise when talking with friends. when i write on this blog, i write too much.  i know it rambles and since i've had my e-bay store it has been rambling more and more...and more. it's time.  time management.  life. life management. me. me management.

when i began life with new babies, i had to work out time...time management according to the babies. now according to the teens, independent as they are, i still have to work my time management around them. 

family, kids me and miscellaneous life. miscellaneous life now consists of me working....on my my blog and on my store. 

my blog was fun to write at first. since my e-bay store, i've had to work hard to do e-bay well.  i see growth in my store.  i don't see growth in my blog.  friends read it...some others do. it's not reader friendly...it's rambling....the writing  needs effort and time.

no one has time. life is busy.  after thinking whether or not to continue...i realized that it will be very good to simplify.

i've decided to write shorter and more concise posts with short stories of my funny real life moments....the real reason for the name of the blog!  hence, "littlemarymixup", the name my mom so fondly called me!

it's the little things.  it's everyday life stuff. it's the funny people i meet stuff.  it's the dogs' stuff.  just stuff. everyday stuff.

that was my plan. initially, committed to writing every day, i was proud of myself  for following through.

now, i feel like jack of all trades....master of none because i love it all!  it's just not good for me.....probably not so good for any one reading....yawn.

so, i'll try it. simply. maybe i'll be more enthusiastic once i simplify. maybe others will enjoy it more.....if it's not written like war and peace. too big a commitment to sit down and read?  ya think? i do.  i'm boring myself and i just hate when that happens.

so, we'll see how it goes....i guess if you're out there reading this, you can be the judge.  i judge myself well enough, thanks.

as the famous a.a. slogan says, "one day at a time."  if an alcoholic, desperately trying to get sober  from a tumultuous disease, can do this "one day at a time" thing....i guess i can give it a go.  some of the recovered people that i know have told me that they had to take it one hour at a time! i'll take it one post at a time.

joe! today was the first day of the joe hobie cat regatta.

while at the dinner tonight, some of the folks were saying that it felt different tonight...something was different...it just seemed a tiny bit subdued...the food was great...the sailors were happy...the  sailing friends had fine stories to compare after a day of sailing on a windy, chilly spring day, many of the characters were the same....families who sail together....dads who sail...kids who sail....some home from college...some younger...family who have been a part of the kids' sailing "careers"...joe's family... and lots more friends.

 the same people....with the same passion for sailing, the same community of sailors ....the same beach.....the same family...the same friends....some new sailors who had come into their own and were ready to take on a race...some non sailors who were there to share the excitement of the big race that is now an annual event.  it was a pleasure to see everyone back down at the beach....after a long, cold winter....folks who were enthusiastic to see familiar faces and longtime friends and kids who had grown inches since sailing back on labor day.

we all sat at our large round table  with the large white tablecloth and paper plates filled with ziti parmesan and chicken florentine and green salad with italian dressing and white plastic knives and forks and thin white paper napkins... big blue plastic cups filled with sprite and coca cola and orange drink in the big white house with the wood floors , white walls and high ceilings and damp air pouring in the open glass doors....while this years slide show randomly popped up photos of the race on a laptop computer over on the counter against the wall near the sodas...with some standing around talking in random groups....the same  rectangle folding table with a large white tablecloth and different desserts this year.  everyone at the  table had stories  to tell.....about the winter...about our kids, the sailing, the winter, their lives back in their hometown or some year rounders telling of flooding last month....kids talked about college sailing teams....and college life...and plans for this summer.  then, someone quietly mentioned reflectively that this year felt different....we all thought for a minute....that's when it dawned on me! "if joe were here, tonight would be different!" i blurted.  one of the guys thoughtfully responded...."that's true...but if joe was here, we wouldn't be here because we wouldn't be having his race!"

we all chuckled.  we had to laugh.  joe would have loved that.  we missed him, it was different without joe as it had been for the last two years down at our sailing beach....joe would have had some smart alec quip for me after saying that....it all seemed so ironic that because joe wasn't here....it seemed a bit subdued...people were tired after a long day of sailing...exhausted actually. the idea that this event was all happening because our big teddy bear of a man with an even bigger booming voice and a different color tee shirt for each day of the week  for each session of sailing classes and a big brimmed sun hat with a cord to tie it down to his balding head  and scruffy beard that was gently going grey and a wildly patterned bathing suit and a well worn life jacket and sandals and a generic town issued clip board and at all times, a  keen knowledge of the caliber of his sailors on hand  and the stern voice barking out demands of each one and a stern voice of a leader  who didn't want to have to get "pissed off" enough to have to curse and be forced to get even louder because of someone's ignorance, stupidity, laziness, ineptness, sloppiness.....and he had a gasket waiting to be blown if there was any wiseguy  attitude, entitled attitude, cocky attitude, spoiled rotten brat demeanor, disrespectful tone,

and an even keener eye and greater sensitivity to know just who to put on each boat and with who based on personality, skill, boat, requests  and some choice words were truly respected because after one afternoon out on a boat solo for the first  for anyone who didn't follow his orders....or just plain bothered him due to lack of sincerity.  he knew each one of "his kids" and knew exactly what their personalities were, what they could handle and how capable each one was, how far he could push them, how much he could depend on them or not.

a man who never spoke a soft word in his life, i  can't say that he spoke softly but carried a big stick!  his big barking kept everyone jumping and

for a man with a big bark and an intimidating style, joe had the respect of most.  no matter what, everyone was clear about one thing.....joe knew sailing and he knew it well  no matter who, what, where or when, joe knew everyone and knew how to network people better than anyone else.  he knew big guys, little guys, rich guys, poor guys, dreamers, achievers, school kids, moms and dads, families and sailing buddies!  he always knew where to send everyone with any boat problem or concern  and he knew where to get a boat, what type was best for you and who had one for sale!

