I Am A Blessed Woman - Life in 2018

It has been months since I have posted a blog.  I guess that means I "have a life!"  The other day Charlotte told me that she laughs when someone will comment on how nice it is for her to have a mother-in-love who is so available to her to help out with the kids. She said they think I am just sitting around the house waiting for her to call.  She told them she has to calendar her needs in advance so they get on my calendar!

As December 31st approaches, I consider how fortunate Jay and I are to have such a rich life...rich in people we love, good friends, good health, stimulating activities and beautiful setting in Southern California.  Here are the highlights of the year for us and for our family.

This year:

Jay and I traveled... to Seattle, Montreal, Quebec, Athens and the Greek Isles.

I stopped coloring my hair and claimed my natural color.

Gabriel made a touchdown!

Jessie started attending Annie’s Newport Academy at Phases.

Joe continued to grow his dog-boarding business in Acton with a special emphasis on dog rescue.

Marc continued to grow his business with new clients (Indian Motorcycle), moved to new quarters and traveled to Germany and Italy for clients.

Mike is in his 24^th season working with the LA Kings/AEG and received a promotion to Vice President, Marketing, Communications and Content.

Gabriel got his driver’s license.

I started training to be a Los Serreno Docent at the PV Interpretive Center.

Gino transitioned to a Montessori Preschool.

I attended Michelle Obama’s Book Tour “Becoming” with Milli and Charlotte.

Had “Mondays with Mima” every week with Gino and Jessie.

We acquired a Chinese Grandson when Phoenix arrived as a foreign exchange student to Mike and Milli’s.

I rode on the Goodyear Blimp with my brother, Fred.

Jay bought new golf clubs!

I made seat-covers for our golf cart.

Walked and talked regularly with my BFF Cindy.  Better than the best therapist!! She keeps me honest.

We attended Water Aerobic classes

Jay and I finally took care of our "last wishes" and made our cremation arrangements!

Gabriel had his first “hockey fight” and received a 2 game suspension.

Attended Grandparents Day with Gabriel and Phoenix.

I joined a Writers' Group.

We participated in Omnilore classes and the Omnilore Curriculum committee.

I knit 15 items.

I read 70 Books and continued to participate in our Best Sellers' Book Group.

So I would say we squeezed every ounce of goodness, happiness and love out of our 365 days while making a real effort to only focusing on the positive and sweeping away the negative. (Yes, there was negative too!)  Thank you to all of you who are part of the fabric of our lives. 

I am a blessed woman!

I Am A Pisces - Finding My Water Legs

I like that my astrological sign is the Pisces.  Here is what Google tells me about it: Pisces is a Water sign and as such this zodiac sign is characterized by empathy and expressed emotional capacity. Their ruling planet is Neptune, so Pisces are more intuitive than others and have an artistic talent.  

Who wouldn’t want to be empathetic, intuitive and have emotional capacity and artistic talent.  However, Pisces is a Water sign and I have never liked to be in the water.  Oh, I love being NEAR the water, watching waves beat against the rocks or the sun sinking into the blue Pacific.  I love that I live near the water.  But I have never liked to be IN the water.

Maybe it’s due to a “traumatic experience” I had as a child, when a swim instructor stepped on my little 7 year old hands hanging on for dear life to the edge of the Kent State University swimming pool, emotionally scarring me for life! 

Or maybe it’s due to stepping off a drop in the water near the pier at Brady Lake and thrashing and sputtering as someone lifted me up by my 10 year old arm and asked if I was OK. OK?  I was drowning!!  

Or maybe it’s due to having severe myopia and having everything look like a blur when I was in the water without my glasses.  

Or maybe I am just not an authentic Pisces.  

Whatever the reason, I am always the one sitting on the poolside lounge, not the one frolicking in the water.

So I looked askance when Jay suggested that we try the Water Aerobics class offered at our community pool three mornings a week.  We wanted to incorporate more exercise into our daily routine, other residents raved about it, and it was practically right outside our door. 

We went one morning as “observers” and saw that everyone wore a flotation belt so there was no need to even be able to tread water.  Everyone had smiles on their faces so they were obviously enjoying it.  The weather was so hot and the pool did look inviting.  The instructor offered us her extra equipment to try it and see if we liked it before investing in it.

So, the next class we were at the poolside at 8:20 am, in swim suits, robes and flip-flops.  

Heading for the pool...

We put on the flotation belts and prepared join the others.  

The water was heated so it was an easy entry.  There was a buoyant sense of freedom as our belts held us upright.  We were told it might feel awkward at first but that we would develop our water legs.  For one hour Susan put us through a series of exercises that included stretches to all muscle groups, aerobic big legs and big arms moving in laps around and around and around the pool, stomach crunches, leg kicks and resistance work on the arms using flotation dumbbells.  I especially liked the exercise where I looked like Esther Williams doing side stretches while hanging on to my dumbbells.  

It was quite a workout and I didn’t even have to sweat!

