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Posts from the ‘Life Experiences’ Category

17
Oct

Watching From The Sidelines

Yesterday, Hartford hosted the ING Marathon/Half Marathon and I watched from the sidelines – on my couch, eyes glued to the televised race.  Three weeks ago, I had to pull out of the race because I was still building my mileage and couldn’t increase the miles too quickly without possibly re-injuring the foot I fractured in late May. Reminding myself to be thankful for being able to run, I focused on watching the race and set my sights on the Palm Beach Half Marathon in December. Read more »

29
Sep

High School Reunions

Chatter from classmates.com, a message on Facebook or a phone call from a long-lost friend lets you know your high school reunion is coming up and volunteers are needed to organize this nostalgic event.  Organizing a high school reunion is definitely on the top ten list of “The most unselfish things you will ever do”  – along with “having a child” but there is a big difference….the rewards of parenthood increase significantly with the effort put forth – not so with organizing a high school reunion. Read more »

13
Sep

Fleeing Hartford, Connecticut

Last year the Wall Street Journal ran an article about dying cities in the United States and Hartford, Connecticut was one of the cities included on the list.  Once known as the “insurance capital of the world,” Hartford had fallen victim to flight:  loss of industries and the vital population that keeps a city thriving. Read more »
3
Sep

Summer Lessons

My daughter had her first job this summer working five days a week from 9:30 – 5:00 at a museum.  At first, she was excited about the prospect of working and earning money but the honeymoon was over by the second week when she realized there weren’t many young people at the museum. In fact, she came home one day and sadly told me that the people she worked with were so old that their kid’s kids had kids – meaning many of her co-workers were great-grandparents. Read more »
30
Aug

The Long Road Back

Warning:  If you’re not a runner, the following blurb may bore you out of your mind as only runners talk about times and injuries incessantly. Read more »
28
Aug

The Calm Before The Storm

On our way to a friend’s house for dinner, my husband, daughter, and my daughter’s friend jumped out of the car and started walking down a dirt road that led to a steep foot path when I noticed how handsome my husband looked. The conversation went like this: Read more »
24
Aug

Hand Me Ups and Fashion Advice

It’s that time of year again – mid-August – when we all start to think about upcoming school schedules, immunization records, dental appointments, forms to be completed and school clothes. All summer long my daughter has been wearing (much to her dismay) khaki shorts and white tops – the required uniform for her job – and telling me the only way she can express herself fashion-wise is through her choice of shoes which run the gamut from cowboy rain boots to sneakers to flip-flops.  Read more »
18
Aug

Don’t Ask for Ketchup in Paris

My husband – carnivore man – and I were walking through the streets of Paris one afternoon and came upon the Paris Opera House which is more formally known as the Palais Garnier.  The Paris Opera House was built in the mid-1800’s and was the primary home of the Paris Opera for more than 100 years.  A large rectangular shaped building enveloped by a diamond-shaped parcel of land with the streets (rues)  forming the borders, the Paris Opera House is an impressive building. Read more »

31
Jul

Technology Turn-Off

Nearly ten years ago, my husband and I turned off our cell phones and moved to Madrid, Spain. Cell phones weren’t in the hands of every man, woman, and child so we didn’t really think we were disconnecting from life. After all, we would still have a land line.  We opted not to have cell phones in Spain primarily because we didn’t feel the need and we wanted to live in the moment with our young daughter. She was beginning first grade and we took her to school, picked her up, and if she went anywhere, we were always with her so there really was no need for a cell phone. Read more »

23
Jul

Franzen and Irving: Rock Stars of the Literary World

Several months ago, Jonathan Franzen and John Irving appeared together at a book club forum in Hartford, Connecticut.  I was giddy with excitement at the prospect of seeing two of my favorite authors in a panel discussion.  This wasn’t a book store appearance but a chance to hear two very talented authors speak about writing and their thoughts on literature. My husband compared my enthusiasm to the anticipation most people feel before an upcoming rock concert. Point well taken but Franzen and Irving are rock stars in the oft ignored literary world. Read more »

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