joe was there....always there to help and make things happen.  even if he had to yell   or rant and rave, he would be over it as soon as he finished barking.  then he was on to the next thing...or maybe he'd buy everyone ice cream. then he'd settle down and sit and laugh and tell sailing stories...and all of the new kids and friends of kids would know that joe was the man who cared about them....really cared.  he cared enough to be real.  he told the kids the truth. he didn't coddle.  he didn't have the sensitive new age lingo that the kids have in school....where everyone is a "winner", everyone gets a medal, teachers have to be politically correct....maybe joe was the best thing that ever happened to us all....just because he was real.  he had the honesty and told everyone just what he thought....and then he would tell a kid how to improve...simply.  he bothered to criticize or remark on a kid's attitude.  maybe the world would be different if we had more guys like joe!  kids, grown ups....it didn't matter...joe told em like it was.  some were appalled...some were terrified....but joe was honest and he made a difference because of that honesty.  like a big bear...but a big soft bear.  now, that's comfort...that's safety...that's goodness....that's real....that's joe.  we all loved him.....very much!  and we respected his honesty...even if it hurt!  then we knew what had to be fixed! joe could fix anything on a boat...or he would know someone who could...no strings attached...he was connected....just because he knew people...he was a good guy that people had fun with.  he had respect...from so many....we miss him. this weekend everyone sailed for him...in honor of him.....that's cuz joe taught us all how to be better sailors!  he changed lives.  really, he changed lives....one sailor at a time.

a passionate sailor who was even more passionate about sharing the passion and empowering each sailor to challenge themselves and believe in their skills and push each sailor to their next "best" and give them hell when they did something "stupid!"  and the day i was sailing the sailboat right towards the committee boat, the power boat that he used during the sailing classes.....as i approached out of control....very out of control.....joe bellowed at me  and he may have been heard all the way across the long island sound, "MAMA MIA!!!!" and he continued some other fine words...and blasted me with orders to push or pull the tiller, let out the sail or let out the jib!  whatever it was that he  barked at me, he directed me away from my potential crash...and allowed me to almost swipe it instead!  then, his sailor words began to sail across the sound.  

i had nervous laughter....even though he bellowed and was crazy mad that i had done something so mixed up. and out of control...ironically, whenever he yelled at me, ii knew it was yelling because he cared and he wanted me to be a better sailor!  he knew i could do it.  he pushed me and pushed me to dare to try again and again! 

he may have been big and loud and sunburned and frustrated and bothered....but if i laughed and shouted back at him, he seemed to respect that more than if i had cowered at his bark!  then, he would come back and have some very funny comments about my mistakes....he would shout out more and make sure everyone  understood just what the mistake was!  not to shame me....but to keep everyone aware of how to stay on course.   joe was  sensitive and a gentle giant!

he was like a piece of sea glass on the shore....


seaglass is always  a surprise.  walking along the beach, we see rocks, broken a variety of shells, pebbles of all shapes, sizes  and colors driftwood, an occasional  horseshoe crab  that are delivered to the edge of the  water as it continues lapping or crashing on the shore.  everyday brings something different.  everyday brings something beautiful.  then, as you walk looking at the shoreline and ....**POP**....a beautiful bright color appears on the sandy beach! there are millions of pebbles and shells and then *POOF*...it catches your eyes!  each sharp piece of glass has been  softened by the tossing and turning, rolling and rumbling of the surf!  when you spot it, it's like a gift...a gift made by the natural changes of having something so sharp have the time.....in that big beautiful ocean.....to have turned that broken glass into a softened, mellowed and sweet piece of sea glass that is like artwork.  you may pick it up...quick! before the next wave takes it away....and you miss your chance!  you catch your sea glass...just because the color jumped out at you from the mix of beach life....and once you see a piece, your day is brighter....a little gem to savor and enjoy.  take it home....keep it where you can delight in the colors all together .....from different beaches....different times...different weather.  one piece of beautiful sea glass can be a surprise while we walk on the beach!  it's like a gem....you only find those gems every once in awhile.  when you find it, you just have to save it...because it made a difference. it was a surprise, it was special....there was no piece of sea glass like another....individual beauties...all sizes and shapes and colors and textures....each with a different origin....and it is worth saving and savoring the goodness and the bright color that caught your eye!  it was different than the other stuff on the beach! 

sea glass....just like joe!

just sent a fb note to an old friend...who just had her "little girl" graduate from high school!

i realized that i was writing and it was like my post on bloggy land

it's so amazing to think that hadley is going off to college!  grace is a freshman...t.j. is 8th...the other night we were at grace's spring concert..for chorus....i was looking at her friends and having little flashbacks of them as 1st graders, 4th graders...on and on...the ones that played dress up at our house...the ones at birthday parties...you know, the kodak moments....at the end, they showed a slide show of the seniors...photos of them since freshman year!

i had tears in my eyes...just thinking how fast it goes.  i'm so grateful that i've tried to be "present" and really enjoy our life and staying home with them....although as early teens, they don't love spending too much time with me! 

they don't like my singing...grace tells me when i've chosen a icky shade of lipstick if the color's a tad off!  so funny.  t.j. doesn't like my singing.  he says i love the dogs more than the kids!

after the slide show, they called each senior to the front of the stage and they announced what college they were going to attend....i was practically in tears....realizing that grace is a freshman and how fast it all goes...speedy fast!  t.j's graduating from 8th grade this year! i feel like it was one minute ago that they graduated from montessori!

the nice thing for you is.....i've been seeing some old friends' status posts on fb....the ones with college kids post things like------------the kids are coming home this weekend!.....  can't wait to see the kids...
the kids brought home ALL of their laundry!.....we've been eaten out of house and home!......i have been so happy to see that and to see how exciting it is for everyone to get them back home! that's a nice thing to see!  

i like stories of life happenings...especially, when i can relate...or they make me laugh...really hits a funny bone because it's some quirky thinkg that happens to others...it makes me laugh when i think someone has actually thought like me!

when i talk to my friends and family, there's alot more to our talk than the stories and the stuff i share...funny, unfunny, whatever.

it must be meant to be..again..the blog post has been lost. i keep having that happen...i'm not sure that the blog is meant to be.  i like to take the time to write my blog..yet, it's very busy.  i love writing.  but, should i be staying up to late to write.  writing is for me...the photos are for my pleasure..to add another dimension...another creative layer...not that anyone else cares...but  it's for me. 

i love my family...biff, the kids, the dogs, the cats....

i've let go of some of my awesome dog walks to write this blog....balance? i think not.

i spend hours writing. i love to write.  it's one of the places where time doesn't matter....balance? i think not.

e-bay gives me great feedback and i enjoy my communication with my customers...i've met so many nice people....e-bay customers...each one is interesting.

but, there is feedback.