We have been participating in the classes for a couple weeks now.  We have our own flotation equipment and each time as we head home after the hour class we rejoice in the achy muscles and feel quite proud of ourselves.  

The best part is that Susan says I am doing very well, that I am a natural.  It must be because I am a Pisces!

I AM A Gardener - Yes, We Have No Tomatoes

August…sun…heat…TOMATOES!

If you are of Italian heritage, of course you have an “orto” (kitchen garden), and of course you grow vegetables, and of course one of those vegetables is the tomato.  Looking back over the years, my life story is "peppered" with tomato memories.

My dad was the gardener in our family and he took great pride in his tomatoes.  

My dad, circa 1958 - Isn't he proud!!

They often did not make it into the kitchen.  He would pick the tomato, wash it off with the garden hose, and hand it to me like an apple. “Here, take a bite of THIS!”  And I would…bite deeply into the red flesh, feeling the juices still warm from the sun, running down my chin.  

We often ate tomato sandwiches.  Bread, a little mayo, sliced tomatoes, sliced onion and a piece of lettuce.  Who needed baloney when you had ripe tomatoes?  

And the excess harvest?  Well a whole day was devoted to canning in the basement and its aroma would permeate the entire house.  Tomatoes were peeled, simmered with some seasoning, placed in sterile canning jars and stored for the winter months.

When I was a young mother and we bought our first house, one fine day in May my dad arrived at my house with a shovel, some fertilizer and tomato plants.  He spent the afternoon digging a small garden against the back wall where he planted my tomatoes.  There…now the house was complete.  I tended them as I was taught but it was Dad I called if I ever saw a fat juicy tomato worm!

One of the many advantages of living at Palos Verdes Shores community is the opportunity to have a plot in our community garden.  Though I have to endure the local wildlife of birds, squirrels, gophers and raccoons competing for the harvest, it still affords me the pleasure of growing tomatoes.  

My solar activate sonic gopher repellent that seems to be working!

Gino and Jessie love to go down to the garden to “help” me.  

"I can help you, Mima! Let me do it!"

This year we purchased 7 plants from Laurel's Heirloom Tomato Plants in Lomita.

Jay does the dig and carry!

All planted!

 I have spent the last few weeks reaping what I have sown!  

Just one day's pickings!

Some ripening on the window sill.

In addition to making some favorite seasonal recipes and freezing fresh sauce for winter months I have had the joy of sharing some of the bounty with neighbors and grounds keepers.

Ahhh - gazpacho!

Fresh tomato salad.

Both sets of grandparents had “orto”s so it is very natural for me to follow suit.  They didn’t spend time worrying about a lovely manicured lawn.  To them, it made no sense to spend your time, money and energy in growing something you could not eat!   

It is only now, in my golden years, that I am beginning to grow something other than vegetables and I take delight in watching the Monarch butterflies circling my glorious milkweed bushes. 

My milkweed in full bloom.

A visiting Monarch butterfly.

Gino looks for caterpillars every time he comes over!  I hope this one sticks around long enough for him to see it!

And...a monarch caterpillar that we are praying makes it into a cocoon.

And the cycle of life continues.....

I Am A Grandmother - Sickened By Today's News

This morning I picked up the LA Times and the Wall Street Journal to see what was happening in the world.  (Yes, we still have paper subscriptions delivered to our home!)  My heart was full as I sipped my coffee and turned the pages.  Jay and I had just spent last evening baby-sitting with Gino, aged 3 ½, and Jessie, aged 21 months, while their parents attended a wedding.  Experiencing their happy, animated antics is such a joy for us and we are grateful they are in our lives.  Their spontaneity and innocence remind us the beauty of life and what is important…just being together with them and letting them love us. 

On page 1 of the LA Times I saw this picture, of a father embracing his 6 yr. old son, who stared vacantly over his shoulder. 

As I read, I sat up straighter and put down my coffee cup, and read … “Father and son reunite…  Jefferson…a playful boy who loved racing tiny cars across the dirt floor of his Guatemala home, stood stiff, staring vacantly at the gray carpet, then at his father…  The boy remained stiff and expressionless.  His arms, stomach and back were covered with a rash.  His right eye was bruised red.  He had a cough and a runny nose.  Jefferson had been held in a detention shelter … in New York.  He had spoken to his father 3 times in 46 days.  ‘Papa, I thought they killed you’ , he told his father. ”  My stomach twisted.

Then on page A3 of the Wall Street Journal, a photo of a migrant family with a little boy, the same age as Gino, with black curly hair stared out at me.  

I read… “Father and son were separated three months ago…the boy was sent to an agency in Michigan…  Mr. Reyes said his son isn’t the same.  He doesn’t speak much.  He wants to be close to his father and worries every time he steps away.  Inside, he carries like a sadness.”  Dr. Havens, a NY psychiatrist for children is quoted in testimony. “Most children are resilient.  But there is a subset who have a significant disorder associated with the trauma of separation.  (They) appear confused or don’t recognize a parent upon reunification. For parents to have to go through sort of reacclimatizing themselves to their children is just horrific.”

