My daughter is now a senior at RIT. She will be graduating this year and for the past few years has dated Nick aka Skates. Skates is a phenomenal hockey player and as they used to say in my office in Illinois, he is slick as snot! Nick is from Philadelphia and much to his dismay does indeed have a slight Philly accent. It makes me smile. Oh. My. Gosh. Am I getting soft? Let’s just hold on and take…
We all have those people who have crossed our paths evoking a gut level physical and mental reaction upon meeting them for the first time. Is it fear? Is it awe? Is it, “What the heck? Who is that and how did she do that?” Or is it “Oh no. I cannot do that!” That is Joanne, or Momma Jo as she is so affectionately referred to. Truth be told, I experienced every one of those questions beginning in 2009…
My mother is 80 years old. She is 4 foot 10 inches and as she says, back to her fighting weight of 105 pounds. Note that her mother, my grandma Amelia at almost 80 years old was 4 foot 10 inches and 205 pounds. Both very formidable yet warm, funny, and individual in their own way. My mother is old school and I love that about her. It can be frustrating because she has no answering machine and she is…
Happy New Year! There isn't much to say that has not already been said on social media or the news wires. The talk about resolutions and wishes for looking back, looking ahead, making amends, losing weight, joining a gym, or multiple suggestions for drastic change cause me to pause for a simpler wish list. So here is a short list of my new year's wishes for you! I wish that: your hugs are plentiful and strong both in giving and…
This year as empty nesters, the Christmas dynamic is slightly different in our house. Chip and I cut the trees down and decorated the house by ourselves. Throughout this process, I have felt a minor loss and a longing for those old days. So, I decided I would write to Santa and tell him what I wish for Christmas as an empty nest mother of two children living out of eye and ear shot. Dear Santa, How are you? I…