blog? it's been very fun for me.  i'm not sure where to go from here.  i write for me...yet, no comments and no feedback for 6 months...not sure it matters.  i love writing but if i'm staying up way too late to fit it in or letting the dishes wait? balance? i think not.

not sure.  i do realize that i like to be connected. i like the blog for me. still, do i really have to make it a "blog"...if the followers don't follow? if the people don't bother to comment? why bother?  it's only graffiti if i'm writing a blahhhhhhhhhG and no one reads it .  

i like feedback...even on e-bay...my customers are so nice...we connect.  in our own way.  it's fun. i like that.

it's wierd to write and write and write and have so little feedback...except for the friends who may call and then we re-hash and laugh about more of the stories than i really wrote...we have that connection.

many blogs have that.  i have blog friends...when i comment on their blogs, they recognize me and we have that connection.

that's all. way too late.  i have lots to think about in my life.  how much time do i do something with no connection.  do i? not sure.

i enjoy people. i enjoy their stories. more than ever.  every single person has their own story. that's what matters to me.  not so much my own story.  i like to share my stories and i like to get the sense that people enjoy them.  i'm not sure this is the right venue for these stories.  who knows.  maybe, who cares!!  i'm not sure i do.  i do know that i have been doing this almost 7 months...that's alot of dishes or gardening or laundry or e-bay that actually makes money....plus some connection...where i can see...quite literally if anyone even cares.....

i'm just not sure.  if my peace and balance feel lopsided because of writing...a blog that hasn't grown...a blog that is one sided...not too much feedback...how do i even know if it's enjoyed.  oh, i do know some enjoy....but, come on.  is it worth balance? not sure.  

lots of questions.  i have lots and lots of e-bay quality items to list...and i'm spending this time writing....and why?  not sure.

i think the balance is off.  it seems.  when i take so much time to write...and there is still so much more to do....is that balance?  i think not.

i have passions.  our kids and their schooling....our community.  friends with breast cancer that are happy for the connection...or happy for the company...or happy to have a ride somewhere.  would my time be better spent back at hospice doing art therapy...where i truly help some people.

our family had a ball this weekend.  we were with our sailing friends all weekend for the sailing regatta.  we had laughs and connecton and families enjoying families.  we are so happy to see the kids and how they've grown over the winter...and everyone falls back in step immediately...we told stories...they laughed...we all teared up from time to time...the kids and grown ups shared stories...all ages...a joy.

lots of stories.  i told lots.  we all laughed at stuff...some of the littlemarymixup stories that i could never take the time to write....oh, i love to laugh and be with friends.  maybe, that's all way more important than writing late into the night. maybe so.

who knows. i don't know. i do know it's way past bedtime. i do know that i have alot to mail in the morning....e-bay.  i have to get something for dinner.  i do know that i have to take photos for e-bay.  i have to list the items after i take the photos.  i have to plant some of the lettuce, basil, tomatoes...and more.  lots more where that came from.

guess i'll sleep on it. finally. sleep. i think i'll figure it out. i'm not sure it's what i had hoped for.  maybe i'll have to change my format.  maybe i'll have to write less.  i know some don't even like to read if it's too long.  but, don't i write this for me?  yes.  so who cares? but, should i find something else?

i'll sleep on it....right now. i'll be back...just don't know when.  just don't know how i'll keep it going...maybe the change will be good.  maybe.   maybe not.  balance.  we'll see.

i'm having so much fun on fb, staying in touch with some fun, old friends...and some acquaintances.  just like the acquaintances, i just have little quips with them and happy to see a picture of their kids or whatever.

i love my e-bay biz.  it's been fun. it's been a business. really.  perfect for me. great with the kids. great for biff and i.....e-bay has been good for us all!

this is so convoluted...i keep losing bits of the blog...blog...lost  in cyberspace....meant to be.  maybe. who knows.  balance?  i think not.....cyberspace balance?  i think not.

balance. do you have balance?  do you make time for the people you love. do you get real?  are you living honestly?  do you have secrets? are you healthy? do you take care of yourself and your family....spiritually? mentally? physically?  emotionally?  do you make time for friends?  do you make time for real?  real time with family?  in person?  on a heartfelt phone call?  do you ever think to call someone for them.....not for you to feel better?  do you do random acts of kindness?  are you loving to many people?  do you hold back your love for some?  do you hold grudges? do you stand in judgment of others?  do you think you are a kind and loving person?  have you done anything for your community?  just askin',,,, are you feeling good about the way you live your life? balance? just askin'.....

i'm looking for balance...i should say more balance....

share the wind!

a picture perfect day...blue skies. delightful.  dreamlike. not the dreary of last month.  i'm done with dreary. enough. it's time for some fun in the sun....right in our own home town. grateful? yes. very. very.

from the days that biff and i began our life together, learning about each other... our hopes...dreams...wishes and plans, biff and i became acutely aware that our life was meant to be near the water.  preferably ocean....preferably a coastal town....anywhere.....just plain and simple.....near the coastline.

we both always talked of living in connecticut.  it's very familiar to us.  we both have spent lots of time with good friends and family.....we both love and have special memories of summers past on new england beaches. 

sure, we talked about other places and possibilities for us. it's just that we both hoped to be near family...more or less.  we both felt comfortable with the landscape of connecticut.  for biff, much of the farmland reminded him of places in dutchess county, new york, where he grew up.  so much of the shoreline and seasons felt like home to me.  when we saw our "house to be"....we both had that "ahhhhhh" peaceful moment where we took a breath and exclaimed,"this is a great location...not far from the beaches....green with trees, shrubs and grass....and the most charming stone wall that tickled a spot in our hearts....the stone wall reminded me of my backyard and the stonewall reminded biff of the 1775 brick house farm and the lovely stone walls crisscrossing the landscape of his childhood.

so, here we are. we feel like we are where we are meant to be.  that matters.  we both loved our little village on the north shore of long island....the gold coast.  long island has had much growth since my childhood days was feeling too crowded for where we wanted to be.

our move to the south shore of boston was perfect for our new start...biff with his new job, newlyweds trying to build our own life together....our new baby...we were a family...our own family.  we were on our own as a family and that's just what we both needed.  it was a romantic time for us.  we had no family near us.  we only had a new life. a new family.  

