I'm afraid of the impression we're making, we Americans, as I browse my favorite dirty little secret website, the Daily Mail UK, and read the post titles about America's Thanksgiving holiday. Titles with words like shopping and bargains and outrage. Sigh. This is what we're telling the world that we're about? This is how we … Continue reading Thoughts on Thanksgiving
Category: holidays
Family, lost and found
One of the highlights of my Florida trip was a brief get together with one of the three women I consider to be my true mothers. Our reunion was surprisingly emotional for me - you know I'm no crier, yet that's exactly who I became in her embrace. I can't help but wonder if the … Continue reading Family, lost and found
Making Memorial Day memories
Almost 6 months to the date exactly, the boys and I are getting ready to head back to NYC for another round of adventures. Our plans for the weekend include taking in some of the Fleet Week events and a visit to Lady Liberty. We’re staying in TriBeCa and once I park my car, hopefully … Continue reading Making Memorial Day memories
Expectations
What are "reasonable" expectations? Are you comfortable with those you have and, presumably, honor? I was thinking about some of the expectations I have and considering their degree of realism. I think I do ok with most of them. My problem comes when I allow something external to start putting the squeeze on me - … Continue reading Expectations
What (this) Mom really wants for Mother’s Day…
to… • wake up and not need to immediately take the dog out because one of the Fabulous Lilly Boys (FLB) already has done the job • make extra coffee and enjoy it on the back deck in the morning sunshine • find the newspaper on the dining room table without having to actually leave … Continue reading What (this) Mom really wants for Mother’s Day…
Rise up
Last year, I was blessed to spend Easter in the Black Forest. There was a dusting of new snow that morning and I attended mass alone in a beautiful church where the only word I truly understood was "Amen." It was perfect. In the little town of Neustadt, thousands of miles from "home," I had … Continue reading Rise up
Giving up
You may not know this, but both of my parents came from large Catholic families. Is that redundant? I actually have an aunt and two deceased great aunts, who became nuns, for real. I grew up hearing about how my mother's family went to morning mass every day, staying for a marathon mass on Sundays. … Continue reading Giving up