31 years ago this morning, just past midnight, I was pacing up and down the corridors of the “old” maternity hospital in Rhode Island. Barry had gone home… with the promise to return at the crack o’ dawn. These were the days when the Mom checked into the hospital the day before a C-section. These were the days when it [...]

Today is going to be a tough one for me. My 86-year old Mom is having surgery.  I know she’s a tough cookie and all, but I’m her daughter, her only daughter, and my mind is racing, racing, racing. But something happened late yesterday afternoon that brought me great peace. I’d like to share this story with you… no matter [...]

From the moment I knew the meaning of the words CURLY. HAIR. I knew I had it. And I hated it. My Mom, on the other hand (or head, as the case may be) had and still has PIN. STRAIGHT. HAIR. My Mom has admired my CURLY. HAIR. for as long as I can remember and I have coveted my [...]

Not a day goes by that I don’t think about my Dad.  From the moment I remember remembering, I remember my Dad. He was in the Navy when I was born… out-to-sea.  My Mom was staying with his parents on their farm in Michigan when I arrived on a bristling cold October morning.  My Dad wouldn’t hold me for 3 [...]

Ten years ago this month, on June 30, 2001, my daughter Audrey married the man of her dreams, Matthew. Ten years ago, Barry and I had 2 grandchildren… 2 beautiful little girl cousins… Taylor and Maddie. For her wedding celebration, Audrey had 2 little dresses designed for Taylor and Maddie… 2 little white and butter-colored dresses that matched her wedding [...]

Barry and I surprised Audrey very early Monday morning, on her birthday, with a luscious little white cake… decorated with pink icing, pink rosettes and pink lettering. Pink. You know… girlie. We rang the doorbell.  We listened for sounds.  And within a half second, we heard the rushing of footsteps to the door.  Well, the thundering of footsteps.   You know… [...]

When I woke up 33 years ago today, I knew that I was going to have a baby that day. I had gone into early labor the morning before… 6 weeks before my due date.  Fortunately, my husband Barry and I taught at the same school where the early labor began (while teaching a class, no less!), so off we [...]

When I was a little girl, I thought my Mom was the most beautiful lady in the entire world. I was mesmerized with her face, her petite little figure, her make-up, her clothes and her shoes.  I loved looking at photographs of her as a teenager and young woman, and I spent lots of time dreaming of being her some [...]

My Mom is home from her extended health vacation. She is happy to be home, but with being home comes all the things about being home. You know… cooking, laundry, housekeeping, organizing. I am happily helping with the first three. I cook up lots of things, like American Chop Suey (with ground turkey) or baked chicken or fish with rice [...]

Whenever I go to Audrey’s home, whether for a quick drop-off of something-or-other or for an afternoon, 2-year old Benjamin comes running from wherever he is, gives me a great big hug and says in the most welcoming of ways, “Take your coat off.” This means I’m staying. As I unzip my coat or vest or sweatshirt, I can see [...]