Search Results: Found 19 Articles

I've spent the morning looking through filing cabinets, boxes in closets and plastic bins full of photographs. I am searching for my grandmother's letters and for the life of me I don't know where they are. Maw Maw saved all the personal letters mailed to her by her two sisters and sister-in-law....

{24th Annual West Point Triathlon}Yesterday Marty competed in the West Point Triathlon and I tagged along to take pictures and offer moral support. I go to his competitions because they are inspiring and fun to cheer on the athletes. As the groups began to line up for their starts, I saw a father and son saying their "goodbyes". The young man put...

Growing up, my family lived in Jacksonville in a classic 1950's mid-century Florida style home. I am sure you can visualize the look complete with jalousie windows and terrazzo floors. As with most homes in Florida during that period, it was not air-conditioned and during late afternoons it was as hot inside the house as it was outside only cooling down after the sunset. I rememb...

{Cheese Soufflé For One}My mother was a great cook in "her day" but after my father died she lost interest in cooking and started substituting snacks for "real" food. I understand the impulse to just grab a pint of Ben and Jerry's ice cream and call it an evening but I also know that nutrition becomes even more important as we age and

{Homemade Stir-Fry}When Marty and I first moved in together, we spent one or two evenings a week cooking dinner as a couple. We enjoyed creating meals as a team and learned quite a bit about one another through the process of meal planning and cooking. Marty is the more adventurous cook while I rely on trusted recipes to guide me. Turning meal pre...

Temperatures at 100° along with high humidity is a dangerous combination for anyone but especially the elderly. So what can help relieve the heat? Popsicles. I remember the excitement generated by the sound of the music coming from the ice cream truck as it rounded the corner. I would run home to plead and beg with mom for money to buy a popsicle; all the kids in the neighborhood...

This past week as I was reading the obituary of the mother of a friend of mine, I started thinking about funerals and the traditions behind them. As I mentioned before my family tends to rely on black humor during times of stress and when asked about the kind of funeral I want when the day comes, I responded that I want an American Indian burial. My vision, whether historically...

{Early morning at the Lake}Until you personally experience the loss of a parent, the depth of that loss is unknowable. While I was genuinely saddened by the pain my friend’s felt over the death of their parents; I didn’t understand the magnitude of their loss until I experienced it myself. Today when I hear from a friend that their mom or da...

{Pershing Square}What are the dos and don'ts of visiting friends in the hospital, rehab centers and nursing homes? Based on the experience with my parents, I have a few guidelines that I follow in terms of visitation of friends and their family in these group situations. My goal is to support my friends during a difficult period but at the same ti...