it was a big move for both of us...leaving the closeness of family and good old friends.  but, we had each other.  we were a mom and a dad.  our move was with our sweet baby grace.  we had to adapt.  we were separated from the family....and we were thte ones who tried to be at every family function and most of our great friends and their family celebrations.....until we got to boston, we hadn't realized how much was expected of us...everywhere!  we were the ones who made the roadtrips to be everywhere for everyone!

enter....our little family in  boston.  it was new to us..being off on our own.  it was one of the greatest things that could have happened to us.....we were in our own new place with our own new us.....the family!

it was in the boston area where we learned to be a family.  it was that new area that made us.....us.  we had only each other. we had to make new friends....friends for us all.  it was our new life....together as a new family.  we have always felt that move was the best thing for us.  the timing was right.  we were meant to live our own life....while loving our family everywhere else....going to visit and having some loyal visitors.  we had gotten a gift!  we were treated to our own lives.....that we had waited so long to find......we were on our own with long distance support!  we had no obligations.  we had just us. thankfully.  we claimed our lives together.  we were the family...creating our own life together.

there were times that we talked of living in the carolinas....a little bit south and a little bit better cost of living. we had friends who had moved and loved it down there....maybe...should we....would we...maybe...hmmmmmm.  we walked through our teeny, tiny, sweet and magical mary tyler moore apartment....we realized the carolinas were not right...we knew it wouldn't fit. Everywhere we looked....in our miniscule charmed dreamland, it became immediately apparent to us that it could not be, would not be the place for us.  how did we know?  we were talking about the possibilites of moving....that's when we realized every single photograph, framed print, needlepoint and magnet we owned was by the ocean. we couldn't leave the shore for inland. we knew our place.

that's how we did it!  we knew. we knew where we needed to be.  by the water.  on our own.  and so we moved to be in the right place for biff's new job.....and the south shore of boston would allow us to get to the cape which was my home away from home!  nantucket and the vineyard

after almost 5 years, we were ready and connecticut called us.  really.  we were quiet. we listened for the signs.....whether it was right for us or not.....it was...it is.

and here we are.  in the place we're meant to be.  we try to stay true.  true to what's best for us.  for our family. our needs and our joys and our lives....equally necessary to keep our lives in balance.

today, i was at our beach.  with the dogs.  then, with the kids and the dogs.  and again....just me with the dogs.

it's our home.  it's the people that we know.  it's the land. the beaches. the boating.  the sailing.  the families.  the schools.  the kids. the teachers.  the sunshine. the artists.  the doctors.  the churches.  the feelings that we were home!

we are.  the beach is our place.  we go on our own.  we go with  dogs. we go as a family. we go with friends.  we sail. we walk. we collect shells and sea glass.

tomorrow is a day for us all to enjoy.  it's a celebration.  it's the annual regatta for joe...our sailing instructor...our coach...our director!  it's a regatta in his memory.  he taught us all and pushed us all further than we thought we could go....he scared us...he barked out orders!  he taught us community and sharing and kindness and random family connections and compassion and fun!

he was a big bear of a man with a big, booming voice....who cared...and shared the love of sailing, the camaraderie, the joy, the friendships, the equality among sailors....

joe showed us all by example...no matter what the circumstances....that no matter how much money or boat or toys for show.....it doesn't matter. we don't care.  we're here for the sailing. we here for the love.  we're here for the passion.  we're here for the laughter.  we're here for the learning.  we're here for the challenge.  we're here because we all belong.  no matter what.  this is where we belong. we share that joy with all of the sailors.  we love where we are.  we love who we are.  we love the simplicity.

that was joe's gift. he shared.

joe, our friend...the man, the tiller, the dream. right here in our town.  it's where we belong!  our family belongs....to each other first of all.....and we share that love with other families who put families first.  they sail together.  they mix.  there's no politics.  just "share the wind" as joe called his program.....it was joe's gift....we have that for life...and we want to pass it on!

our grace and t.j. began their sailing classes when as soon as they were age appropriate. age eight.  they were babies!  joe was the big, the booming, the brilliant, the big guy with all of the rules.  the big guy who told them that they'd have to capsize on day 2!  i thought we'd never get them back to sail again....they complained all the way....they capsized ....they loved it.  

every challenge was turned into opportunity.  no excuses. just do it.  never politically correct.  must. have to.  that's that!

excited.  we're excited.  t.j. is sailing in the hobie cat regatta with a friend from school....i'm so proud of t.j.  he is up for the hall.  he'll be geared up and ready for whatever takes place.  he'll challenge himself.....throughout the day.  he will end the day proud and exhausted.....and we'll remember joe.  and thank him...for teaching us....teaching us so many lessons....and sharing friends....and passion for sailing....and extreme challenges....and our lives have been changed....because of his rich spirit, fun loving ways.  we miss him and everytime we're at the beach, he's with us.....shouting at me from the committee boat..."MAMA MIA! PUSH THE TILLER!" and when he said ph, i pulled.  his booming voice made me jump, then freeze in position

mama mia...my nick name from joe.

we are where we belong. we love it here.  it's our place...we love to share.

TO BLOG OR NOT TO BLOG. BLAH*BLAH*BLAH*BLAH*BLAH! 

I HAVE BEEN WRITING NOW FOR QUITE SOME TIME...LIFE HAS UPS AND DOWNS AND WHIRLWINDS ALONG THE WAY.  I WRITE ABOUT ALL OF IT AND SOME OF IT AND NONE OF IT.....WHATEVER HAPPENS TO BE REAL...REAL LIFE....MINE!

I LIKE REAL.  I LIKE HONEST.  I LIKE TRUE AND HEARTFELT AND SILLY AND WHIMSICAL AND HEAVY, DEEP AND REAL AND NONSENSICAL AND HYSTERICAL AND SPECIAL AND CREATIVE AND SAD AND HAPPY AND LONELY AND HAPHAZARD AND QUIZZICAL AND DELIGHTED AND INTROSPECTIVE AND IRONIC AND OUTRAGEOUS AND RIDICULOUS AND SENTIMENTAL AND SARCASTIC AND MEANINGFUL AND CLEVER AND MELANCHOLY AND JAZZED UP AND REFLECTIVE AND BURSTING WITH JOY AND GRATEFUL AND SELF CENTERED AND CHALLENGED AND GOAL ORIENTED AND HARDWORKING AND MYSTERIOUS AND TRUE TO SELF AND SELF INDULGENT AND SUPERCILIOUS AND DRAMATIC AND SENSITIVE AND INSENSITIVE AND OVERRATED AND UNDERRATED AND HOPELESS AND HOPEFUL AND LOVING AND HEALING AND NURTURING AND PATHETIC AND APATHETIC AND DEFLATED AND ARBITRARY AND UNIMAGINABLE AND HUFFY AND ANGELIC AND SPIRITUAL AND SEXY AND SPLASHY AND STYLISH AND HEARTWARMING AND.........

