They say that you can’t go home…but they’re wrong. ……
I just spent Thanksgiving in a city that was part of my life for over 30 years but moved away in 1999. I still have family who live here which is what keeps me coming back but it still feels like home because of a special group of women.
We were all young mothers together. We went to PTA meetings, took turns being the Girl Scout leaders, arranged car pools to sleepovers, birthday parties, sports and music events – all of those mom things that occupy your days when you have children who are too young to drive.
We grew close as our kids grew up. Whenever we could, we would get together and walk a four mile route along one of the prettiest boulevards anywhere. And of course walking meant talking. Opinions were strong and varied. We laughed, cried and supported each other through elementary and middle school years.
I moved 1000 miles away when my children were in middle school. Although I knew this was the best thing for our family, I was crushed to leave my gal pals behind. How would I ever get by without our walks, our coffees, our talks?
As it turns out, I didn’t have to. They came to visit me in my new city and I would come back to see family. And you know what? We walked, and talked and drank coffee, just like always. In between visits, we would have long distance coffee talks and send e-mails. I was still one of the girls even though I was so far away.
Today our children are grown and we have all become empty nesters. But when I come back to town, we are still the young mothers who gathered all those years ago as if time and distance hadn't intervened. We still look fabulous, our opinions are still strong and varied and we still laugh, cry and support each other – just like always. You can always come home even if you don’t live there anymore.
Sunday, November 28, 2010
Monday, November 22, 2010
Snow! Snow! Snow!
My first snowstorm in 10 years! Large, fluffy flakes of snow dusted the sidewalks, cars and me as I headed out to meet my intrepid walking group. Would anyone be at the corner where we meet? Of course there were! Five of us headed out down our usual route but we decided not to tackle the hill we usually climb as it is pretty steep - going uphill wouldn't be that bad but the downhill side might be tricky. Instead we opted for a flat route along the waterfront. Luckily it wasn't very cold or windy yet. We had a brisk walk ending at our usual coffee shop.
On my way home, I stopped at the grocery store to pick up butter and eggs because a day like this makes me want to stay inside and cook. I spent the rest of the day baking mandelbrot, a Jewish cookie similar to biscotti, oatmeal craisin cookies and homemade tomato soup. I promise to blog the recipes soon.
It snowed all day! Watching a snowstorm from the 31st floor is a new experience for me. The wind up here is a bit different from ground level - there were times when it looked like it was snowing up! Wild! And periodically the snow was so heavy that I couldn't see across the street.
It snowed and snowed and snowed and it's still snowing! The wind is howling as it whistles through the canyons these tall downtown building create. I am snug and warm in our apartment high in the sky and feel very lucky I don't have to drive anywhere tonight.
The weather folks are saying the snow should end around midnight but when it does it will get very cold...BRRRRR!
One thing is for sure - I'm not in Florida anymore!
On my way home, I stopped at the grocery store to pick up butter and eggs because a day like this makes me want to stay inside and cook. I spent the rest of the day baking mandelbrot, a Jewish cookie similar to biscotti, oatmeal craisin cookies and homemade tomato soup. I promise to blog the recipes soon.
It snowed all day! Watching a snowstorm from the 31st floor is a new experience for me. The wind up here is a bit different from ground level - there were times when it looked like it was snowing up! Wild! And periodically the snow was so heavy that I couldn't see across the street.
It snowed and snowed and snowed and it's still snowing! The wind is howling as it whistles through the canyons these tall downtown building create. I am snug and warm in our apartment high in the sky and feel very lucky I don't have to drive anywhere tonight.
The weather folks are saying the snow should end around midnight but when it does it will get very cold...BRRRRR!
One thing is for sure - I'm not in Florida anymore!
Sunday, November 21, 2010
A Hero
Late Friday afternoon....sitting at a table at the base of the down escalator at Nordstrom's trying to get people to buy a Men of the Market calendar to benefit the Pike Place Market Foundation...not an easy thing to do I find. Most people are rushing to get somewhere...we are invisible.
"Calendar to benefit the Market Foundation"...."Men of the Market calendar"...."Great holiday gift"...
A few people smile...very few stop....even fewer buy....pretty discouraging but my friend and I smile and hope that in the next group of shoppers that pass by, someone will stop.
A man sees us and does stop. We tell him about the calendar....that we are part of a walking group, the Thursday Walkers and wanted to do something to help the Pike Place Market Foundation. We underwrote the project so that the entire $15.00 price of the calendar will go to support the social services that are housed within the Market - a pre-school, senior center, health clinic and food bank. And all of the men who are featured in the calendar work in the Market.
We need to support the Market he tells his daughter and reaches into his pocket. He lays a $100 bill on the table. My first reaction is shock and in my head I am calculating how I can make change for the $15.00 calendar.
"I don't need the calendar but thank you for doing this," he says as he slides the bill toward us.
Whaaat????? He means to donate a $100! Really???? My friend and I stammer our thanks repeatedly and he hurries off to do his shopping.
What a remarkably generous thing to do! This gesture was as genuine as it was unexpected. My hero. He wasn't wearing a cape or mask - he was just a regular guy. And he made a difference ....to the Foundation and to me.
P.S. If you're looking for a fun holiday gift, consider a Men of the Market calendar! They're $15.00 and the total purchase price goes to the Pike Place Market Foundation!
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
Waiting for Superman
Good Morning Superheroes!