I closed the paper and just sat there.  Thoughts raced through my mind.  What have we come to?  No amount of legal discourse, no amount of citing legalities, nothing in my mind can justify adults taking such steps to enforce whatever laws and in the process damage innocent children who are victims of the decisions of others.  We are better than that.  

Memories of the little faces that turned to me in such open, naked trust last night fill my mind.  It is such a privilege to be entrusted with my grandchildren.  My hope is that the love, security and guidance I am allowed to share with them will contribute to their developing into confident, secure and fully alive little individuals.  Such an honor and such a responsibility.

I feel ashamed as I read the news.  I am ashamed.

Those who would lead our judicial systems, enforce our laws, often do so with a sense of religious righteousness.  Yet, I recall the Bible verse:  Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to stumble, it would be better for him to have a large millstone hung around his neck and to be thrown into the sea. 

Where can I get my hands on some millstones!

I Am A Road Scholar - Visiting Montreal and Quebec

When Jay and I retired, we hit the road as world travelers.  We traveled independently, drove cars in distant lands, rented apartments in little villages, rode foreign public transportation and felt energetic and safe in the world.  As years passed, we found ourselves taking shorter trips, using hand-carry only suitcases, considering options like cruises and group tours, where all the details like purchasing museum tickets and finding a tour guide are arranged for you.  It just became easier and we didn’t have the reserves of energy like before.  But we also found that we do not like to be herded and we missed the sense of discovery on our own.  Yet, unless we have a guide with us, we often don’t know what we are looking at!!  We needed the best of both worlds, and we found it in Road Scholars Independent selection of small group tours that build in lots of free time for exploring on your own.

We just returned from a 9 day Independent Quebec City and Montreal: People, Places, Culture tour and are so happy with our experience.  

We spent the first 4 days in Montreal. Each morning we met in the lobby of our hotel to discuss the day and then head out for a guided walking tour to some aspect of the city.  

Lobby of the Montreal Westin...Julie our animated tour director!

And we went, rain or shine!  

First morning walk of Old Montreal.

In the spirit...

Urban sculpture...The Illuminated crowd.

We were armed with a 3 day metro pass and taught how to use the city’s fantastic underground to get from point A to point B.  

One access to the underground pedestrian walkway.

The metro

We also were given vouchers for entrance into various museums in the city to use whenever we chose.

Old Sewer passageway in the Pointe A Callier

Portrait by Marisa Portolese in McCord Museum

We enjoyed typical food of Montreal with the group or own our own.

Our Tasting Walking Tour - Schwartz's Smoked Meat

Montreal Bagels...

Amazing food market...the Marche Jean-Talon

One of many beers!  Molson!

Highlights in Montreal were

Private Organ presentation in the Bascilica di Notre Dame.

On the 5^th day we took the train to Quebec City and began our days there.  

Boarding the train

Countryside

We actually seemed to have the city to ourselves because tourists were avoiding the G7 Conference that was occurring in the area.   

Some shops were boarded up...

Organized demonstrators near the Parliament

Notice from Manoir Victoria left on our bed.

But our tour director stayed on top of the impacts, altering the day’s activities to ensure that we still saw all the important sites.  Our guided walks took us to the upper town and the lower town.  European streets and awesome murals.

One of many wonderful murals.

With Marie outside the Ursuline School for Girls

Upper City Street

Petit Rue Champlain

One day we escaped to the Ile D'Orleans which was a wonderful experience!

The Tide is Out on the St, Lawrence River...Quebec City in the distance.

It was a brisk walk along the river...followed by hot chocolate!

Montmorency Falls

Highlights in Quebec City were a luncheon at the Chateau Frontenac

Sylvie talking her way past the G7 security!

Wonderful luncheon and Kirstin's birthday.

and a visit to the Governor General's residence at the Citadel and the Plains of Abraham.

Alexander explaining the three main role of the government - I was Trudeau.

Very impressed with Champlain's Notebook

The Plains of Abraham...it was a sad day for Quebec!

The take-aways for us:

We were in a group of 20 like-minded tourists – Road Scholar attracts Seniors who enjoy learning and discussing pertinent topics, have active minds and bodies, and share our interests.

  

Our “cocktail hours” every evening before we headed out to dinner on our own were always fun!

The food is amazing!

Enjoyed a delicious Rabbit dinner here.

Typical Canadian Meat Pie

We love the French Canadian people and culture.  They take pride in their history, their language, their food and do all they can to preserve it. We learned how to correctly pronounce Montreal (don’t say the “t”) and Quebec (It is Key-bec’…not Kwee’-Bec).

Marie gave us 410 years in 60 minutes!

Yes, we even tried Poutine.

We got plenty of exercise!  Our Fitbit clocked in a total of 112,961 steps in the 9 days.

Road Scholar trips are very well-planned and delivered by extremely competent and friendly people.  I remember....

The motto of Quebec....Je me souviens, I Remember....and we will!

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