I GUESS WHAT I'M SAYING IS.....THERE IS NO REAL "PURPOSE" OR PORPOISE FOR MY BLOG.....IT'S NOT SAVE THE WHALES OR PEACE FOR PORPOISES ON PURPOSE OR WITH PURPOSE OR PURPOSEFUL OR POWERFUL OR CONVINCING TO TRY THIS OF TRY THAT OR SUGGESTIVE OR YOU MIGHT WANNA OR HERE'S HOW I DO IT OR FOLLOW ME OR TRAVEL LIGHT OR EAT LIGHT OR SPEND LESS OR BUY QUALITY OR PHOTOGRAPH THIS OR PHOTOGRAPH THAT OR CREATED FOR YOU OR FOR YOUR MOM OR FOR THE CAUSE OR FOR THE AGED OR FOR THE POLITICAL  OR FOR THE MOVIE BUFFS OR FOR THE CATS OR WITH THE DOGS OR VIDEOGRAPHY OR LEGALLY OR FAMILY OR MOTHERS OR SISTERS OR CLASSICS OR ISTICS.....REALISTIC, AUTISTIC, MYSTIC, HEROIC, ARCTIC, SYMBIOTIC OR MAGNETIC OR HOLISTIC OR HEDONISTIC..... MATHEMATIC CINEMATIC OR SYSTEMATIC OR AUTOMATIC OR PROBLEMATIC OR SPAZMATIC OR ADRIATIC OR ORGANIC OR HYDROMATIC OR ERGONOMIC OR ECONOMIC GASTRONOMIC OR PROBLEMATIC OR EGOMANIACAL OR HYREOGLYPHIC OR GYNECOLOGIC OR EMBLEMATIC OR PSYCHOSYMPTOMATIC OR ENIGMATIC OR ELECTROMAGNETIC OR TRAUMATIC OR THEMATIC OR HYGIENIC OR EMBRYONIC OR SPASTIC OR ICELANDIC OR SYSTEMIC OR DRAMATIC OR ENDOPLASMIC .......

 IT'S MUCH MORE SIMPLE THAN THAT.  IT'S MINE.

MUST WRITE A BOOK!

MY FRIENDS, THEY SAY.

OVER AND OVER....

WHY NOT TODAY?

NO NOVEL. NO BIO.

IT'S ALL IN FUN!

NO JOKES OR POKES...

AT ANY OLD ONE.

NO IF'S! NO BUTS!

NO IN BETWEENS.

MY LIFE. THAT'S ALL.

CRAZY IT SEEMS!

ODD IT IS...

THAT I SHOULD CARE

THE WHO AND WHY?

AND WHEN AND WHERE?

I WISH I KNEW

WHY I MUST WRITE.

SO WHAT? WHO CARES?

IT'S LATE AT NIGHT!

IT'S WHAT I DO.

AND WHAT I'VE DONE.

THERE IS NO POINT.

IT'S JUST FOR FUN.

FUNNY. SILLY.
ONLY THE BEST.
DAYDREAMS. DREAM DATES
AND ALL THE REST.

IS THAT ENOUGH?

DO I WANT MORE?

I WRITE FOR ME....

AND SO MANY MORE.

STORIES AND STORIES

PLUS LOTS, LOTS MORE....

DRESS UPS.  MAKE UPS.

MIX UPS IN STORE!

BY ME. TO ME.

WITH DOGS AND CATS

HOT DOGS. DOG GONE.
THINGS THAT GO SPLAT!




STORIES TO TELL,
STORIES OF DARES...
DREAMS ARE LIKE REAL...
REAL LIFE NIGHT MARES.


GOOD NIGHTS. SWEET DAYS.
ONLY MY BEST.
TEENS ARE MY LIFE.
YOU KNOW THE REST.

I'M UP TOO LATE.

AWAKE. TIRED.

IT'S SHARE I MUST.

I AM INSPIRED.

MY LIFE WITH BIFF..

A DREAM!  A JOY!

2 CATS, 2 DOGS...

1 GIRL! 1 BOY! 

WEDDINGS. BABIES

LAUGHS WE DO SHARE.

TRUE LOVE.  BEST FRIENDS.

WE'RE QUITE A PAIR!






LOVING OUR BEST ...
THROUGH THICK. THROUGH THIN...
WE HAVE TO LAUGH...
THAT'S NOT A SIN!

AS LIFE GOES ON ...
THERE'S LOTS TO SAY...
FUNNY IT SEEMS..
IN OUR OWN WAY!


I WRITE. I BLOG.
IT'S MY OWN PLACE
IT'S LIFE. OUR WORLD.
WITH T.J. AND GRACE!


NEW MOMS , OLD KIDS,
THERE'S MUCH TO TELL
THE LIFE OF A MOM
GOING THROUGH HELL!


LOVE THEM I DO.
WITH ALL MY HEART
BUT TEENS REBEL...
THEY ARE SO SMART!


SHUT UP.YUP. HUH.
NOPE. GO AWAY. 
UP DAYS. DOWN DAYS.
THAT'S ALL THEY'LL SAY.



OLD DAYS. SUNDAYS.
TIMES OF OUR LIFE
WRITE IT. NOTE IT.
AS MOM, AS WIFE.




THIS BLOG I WRITE.
THIS IS MY PLACE.
MY NOOK. MY CAVE.
MY ONLY SPACE.


MOMS ON THE GO.
PLANNING. THINKING
DETAILS GALORE.
JUST WITH BLINKING.


DAYS GO SO FAST.
NIGHTS WITHOUT SLEEP

LOVE THEM. MISS THEM.
LET GO AND WEEP.


IT'S GOOD. IT'S TIME.
AWAY THEY GO.
MISS THEM. WITH THEM
HOME TO AND FRO.

FOR US. WITH US.
THEY GO. THEY STAY.
BEG TO BE NEAR.
OR FAR AWAY.



