May 29, 2021 BITTER SWEET LOVE

I used to look forward to going to my grandparents house when I was young. It's the only time I can  remember being taken care of.  Not sure if those are the right words--what I'm trying to say is--it was the only time I remember feeling special. I spent my early years taking care of my brothers and little sister. Cooking, cleaning, changing cloth diapers with pins and rubber pants. I can vividly remember telling my 6th grade teacher that I could stay after school for volleyball as long as I got home by 4:00 to put the chicken in the oven. He must have thought I was nuts-- I thought nothing of it. My grandparents knew I was always taking care of others--so when I went to their house--I was treated like a queen. My grandmother made my bed--cooked whatever I wanted for breakfast--lunch--dinner AND we had giant hot fudge sundaes every night for DE. Those were the days. Today I spent three hours in the kitchen making a few platters of eggplant parmesan for my son. It's his birthday so I wanted to cook one of his favorite meals.  Take care of him--make him feel special.  It's funny how a little thing like making eggplant can turn bittersweet. Miranda Schuyler, the main character in Beatriz Williams lovely novel The Summer Wives, return to Winthrop Island after 18 years is also bittersweet. As the story unfolds, it's the summer of 1951 and Miranda has just arrived on Winthrop Island--loosely based on Fisher's Island--for her mother's wedding. Her mother is marrying into a wealthy family--Hugh Fisher--who owns a summer estate on the island. Miranda is also gaining a sister about her age named Isobel. Miranda immediately loves the island but the glamor and lifestyle of the rich is new and uncomfortable for her. Soon she meets Joseph Vargas whose father is a fisherman and the lighthouse keeper. By the end of the summer an event occurs that changes Joseph's life forever and leaves Miranda banished from the island. The book then picks up again in 1969 . Miranda, now a famous actress, has finally returned to the island. The Fisher estate is in shambles, but the island has remained the same except for the police who are  looking for an escaped prisoner named  Joseph Vargas. Find out what happens to Joseph, Miranda, Isabel and the people of Winthrop Island when you read this page turner for yourself. It's a mystery and love story of about 360 pages or a 4 mile run-- that I really enjoyed. 

May 18, 2021 HAPPY TRAILS...................

Went to a funeral today. It was a tough one. Lost one of the good ones. Seriously. They broke the mold after him.  He taught us all  how to live a  more meaningful life just by setting a good example. I'm going to do my best to be a little more like him. I heard the same words over and over today when describing him. He was kind, humble, empathetic, helpful and fully present.  He was also a good listener who never criticized others. Let's all choose to be a little more like our beloved friend. If we all work together--the world WILL be a better place. Happy Trails. 

If you're looking for an interesting book to take your mind off your troubles, check out What's Mine And Yours by Naima Coster. As the story unfolds, It is 1992, and young Gee's father, Ray, is killed for being in the wrong place at the wrong time. The impact of his death on two families is central to this story set in Piedmont North Carolina. Told from alternating perspectives, the story jumps between 2002-2018. The  main characters are  Gee and Noelle. Gee and Noelle actually meet in 2002 when Gee, a black student, is bused to Noelle's mostly white high school in an effort to integrate the schools. Noelle's mother, Lacey May,  actively protests the integration as her daughter befriends Gee and the two star in the school play. Lacey May another important character in the story,  has also had a hard life as her husband, Robbie has been in and out of prison and has a drug problem. The story then flips to 2018 as Noelle finds out her mother is ill and she returns home to repair relationships and come to terms with her life. This is ultimately a family saga about race, class, hardship, poverty, addition,  and  two families whose lives are forever linked by tragedy. This novel is about 350 pages or a 4 mile run that I found interesting and enjoyed. 

May 2, 2021 THE LONG AND WINDING ROAD

 Just registered for my first race in over a year. AND IT'S A BIGGY. A half marathon. I haven't run one since my injury 3 years ago. Not even sure I should attempt it BUT looking forward to getting the gang back together again. It should be VERY interesting. Right now one of us has an injury (NOT ME) another has only been running 3 miles and I've been trying to sneak in a 6 miler on the weekends.  WE ARE DEFINITELY NOT IN HALF MARATHON SHAPE. FYI--They just opened up registration for the 59th Annual John Kelley Road Race. This is the only FREE race around--and they are ONLY taking 1000 runners. So if you've been thinking about committing to a beautiful scenic run--and want to get in some distance--this is the race for you. It's always a great time. They have a band after the race and there's NOTHING BETTER than a COLD BEER and BAD NACHOS. There is also another fun run/walk coming up on May 16th--the 4th annual Dylan Konakowitz Memorial Run. I'll definitely get my feet wet at that run.  They have a great basket raffle, food, drink and music too. If you don't feel comfortable running in person--the run is also available virtually. Check it out.  After you check out the local races, check out this debut novel by Nancy Jooyoun Kim called The Last Story of Mina Lee. Margot Lee is a 26 years old Korean American who moved to Seattle after college leaving her mother behind in Koreatown , LA. She decides to travel to Koreatown to visit her mother, Mina Lee, after repeated attempts to reach her by phone fail. When she arrives home, she finds her mother died in the living room. This discovery sends Margot digging into her mother's past because she is suspicious even though the police believe the death is accidental. The story then flips back and forth between Margot's quest to discover what happened to her mother, and her mother's arrival in the United States in 1987 as an undocumented immigrant. This book is part mystery, part love story and part examination of the immigration process in the 1980's. By the end of this novel, Margot finally understands her mother's struggles-- an orphan of the Korean War who came to American to try to have a better life. This book is about 380 pages or a 4 mile run that is worth the read. It will make you thankful that you are an American, but also give you a little empathy for other people seeking The American Dream. 

