Hope vs. expectations, this pertains especially to the time and relationship I share with my mother who most certainly is exhibiting signs of dementia at age 86. She’s an old woman and I hope that my presence in her life brings her some happiness. In return, I expect nothing. Time as currency. It’s the most … Continue reading 24 Realizations
Category: Events
A crushed Maid Marian
Robin Hood represents the ideal of the common people of England in the later Middle Ages. He stands for liberty and the rights of the people against unjust laws and the tyranny of the nobles. As I’ve professed more than once this past week, I’m not a fan of vigilante justice. This country has quite definitively … Continue reading A crushed Maid Marian
Notes from a retired party planner
Somehow, ok, maybe it’s because I’m good at it, I’ve become quite the “milestone birthday party planner (MBPP). Through the years I’ve planned three 50th birthday parties (my mother’s dessert & cordials festivities, my ex’s Tuscany/London celebration and my own DeFazio’s & wine shindig) and, in recent years, two 60th birthday fetes, one of which … Continue reading Notes from a retired party planner
Fiddling while home burns
My heart remains full from last week’s Laker gathering in Saratoga in honor of my brother’s milestone birthday. Being able to spend a couple of nights with friends we have shared since middle school is a gift none of us take for granted. We’re very, very lucky. The timing of my brother’s birthday coincided … Continue reading Fiddling while home burns
Things to do to distract from election anxiety
My scheduled appointment for today was canceled and I decided to keep the PTO on my calendar and call it a mental health day. I needed it. Maybe you do, too? There’s been some controversy about schools, both public and private, coping with the upcoming election by closing on Tuesday or offering the opportunity for … Continue reading Things to do to distract from election anxiety
My kidney stone baby
More than a quarter of a century ago, as I labored to deliver my second son (VBAC, pitocin, sans pain medication), his uncle passed a kidney stone. For a short time, distracted by his own pain, Uncle M’s delivery eclipsed my own. The family didn’t learn about the new Lilly until later in the day … Continue reading My kidney stone baby
Red dahlias of hope
A couple of late summers ago, Jeter and I were on our usual walk around the Normanskill Farm. We had wandered down the yellow brick road and the trail near the creek, made our way up the gravel road and looped around to where the path divided the bountiful community garden from the kill. The … Continue reading Red dahlias of hope






