Conversing with Dad
I was nominated by Britchy to participate in this quote challenge on the art of conversation. She knows I need help with the technical aspects of WordPress and what better way than to challenge me in a way that will require links and tags!! Also, in a time when conversations (i.e. effective communication) are more crucial than ever, I’m going to throw in a recommendation along with my quotes. Continue reading
Battle field marker at Fort Tryon Park
Did you ever have a shirt or dress that fell out of favor, ending up in the back of your closet? Months or years later you find it, pull it on and suddenly it looks differently on you? That’s how I felt about NYC before retiring. I associated trips to NYC with work and travel related stress. Plowing my way through crowds and drug sniffing dogs in La Guardia. Stepping out into the heat wearing a suit. A scary cab ride into downtown. People everywhere. I had many creative excuses for not going to work in NYC. However my beloved niece lives there and I decided to try on NYC again. Continue reading
I recently read more letters from my Dad to my Mom during the Vietnam War. They encompassed significant dates such as Valentines Day, their anniversary, and the birthday of my younger brother. Dad was notoriously frugal, yet generous. This Valentine’s Day card is a perfect example. In the enclosed letter he describes, with pride, how he procured a “good as new” wool pea coat for Mom from the ship’s store. The sailor to which it had been assigned, never picked it up and it was on sale for $3.00! However, it will cost $15 to have it lined, so figured my Mom could “do that herself.” Frugal. He also described how he was going to buy her a beaded “shell” for $25 (a lot of money then), and “I assume you are still a 38 and I dream about them.” Generous and in love. Continue reading
Settling in with the loss of both parents and recently retired, I have found time to do things I’ve been putting off. Today, I started digging through a box of letters that my Mother had saved. I remember the first time I saw it. It was the spring my Father died and Mom moved into assisted living. I knew it was precious or they would not have included it in their household shipment to Texas. It was in the hall closet, along with photo albums, video and audio recordings. Into a box they all went, and there they stayed, in my closet, for 4 years. Continue reading
The other day I found the first episode of NAS Emerald Point on YouTube. Having lived on two Navy bases growing up, I was excited by this show (CBS 1983-84 season). I’d never seen the life of military dependents portrayed on TV. Often, one hears about the sacrifices military families make to support the careers of their fathers and husbands. The show touched on this to some extent, but also featured a Navy Daughter following in her Father’s footsteps by graduating from the US Naval Academy and being accepted into flight school. It made me think about the opportunities that were presented to me as a Navy Daughter. I didn’t go into the service, but my Father’s service gave me the chance to live, work and study in many places. It also exposed me to Supply Chain, which I spent the first 20 years of my career performing. The TV show featured another real life Navy Daughter, my class-mate actress Stephanie Dunnam. We first met when we were 13 and I felt a geeky pride to see her in this show. She didn’t follow in her Father’s footsteps, but one of her Father’s tours of duty gave her life changing experiences. Continue reading
Mom
Family Secrets – Talk About Your “Stuff”
In an earlier blog, I wrote about how “perfect” my Mom was. I never met my Mom’s parents and it wasn’t until I was 40 that I learned why my Mother strived for perfection. She had high expectations for me as a daughter (including the white glove test.) She was upset when I told her I wanted to be married at a local B&B. Nothing less than a fancy church wedding and reception would do. She hand sewed my bride’s maids’ gowns and helped over see the selection of music, flowers and catering. It was perfect. I couldn’t and wouldn’t have done it without her. Continue reading
Artistic Pension Payment: Realizing the Capacity to be Creative
My Mother was an excellent artist. She was also a stunningly beautiful model, gourmet cook/entertainer, and excelled at gardening and interior decorating. The perfect 70’s Mom. Her clients, art students and friends asked if I shared my Mother’s artistic abilities. Uh, hell no! A daughter’s perception of her own Mother’s perfection.
Model Mom Head Shot
Glam Mom Entertaining
Artistic Pension Payment: A Lesson in Cooking
My Mother was an excellent cook. I have many of her fancy pans and other cooking paraphernalia that she considered essential. However, I was always too busy working and usually single, so I tended to assemble food items rather than create meals. One of my fancy cooking items was an 8 inch Berndes saute pan. After listening to a cooking show on NPR, I attempted to fry/steam the perfect egg, later to be laid upon a decorative smear of low-fat plain yogurt and sprinkled with Herbs de Provence. Continue reading
ARTISTIC PENSION 
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