April 25, 2021 WATCHING THE WHEELS

 We all know THOSE people who continue to do the same things     

OVER AND OVER and expect DIFFERENT RESULTS.  I have NEVER been able to understand that some people NEVER LEARN FROM THEIR MISTAKES. They never realize that it's NOT SOMEONE ELSE'S FAULT. It is THEIR RESPONSIBILITY.  I'm NO Math genius BUT--Same BEHAVIOR + Same BEHAVIOR= Same result.  RIGHT? I think that's the hard part though--Changing OUR BEHAVIOR. Realizing that OUR own actions ALWAYS affect the outcome. If we really want to change our lives--we have to take responsibility-- realize that we have to change our behavior--AND--everything else will fall in place. It's really that simple.  BECAUSE--Our behavior affects our THOUGHTS-- WHICH IN TURN-- AFFECTS OUR EMOTIONAL WELL BEING. Kind thoughts--Kind words-Kind heart--my mantra. It's a game changer.  This is one of the MANY lessons I've learned through my yoga practice. Yoga  really is the gift that keeps giving.  Olympic runner Alexi Pappas also learned this valuable lesson  and wrote about it in her new  memoir Bravey. When Alexi Pappas was four years old, her mentally ill mother committed suicide. This tragedy shaped her life in both positive and negative ways.  This memoir is a collection of essays that illustrate how she has dealt with loss, hardship and the pain of losing her mother to become an Olympic runner, actress, filmmaker and writer. Part of Pappas' drive to succeed stems from her fear of becoming her mother, but in working hard to always do her best, she almost succeeded in becoming her worst fear. After her debut in the 2016 Olympics, Pappas fell into a post Olympic depression and thought about ending her life. She finally got the help she needed and realized that she had to reevaluate the list of rules and behaviors she developed in childhood because they no longer served her. It's interesting--we all have certain rules in our lives--or coping mechanisms--that work for us up to a point, but at some point, we have to let them go because they prevent us from growing and changing. Pappas changed her behaviors--that in turn changed her thoughts and finally her emotional wellbeing. This coming of age story was both funny and heartbreaking in so many ways. I'll say this-- Pappas is a courageous, strong, woman who has overcome a tragedy I wouldn't wish on anyone and she has written about it in hopes of helping others see that they too can overcome adversity and live a richer life. This memoir is about 330 pages or a 4 mile run that I'd recommend for anyone seeking a better way to live. You really CAN change your life. 

April 17, 2021 PLEASE RELEASE ME

Just got back from a MUCH needed little get away. Felt like I was released from prison. Seriously--I 

haven't been anywhere OR gone to a restaurant with my husband since COVID. I didn't even care that it rained and snowed the whole time. Took a little trip to the Berkshires. It's a lovely drive with great little towns and BOOKSTORES. We stopped at an interesting book store in Stockbridge and then went to the Norman Rockwell Museum. What a treasure. It's hard to believe that Rockwell painted 321 different covers for the Saturday Evening Post---starting when he was just 17 years old. That's A LOT OF WORK. Imagine  painting  a cover a month. That sounds CRAZY enough but he also had to decide what to paint first. That would be a real problem for me because I'm so indecisive.  Williamstown is also a lovely area. Stayed overnight and then visited The Clark. NOW THAT'S A REAL GEM. The collection includes Renoir,  Homer, Singer Sargent, Constable, Turner, Degas, Toulouse-Lautrec, Mary Cassett, Monet, Manet, Durer, Pissaro, Remington.........and many more. Bookstores, museums, good food and drink--that's all I need. Oh yeah--a good pair running shoes and a yoga mat too. Peace. 

I just finished a very interesting novel written by Sue Monk Kidd called The Book of Longings that really got me thinking--What if???  In this novel, Kidd imagined that Jesus had a wife and her name was Ana. Ana was from a wealthy family in Sepphoris. She was an independent, scholarly woman who was  determined to have her own voice, but her family had other ideas. Against her will, she was originally betrothed to an older widower who suddenly dies. After a chance encounter with Jesus, her life changes.  Ana and Jesus marry and move to Nazareth to live with his family which includes his mother Mary and some siblings. Ana supports Jesus and learns to cope with his choices even though she doesn't fully understand, but also finds her own voice with the help of her Aunt Yaltha. Ana is eventually forced to flee to Alexandria with her aunt where she realizes her goals and discovers a sisterhood. This is essentially the story of the power of women.  Who knows--maybe there was a strong wife in Jesus' life. Scholars admit that their knowledge of the life of Jesus is very limited--especially his lost years between childhood and his ministry, so we really don't know. Why shouldn't he have had a wife? At that time in history, men were married by the time they were twenty. Kidd spent four years researching to write the book so read it and take from it what you will. It's about 400 pages and worth the read. 

