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Goodbye To All That
*** I’ve always loved the title of Joan Didion’s essay, Goodbye to All That, which pays homage to New York, the city, her love for it, but the need to leave it behind. Her love affair with New York begins as most love affairs do—with awe and passion and all-encompassing rapture; however, the city ends up burdening and exhausting her as a writer with its frenetic pace and way of life. It’s quite the opposite for me when considering the ideals of the summer season. Summer rolls in mid-year with its sunshine, flowers, humidity, warmth, relaxing tendencies, and languid days. And while I keep myself busy in the summer, its…
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The (Obnoxious) Kid on the Plane
*** It’s a prayer all of us have sent up at some point in our lives: Please, God, don’t let the small, rambunctious kid sit near me on the plane. Sometimes prayers get answered. Sometimes, they don’t. Don’t get me wrong, I love children, especially my own more than others, but when I’m packed in like a sardine on my way to a pleasant vacation—or even worse, on my way home from a pleasant vacation—the last thing I want is a fussy, crying, obnoxious kid sitting next to me on my journey from which there is no escape until we land. I already come to the journey on an airplane…
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Holding On and Letting Go of Your Children
The second a child comes into your life, you know at some point, you will have to let go. They are babies, and they need you as infants, but not too long after, they find their own two feet can take them places, and they start walking, exploring and discovering. Even as toddlers, they are beginning their journey away from you. As much as you want to hold on, the truth is, you are already beginning to let go. Think about it. Your toddler turns three or four, and he is ready for pre-school. You let him go. He has to find his way, make friends, create things on his…
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So Much Wisdom In A Christmas Wish.
I get teased a lot because I’m a Hallmark Channel “junkie.” It doesn’t bother me at all, however, because it’s my one vice, and yet I find it’s typically a positive one. My kids often watch the Hallmark movies with me, however, they know which one is their favorite. It’s called A Christmas Wish, and it’s pretty special. It’s about a single mom of three kids; two are by her estranged husband, and one child, Miles, whom she is raising, is not her biological son, but rather her husband’s son with another woman. However, she loves Miles as much as the other two. Yet, the dead-beat dad doesn’t really care…
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Conversations With My Children
I was spring cleaning and stopped. My mother had called to say there was white smoke coming from the Vatican. I turned on the news and sat to watch. We are practicing Catholics, and at some point we’ll stop practicing and do it for real. In the meantime, I watched with excitement as the crowds gathered in St. Peter’s Square, goosies appearing all over my arms as I couldn’t help but get into the spirit. Who would be the new Pope? I’d been to the Vatican—it was one of our most splendid times in Rome and Vatican City. I’ll never forget that feeling of walking into the Sistine Chapel and…
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Discussing The Newtown Tragedy With My Children
Before I begin, I must apologize in advance. Those of you who normally read my blog for happy, go-lucky stories, will not find one here today. It breaks The Scribe’s heart to have to discuss this story, but I feel I must. Out of respect for the families who have lost a loved one, no photographs accompany it. And so… * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *…
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Chazz and The Hamster
Last night, my husband and I went out to dinner with our dear friends Diana and Jason to a relatively new restaurant located in Harbor East in Baltimore called Chazz: A Bronx Original. (Coincidentally, the restaurant is owned by actor/director/writer Chazz Palminteri, who is married to my husband’s cousin, Gianna. You may know Chazz from “The Usual Suspects,” “A Bronx Tale,” “Analyze This,” and his recent guest appearance on “Modern Family.”) Our night out at Chazz was a success; we enjoyed a delicious dinner and raucous conversation in the very hip, stylish restaurant that feels like a subway station when you enter, replete with subway signs, subway tiles, and diner-like,…