PUSH ME AND PULL ME.
I'M ALWAYS THERE.
NOTHING. SOMETHING.
WHAT IS THAT STARE?



IPOD . CELL PHONE
FACEBOOK. LAPTOP. .
WE BEG. WE PLEAD.
CALL US. DON'T STOP.


THEY STOP. THEY GO.
THEY TEXT. THEY CALL.
FOLLOW OR LEAD.
WE KNOW IT ALL!


KNOW WHAT TO DO
WE KNOW IT'S TRUE.
FAKE IT. MAKE IT.
IT'S NOTHING NEW!



THIS BLOG IS MY OWN.
MY OWN. MY NAME.
IT'S ME. IT'S NOW.
IT'S JUST MY GAME.


I WRITE. I LAUGH. I STOP. I THINK. I CRY. I DREAM. I SMILE WITH A  WINK......I FINALLY FOUND SOMETHING I LOVE!

HEY! WOULD YOU PLEASE TURN THAT DOWN. I CAN'T THINK!  CAN YOU PLEASE GET THAT?  IT'S FOR YOU......IT'S FOR ME...IT'S NOT SO MUCH ABOUT THE KIDS.....IT'S ABOUT ME WITH KIDS...WITH FAMILY....WITH FRIENDS....WITH MY VIEWPOINT. ALL ABOUT ME. WHAT ABOUT MY NEEDS.  IT'S ME, ALL ME.  EXCUSE ME, I WAS TALKING.  HELLLLLLOOOOOOO!  WOO HOO. IT'S ME!  RIGHT HERE.  THINKING OF INTERRUPTING ME.  NOPE. DON'T PLEASE DON'T.  THAT'S ENOUGH.  WAIT.  TAKE A BREATH.  SHHHHHH.


THANKS FOR LISTENING.

THAT'S NOT THE POINT

WHAT'S IT FOR?

IT'S ME AND MINE.....

INSIDE OUR DOOR.

IF IT'S NEWS THAT YOU WANT...

THERE'S NONE IN STORE.

I'VE GOT STORIES TO TELL

STORIES GALORE.

HOW I SEE THINGS.

ALL THE TIME.

IT'S THIS IS SHE....

AND THIS IS HE

WE ARE 2 WHO HAVE TO SEE....

EVERYDAY WE DO OUR BEST.....

WE HAVE 2 KIDS AND ALL THE REST!

WE HOPE, WE PRAY AND GIVE OUR ALL....

WE DREAM FOR THEM TO JUST STAND TALL.

WE HAVE NO SECRETS AND NO SURE WAY....

IT WAS EASY. THE PLAYGROUND. PLAYING ALL DAY.
WE LIFT THEM. WE LOVE THEM. WE HUG THEM TIGHT.....GOD KEEP THEM SAFE BOTH DAY AND NIGHT!

i'm still here!  crazy week...lots of lasts...last grace lacrosse game...she scored a point!!! then, the team won by one point!! happy and so proud of her hard work.  it's been a big year of big and some tough transition getting momentum for freshman year...starting with mono...missed some school...lots of great social life...lots of learning and time management and hard work and new friends and lots of lessons learned by the kids in town.  a big year of growth...mentally, physically, emotionally...exhausted-ly!  love our girl.....and she loves us...NOT right now...we are the meanies...we have to set the rules....we are not a family democracy.....we love our kids like crazy....we're parents and we are learning as we go....we make life too hard....we like to laugh....we like to play....and then, we go and ruin it all by setting some boundaries!  we have had to really stay a united front this year.  high school is a whole new territory...for the kids and the parents.

a friend from montessori days sat next to me at freshman orientation....we talked about our kids...we both enjoy each others' children...we've all been together a long time...and we care...genuinely about our children and the other montessori graduates we (parents and children)......we compare notes....she has one older girl...and one younger boy....we parallel and we bump and we glide alongside each other.

we talked about the differences in parenting style.  we talked about the love of our kids. we talked about the pressures on our kids.  we talked about the old days.  we gabbed about our own lives and how we've grown...what we do while our kids are at school (eat bon bons....just like they suspect!)

while talking about the new life of teens and rules and hopes and dreams....as we sit at orientation....we spoke of the challenges and the tough job we have to keep putting up boundaries....some parents don't...so our boundaries have to be bigger and stronger....after all, this is only the beginning of high school....school hasn't even started!  

that's when i said, "wow!  those parents with no rules are really making my life incredibly difficult!  *&$%#@Q@#$$%^"

i continued, " i think we're pretty easy going parents and although we want to keep our kids in line, we want them to have some independence and learn their way.....only, when other parents don't set boundaries or stay on top of what's going on......"

lizza, my friend...seemingly new...although now it's been more than 10 years, looked at me with her big brown eyes and smiled....knowingly.....after all her daughter was two years older....back in the montessori days, that seemed like she was 10 years older! 

lizza looked at me, nodded... and with her hand made a sweeping motion towards the gathering of other nervous, confident yet insecure, bedraggled,   frazzled, overwhelmed, preoccupied, exhausted, proud, frustrated, hopeful, trusting, lost, dazed and confused parents...whose summer had also been cut short for this eager administration's subtle-y mandatory meeting to welcome us all....and as her hand slowly swept across her lap as if sweeping across the whole hustling, bustling, chattering, whispering parents...married, divorced, step-mothered, step-fathered, widowed, single, co-companioned, life partnered and caregivered parents ......with issues of dependencies and codependencies and alcoholisms and workholisms and rage-aholisms and fybromyalgia-isms and xanex-isms and prozac-isms and compulsively clean and organize-d and exercise-d and obsessive-compulsive disorder-d and gambler-anonymous-d and overeater anonymous-d and anorexic-d and neurotic-d and apathetic-d, anxiety-d and post traumatic stress disorder-d and emotionally distant and emotionally dependent and distracted and disturbed and polly-anna-d and put on a good face because my friends will wonder if my husband still lives with us, and look at my great hair and sandals and club shirt and vacation monogrammed and cell connected and politically connected and socially connected and mentally ill and hyperactive and a.d.d.-d and immature and uptight and relaxed and traumatized and denial-d and  well travelled and highly eduacated and under-educated and non-confrontational and in your face-tional and pregnant with the 10th child-d and artsy and intellectual and well-heeled and country clubb-d and beach club-d auditorum and she said,

"SEE ALL OF THE PARENTS IN THIS ROOM.....LOOK AROUND......LOOK AGAIN.....KEEP LOOKING..........................EVERY ONE OF THE PARENTS IN THIS ROOM WENT TO HIGH SCHOOL.....DO YOU REMEMBER THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF KIDS YOU KNEW IN HIGH SCHOOL??????????"