April 10, 2021 MY WAY

 My attitude towards running has really changed and for that I'm thankful. 

I used to put SO much pressure on myself. It was crazy. Even exhausted, I used to make myself run after a LONG day at school.  They were TERRIBLE runs--but I did them anyway--BECAUSE I HAD TO GET THE RUN IN--or so I told myself. These days--I walk after school if I'm tired. AND THAT'S OKAY.  I don't try to RUN THROUGH injuries anymore either. THAT WAS REALLY DUMB. Had to learn that lesson the hard way too. I've had a foot that's been bothering me --so I've been more careful about running. Doing more yoga instead.  I've been nursing it for about a month and finally decided to give running a whirl again--Had a GREAT 6 mile run. Resting and stretching my foot made all the difference.  I think of running now as a privilege. I'm just grateful to be able to get out there and  put one foot in front of the other.  It doesn't really matter how far I run or how fast I am. I'M STILL OUT THERE AND I'M GETTING IT DONE. MY WAY.   I'm not getting any younger. Who knows how long it will last--so I might as well just enjoy the ride. Speaking of enjoying--I just finished a psychological thriller that had me hooked from the first page. It was called The Push by Ashley Audrain. The main character, Blythe, is a young woman who wants to break the cycle. Her grandmother and mother were both dysfunctional, selfish, unloving mothers. Shortly after marrying Fox, Blythe finds out she is pregnant with their first child. Although she is steeped in doubt, Fox assures her that she will be a great mom and their family will thrive. Unfortunately for Blythe, and many other women, that first birth doesn't go as planned. She gives birth to a healthy daughter named Violet, but experiences postpartum blues, has difficulty nursing, sleepless nights and is unable to bond with her daughter. Although she feels guilty, she doesn't really like her daughter and the feeling is mutual. Although she voices these concerns to her husband, Fox  refuses to admit there is a problem. A few years later, Blythe has a second child, a boy named Sam and her experience is very different. They immediately bond and she finally feels like a loving mother. Problems with Violet and her behavior weigh on Blythe's mind--she is manipulative, sneaky --maybe a "bad seed" but her husband refuses to see it. Do I have you interested?? Find out what happens to Blythe, Fox, Violet and Sam when you read this page turner for yourself. Did I mention that I loved the ending and we really taken aback. It's about 320 pages or a 3 mile run that will greatly disturb you.........on many levels. 

April 2, 2021 DON'T STOP BELIEVING

 I'm the luckiest person in the world. I get to meet incredible people who inspire me to be a better person. 

Believe it or not ---I'm talking about my students. I've been a teacher for a LONG time and have had the privilege of working with SO MANY GREAT KIDS who have grown up to become INCREDIBLE ADULTS. I don't usually Name--Names--but today is different. Way back in the OLDEN days--when I taught fifth grade--I had this little girl WHO LOVED TO READ AS MUCH AS I DID. She always had her nose in a book and carried them around like they were her best friends. She was different though--because she was legally blind. Even in fifth grade--she never let her disability STAND IN HER WAY. She worked hard and succeeded in every area--academics--theatre--dance. Her CAN-DO attitude made me smile. AND talk about KIND and POSITIVE--never met anyone so genuine in my life. This remarkable young girl is now a grown up who continues to BLOW MY MIND.  She always wanted to write a book and that  dream has come true too. The book is  called Yes and it's written by the ONE and ONLY Frankie Ann Marcille. This lovely book is based on Frankie's life and how she dealt with adversity because of her disability. As a young girl, she had big dreams but was told by many people that because of her disability, she shouldn't dream too big. Well--if you know Frankie, she faced her challenges head on and left the naysayers behind. This review would be incomplete if I didn't mention the illustrations --which were done by my son, Pat. Frankie's story is wonderful, but it's the combination of the story and illustrations that make it a must have book. It's worthing noting that Frankie and Pat have known each other forever. They actually attended the same schools from preschool through high school, so they have a special bond. Having an illustrator who truly knows the writer of the story is rare. And that's what make the book so special. He really knows the little girl in the story. WOW.  This book is not just for kids either.  It's a story that will  resinate with anyone who DREAMS BIG. Every generation needs to remember not to let anyone or anything stand in the way of making dreams come true. --The book launch is Saturday May 1, 2021, at McCook Point Park in Niantic, CT from 10-12. Covid precautions will be taken--masks for all.  There will be a read-aloud, Q & A with the author, illustrator and book signing. Hope to see you there.