Everyone needs to go see Waiting for Superman, the documentary film that chronicles the problems of our failing educational system. It follows the lives of 5 students across the country to show how difficult is it to even have a chance at a quality education within the public school system. It is wrenching to see kindergarteners vying for the limited spaces through a lottery system. When all of the slots are filled and a young girl hasn't heard her name announced she is confused -when are they going to call her name? Heartbreaking....it shouldn't be this difficult to get a good education in this wonderful country of ours.
Speaking of lottery system....I know it may be the fairest way to choose who is accepted and who is not, but to the organizers of these school lotteries: Please do not make them the carnival type celebrations that appeared in the movie. It is a joyous moment for those who are lucky enough to have their name or number called but the majority of children are denied a spot leaving them rejected and disappointed. Leave the children at home and only allow the parent to attend so that they may be the ones to deliver the happy or not so happy message to their children in private and in their own way. It is cruel to build up expectations when it is only luck that determines who gets in and who does not.
This is a call to action for everyone who wants our country to remain the leader in this global economy. Even if you do not have children in the education system, your future, all of our futures will depend on the quality of graduates - high school, college and beyond - our country produces. We need critical thinkers, innovators, inventors, technicians, artists, musicians - educated minds that have been the key to our successes.
OK enough soapbox....go see the movie and then become Superman. You can make a difference. Education needs you. Until there is overwhelming public will, the system will not change. The change starts with you!
Everyone needs to go see Waiting for Superman, the documentary film that chronicles the problems of our failing educational system. It follows the lives of 5 students across the country to show how difficult is it to even have a chance at a quality education within the public school system. It is wrenching to see kindergarteners vying for the limited spaces through a lottery system. When all of the slots are filled and a young girl hasn't heard her name announced she is confused -when are they going to call her name? Heartbreaking....it shouldn't be this difficult to get a good education in this wonderful country of ours.
Speaking of lottery system....I know it may be the fairest way to choose who is accepted and who is not, but to the organizers of these school lotteries: Please do not make them the carnival type celebrations that appeared in the movie. It is a joyous moment for those who are lucky enough to have their name or number called but the majority of children are denied a spot leaving them rejected and disappointed. Leave the children at home and only allow the parent to attend so that they may be the ones to deliver the happy or not so happy message to their children in private and in their own way. It is cruel to build up expectations when it is only luck that determines who gets in and who does not.
This is a call to action for everyone who wants our country to remain the leader in this global economy. Even if you do not have children in the education system, your future, all of our futures will depend on the quality of graduates - high school, college and beyond - our country produces. We need critical thinkers, innovators, inventors, technicians, artists, musicians - educated minds that have been the key to our successes.
OK enough soapbox....go see the movie and then become Superman. You can make a difference. Education needs you. Until there is overwhelming public will, the system will not change. The change starts with you!
Monday, November 15, 2010
What a birthday!
A blog for my birthday....only my "sista" Lisa would have created such a gift for me. She has been after me for ages to create a blog to post my musings, stories, recipes - the stuff of my life. And my response has always been "Who cares what I think????" Her retort has always been "I do and so would a lot of other people....just do it!"
So here I am posting my first blog entry.........
This entire blog thing is new and a little scary but I will try and put form to my thoughts. Heartfelt thanks to Lisa for giving me the forum and the encouragement.
I am an only child and always wanted a brother or sister. Growing up, all of my friends had siblings and I felt I was missing something special. One day, three years ago I was going through a period of upheaval in my life...we had just moved to a new city where I knew no one, my daughters were both in college out of state...I was incredibly lonely and sad. "Please, please," I begged my friends, "come visit me." Lisa flew in and declared, "Everyone needs a sister and I'm going to be yours." I knew at that moment that everything was going to be OK.
It was during that visit that Lisa decided that she was going to turn my bedroom into a sanctuary and proceeded to recover the headboard, make a new duvet, bedskirt and shams. Did I mention that she's an incredible seamstress? It was a great project for us to work on together and I got a beautiful bedroom thanks to her efforts. It's what sisters do......
Thanks, Sista. Love you.
So here I am posting my first blog entry.........
This entire blog thing is new and a little scary but I will try and put form to my thoughts. Heartfelt thanks to Lisa for giving me the forum and the encouragement.
I am an only child and always wanted a brother or sister. Growing up, all of my friends had siblings and I felt I was missing something special. One day, three years ago I was going through a period of upheaval in my life...we had just moved to a new city where I knew no one, my daughters were both in college out of state...I was incredibly lonely and sad. "Please, please," I begged my friends, "come visit me." Lisa flew in and declared, "Everyone needs a sister and I'm going to be yours." I knew at that moment that everything was going to be OK.
It was during that visit that Lisa decided that she was going to turn my bedroom into a sanctuary and proceeded to recover the headboard, make a new duvet, bedskirt and shams. Did I mention that she's an incredible seamstress? It was a great project for us to work on together and I got a beautiful bedroom thanks to her efforts. It's what sisters do......
Thanks, Sista. Love you.
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
HAPPY BIRTHDAY!
Happy Birthday to you, Happy birthday to you, Happy Birthday dear Sista, Happy birthday to you! May this new venture in your life bring you many many days of happiness. I so hope you share your wonderful love of cooking, writing, walking, shoe shopping and philosophy with the world for it will be a better place when you do. You are the best friend and a wonderful sister (even though you haven't been one your whole life!) to me. I better see some great pictures up here too! Let it be your window to the world! Now, YOU GO GIRL!
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