DRUGGIES, DRINKERS, PARTYERS, SLUTS,  PROM KINGS,  PROM QUEENS, HIGH SCHOOL SWEETHEARTS, R.O.T.C.s, VOLUNTEER FIREFIGHTERS, THEATRE JUNKIES,  MATHLETES, DEBATERS, CON ARTISTS,  LOUD ONES, FUNNY ONES,  CLASS CLOWNS, THE MOST LIKELY TO SUCCEED, THE MOST POPULAR, FUNNIEST, WITH THE MOST SCHOOL SPIRIT, THE INTROVERTED, THE BEST DRESSED, THE  MOST OUTSPOKEN, THE CLOSETED, THE CONFUSED, THE  HAPPY, THE PEPPY, THE JOCKS,  THE NICE KIDS, THE DREAMER, THE SWEETEST, THE QUIET ONES, THE CHATTERBOXES, THE HONOR STUDENTS,  THE ROWDIES, THE  POT HEADS, THE CLASS CUTTERS, THE JUVENILE DELINQUENTS, THUGS, BEAUTY QUEENS, NERDS, AUDIO VISUAL GEEK SQUADDERS, GOTHS, ARTSY-FARTSIES, HIPPIES, BOHO, PREPPIES, CRUNCHY-GRANOLAS, , PRIMADONNAS, BOY SCOUTS, GIRL SCOUTS, FREAKS, PRANKSTERS, JOKERS, TROUBLEMAKERS, GRATEFUL DEAD-HEADS, THE EXCHANGE STUDENTS, THE  UPPERCLASSMEN, THE LOWERCLASSMEN, THE GYMNASTS, THE TOCKET SCIENTISTS, THE HEARTBROKEN, THE TEASERS, THE CLUELESS, THE UNDERDOGS, THE OVERSEXED, THE  DRAMATIC, THE  SICKLY, THE PATRIOTIC, THE BRAZEN, THE PONY TAILED, THE DOROTHY HAMILLED, THE CITY SLICKERS, THE COUNTRY BUMPKINS, THE CLASSY, THE TACKY, THE PATHETIC, THE ARROGANT, THE OBNOXIOUS, THE PROUD, THE FOCUSED, THE TATTLE TALERS, THE PIG TAILERS, THE MULLETEERS, THE BUZZIES, THE  SHORT, THE TALL, THE BLUE EYED, THE, BLONDES, THE BRUNETTES, THE DISHWATER BLONDES, THE ZIT-FACED, THE SHY, THE OUTGOING, THE  RAGGAMUFFINS, THE BROTHERS, THE SISTERS, THE WIMPS, THE BULLIES, THE GREEN EYED, THE FRECKLED, THE BROWN NOSERS, DREAMERS, SPACE CASES,  WILD,  DRAMATIC, LIARS, CHEATERS,INTELLECTUALS, SPACE CADETS, MAJORETTES, CHEERLEADERS, TOUGH GUYS, PHYSICAL EDDIES AND EDWINAS AND ALL OF THE REST THAT WE MAY HAVE LEFT OUT!

OH, BY THE WAY......NOW THEY ARE THE PARENTS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

AND ANOTHER THING....THAT WAS JUST GRACE....I HAVEN'T EVEN GOTTEN TO T.J. AND HIS WEEK, MONTH, YEAR AND FUTURE.


AHHHHH.....JUST ANOTHER DAY EATING BON BONS! 

MY ABSOLUTE FAVORITES!

SOUPY SALES.  I WAS ABOUT 4 YEARS OLD WHEN I SAW THAT SHOW.  MY BROTHERS WATCHED THE SHOW.  I CAN STILL REMEMBER GOING TO BED ONE NIGHT AT ABOUT 4 YEARS OLD AND BEGGING, PLEADING WITH MY BROTHER TO WRITE SOUPY SALES A FAN LETTER!!  WHY I SO DESPERATELY NEEDED HIM TO KNOW THAT I WAS A FAN!!

LUCILLE BALL  I LOVE LUCY...MY FAVE AND MOSTLY HOW I HAVE BASED MY LIFE...SHE MADE ME LAUGH FROM A VERY EARLY AGE.  I WAS ENTHRALLED WITH LUCY FROM THE BEGINNING.  SHE MADE ME LAUGH.  SHE GOT INTO CRAZY SITUATIONS WITH HER BFF ETHEL!  SHE WAS MY MOST AWESOME ENTERTAINMENT AT A YOUNG AGE.

CAROL BURNETT WAS MY IDOL.  I WROTE LETTERS TO HER AND I WANTED TO SEND MY PICTURE FROM OUR GIRL SCOUT ART SHOW. MY ART WORK WAS "THE GIRL SCOUT" .....IT WAS MY CRAYON "WORK"....INSPIRED BY THE GIRL SCOUT ON THE CAROL BURNETT SKIT!  I LOVED EVERYTHING ABOUT HER.  I WANTED TO BE HER. I WANTED TO MEET HER.  I REALLY THOUGHT THAT SHE SHOULD KNOW ME.  I THOUGHT SHE WOULD BE THRILLED TO MEET ME! I WANTED TO BE ON THE SHOW!  SHE CHANGED ME AND HOW I SAW LIFE.  I REALIZED HOW HUMOR HELPED EVERYONE TO LIGHTEN UP...IN GOOD TIMES AND BAD!  I LOVED HER SLAPSTICK.  I LOVED HER SWEETNESS AND ZANYNESS AND THE LAUGHTER SHE BROUGHT TO US ALL! I CRIED WHEN HER SHOW ENDED.

I LOVED MARY TYLER MOORE....THROWING THE HAT UP IN THE AIR.  I WANTED HER JOB...WHEN I GREW UP.  I LOVED HER FRIENDS AND THE PEOPLE SHE WORKED WITH.....TO ME, SHE WAS THE ULTIMATE WORKING WOMAN!

