What is liberation? Is it lying on a beach, eyes closed, resting? There will be endless images of sunsets and lovely views but for now we’re exploring some of that Hawaiian bounty. As we enjoyed the markets, restaurants, and cafes, two thoughts kept coming to …
Over the years, our traveling family unit has grown from just me and the parents to my brother to significant others and even the next generation. We’ve asked ourselves: if we go there, what will so-and-so like? This is just another reason why cities are …
This will be short and (so) sweet.
This week my parents came to Chicago to party. Yes, it included late night conversations, a walk around the Point, delicious food, and laughter. More than anything, it included love. Parents, grandparents, children, spouses, and grandchildren… so much love flowing between, amongst, and around.
Why were we partying? We were celebrating my parents’ anniversary and it was beautiful.
Young love is often described as naive, tumultuous, and sugary. It can indeed be that but its often constant, developing, and deep. Could we emphasize the word ”growing” when we say growing old together? I say YES!
For more sweetness, don’t miss our Remembrances of Love.
The Black Garden is coming along nicely. Like most things in life, when you’re planning something, it’s not always clear how things will work out. Does gardening encourage patience? Flexibility? Curiosity? Every year, the Black Garden gets more interesting. A new black tomato is planted, …
Has anyone told you lately that there’s so much good stuff out there? If not, I’m saying it. Summer has its unique way of revealing how much is out there: zucchini for giants, pounds of tomatoes, mint taking over any and every garden if you’re …
“There, all is order and beauty,
Luxury, peace, and pleasure.” Baudelaire
We entered the weekend leisurely. My parents were visiting to celebrate… major milestones, family, and life. Committed to resting and relaxing for a change, we were resolved to do only what we wanted to do: engage with beauty in all of its forms and each other. We began in my Black Garden with watermelon lemonade “spiked” with nonalcoholic gin. We peppered our conversations with updates on family back home, travel, the economy, my parents’ childhood memories, and more. We sipped cappuccino and enjoyed neighborhood pastries. It was luxurious.
We drank sparkling wine, enjoyed meringue mounds swirled with chocolate and pecans, sweet and salty pie, and my dad’s favorite, pizza. We listened to the melodic voices and stirring percussion of Black Monument Ensemble and then danced to Hip Hop, Stevie, and R&B. So much art.
My mom remarked that it was so nice not to be running from one place to another. So calming to be present, right here, right now. It was luxurious.
We ate our favorites and reminisced about pizza in Naples, Chianti in Florence, whites in Val d’Aosta, shellfish in Sicily, and tiramisu in Venice. It was pleasurable.
Over the weekend here in Chicago, my dad and I turned our gazes towards my mom as we watched her in action. She was negotiating something in her polite but determined way. With admiration in his voice, my dad said, ”Your mom is fearless.” “If …