MARLO THOMAS IN "THAT GIRL"..."DIAMONDS, DAISIES, SNOWFLAKES, THAT GIRL!"  SHE WAS MY LITTLE GIRL DREAM OF BEING GROWN UP.  SHE LIVED THE ULTIMATE LIFE.  SHE LOVED DONALD HOLLINGER.  SHE HAD HER OWN MIXUPS.  I STILL REMEMBER HER APARTMENT.  WHILE SEEMINGLY GLAMOROUS, WHEN SHE PULLED UP HER SHADES IN THE LIVING ROOM, WE SAW EXPOSED BRICK!  I STILL REMEMBER WHEN SHE WENT BOWLING (A GLAMOROUS DATE, INDEED!).....SHE GOT HER BIG TOE STUCK IN A BOWLING BALL!

THE FIRST BIG MUSEUM EVENT THAT I CAN REMEMBER WAS VINCENT VAN GOGH AT THE BROOKLYN MUSEUM OF ART!  THANKFULLY, MY MOM HAD SOME REASON THAT SHE WAS MOVED TO TAKE ME TO THAT SPECIAL EVENT.  HIS ARTWORK AND HIS STORY MOVED ME.  AT THAT TIME, I WAS BLOWN AWAY THINKING ABOUT VAN GOGH AND WHERE HE HAD COME FROM AND THE WORK HE DID....MAYBE IT'S BECAUSE OF HIM AND HIS WORK, "THE BEDROOM" THAT INSPIRED MY LOVE OF CLOGS!  BACK THEN, I HAD NO OTHER EXPOSURE TO THAT KIND OF LIFE....OR LIVING.  THERE WAS NO INTERNET,  T.V. OR PHOTOGRAPHY THAT HAD CARRIED ME TO ANOTHER PLACE.

MRS. D.,  OUR FAMILY FRIEND.  SHE TAUGHT ME HOW TO READ.  SHE WAS A FIRST GRADE TEACHER.  NOT MINE.  SHE WAS A MOM WITH 3 BOYS.  MY PARENTS WERE FRIENDS BECAUSE OF MY BROTHERS' FRIENDSHIPS WITH THEIR SONS.  SHE JUST LOVED ME AND MADE ME FEEL LOVED!  SHE LOVED JUST HAVING A GIRL AROUND! SHE SHOWED ME A RESPECT AND LOVE FROM A YOUNG AGE.  JUST GOOD LOVE.  OUTSIDE OF MY OWN FAMILY.  AND.....SHE TAUGHT ME TO READ...ON THEIR LIVING ROOM COUCH!  SHE WAS THERE IN THAT MOMENT WHERE IT TOOK OFF!  ANOTHER GIFT.

MONROE.  THE GOLDEN RETRIEVER WHO CHANGED MY LIFE.  FOREVER.  MONROE MADE A DIFFERENCE IN MY LIFE....MONROE TAUGHT ME AND I TAUGHT MONROE....TO BRING A LEASH!  A DOG THAT GAVE ME SO MUCH!  BECAUSE OF  MONROE, I HAVE GOLDEN RETRIEVERS!

I'VE NEVER MET MY CAROL BURNETT.  I'VE READ ABOUT HER. I STILL DREAM OF MEETING HER!

I NEVER MET LUCY, BUT WE DID GET TO JAMESTOWN, N.Y. AND I DRAGGED THE WHOLE FAMILY INTO HER MUSEUM!

SOUPY SALES JUST DIED AWHILE BACK.  I'LL GET OVER IT.  HE WAS A PASSING PHASE...YET HE MADE ME LAUGH. WHO KNOWS WHY.  I LOVED HIS FUNNY VOICES, I KNOW THAT.

"THAT GIRL" I NEVER GOT A CHANCE TO MEET!  I DID GET TO MEET MARLO THOMAS.  SHE SPOKE AT A COLLEGE GRADUATION...NOT MY CLASS....BUT, THE PRESIDENT OF THE COLLEGE KNEW HOW MUCH WE LOVED HER...HE INVITED A SELECT GROUP OF ADMIRERS (MY FRIENDS!) TO MEET WITH HER AND HAVE HIS PHOTOGRAPHER TAKE PICTURES....OF MARLO WITH US!!! WE WERE BABBLING AND RAMBLING AND SMILING AND GIGGLING. NOT MUCH MOVING CONVERSATION BUT VERY MOVED TO MEET SUCH A GO GETTER IN THE WOMAN'S MOVEMENT.  A DIFFERENT GENERATION.

I NEVER MET MARY TYLER MOORE.  I THINK SHE WAS HUGE TO ME AT THE TIME OF HER SHOW....IT WAS THE SHOW I LOVED AND THE HUMOR AND THE FUNNY GROUP OF PEOPLE WHO WORKED AT WJ......MARY WAS FUN....BUT IT WAS THE GROUP I LOVED!

PRINCESS DIANA/LADY DIANA.....THE FIRST PRINCESS OF OUR AGE RANGE.  SHE MARRIED AROUND MY COLLEGE YEARS.  SHE HAD STYLE...WHILE BRITISH AND ROYAL FAMILY STUFFED, SHE STILL HAD STYLE.  I ENJOYED THAT!  SHE WAS FUN TO WATCH.  NOT OBSESSIVELY, JUST INTERESTED, IF HER PHOTOS POPPED UP.  ALTHOUGH, I DID ATTEND A BIG NEW YORK CITY BLACK TIE EVENT WHILE SHE WAS IN THE U.S.A.

WE SAW AN OPERA AT THE BROOKLYN ACADEMY OF ARTS AND A TWINKLING AND DELIGHTFUL DINNER AT THE WINTER GARDEN,BATTERY PARK CITY,N.Y.C. .  HER DRESS WAS SPECTACULAR AS WELL AS HER SMILE CITY.

I SAW HER AGAIN ON ONE OF THOSE LITTLEMARYMIXUP MOMENTS WHILE IN LONDON...REALLY WINDSOR....AND IT WAS WONDERFUL.  

VAN GOGH CHANGED MY LIFE AND MY CRAVING TO VISIT ART MUSEUMS.  HIS COLORS AND HIS STYLE MADE A DIFFERENCE IN THE WAY I LOOKED AT ART .....FOREVER.

SO MANY MORE.  LOTS OF FAVORITES...LOTS AND LOTS. BUT THESE ARE SOME OF MY FIRST FAVES...THAT I REMEMBER.