Last week, Liz and I took off for a few days to South Carolina to visit my mom.  It was UVM's spring break, and although Carolyn was traveling to Georgia with her rowing team - Liz didn't have any plans. I thought it would be a great opportunity for some one-on-one time with my girl, and a wonderful chance for her to spend time with our one and only Noni.  After departing our house at 4:20 AM, we arrived in Greenville by 10:30 AM.  There was a slight snafu at the airport when luggage tags and identifying objects from someone else's suitcase, were placed on my suitcase, and I th ..read more

Last week was Henry's spring break from school, so we took a drive to Boston.  It was a great trip: we visited my sister, Beth and her son, Michael - and went out to dinner with my brother Wally and his spouse, Donna.  One of the days, I went in to my company's office to work - while Henry found a gym to work out for a few hours, and Charlie found a Starbucks to get some work of his own, done.  We had a chance to visit my Dad's younger sister, Peggy, who lives in Boston and spent the afternoon walking all around the city and to the New England Aquarium.  On the drive bac ..read more

Our good friend, and former boys' Scoutmaster, Keith, came to visit us last week.  Keith recently moved to Vermont from Texas - and was in town to help support a STEM Merit Badge University day at UVM.  He arrived Friday night with a mason jar full of sourdough starter and thus we launched in to an entire weekend of baking.    (So much for our plan to try and shed 25 pounds by April. Ha!)  For whatever reason, when the rest of the world was going wild over sourdough during the pandemic, we never even attempted it.  But Keith did - and over the past four years - he ..read more

So where were we?  Oh yes ... I'd start updating my blog with increased frequency!  The fact is, I do think about this blog nearly every day, even if I've been positively dismal about keeping it current.  Life is so different around our house these days, most notably - cleaner and much more organized.  Although when I went upstairs to drop something off in Henry's room for the first time in several weeks, I quickly recognized that more random and routine inspections might be warranted.  I'm not as strict nor as disciplined with "just one" child at home, because it does ..read more

This morning, I woke up at 4:40 AM to take Charlie to the airport for a 6:00 flight. The beauty of living in a small town, with a small airport, is we left the house by 4:53 and were at the airport by 5:01. By the time I returned home, he had already checked through security, purchased a cup of coffee, and was sitting at his gate.    When I arrived home, Henry was awake preparing his breakfast, which consisted of a chocolate protein shake. Henry's been on a major health kick and in addition to being scrupulous about his diet, works out for at least 2-3 hours, every single day.   ..read more

For those who remember, about two years ago at this time, I was lamenting that one of my children was failing school. The thought had crossed my mind at least a dozen times that she might not be promoted to the next grade. She might not graduate.  The potential of her attending college was looking more and more slim. From my extremely limited and fear-rooted perspective, her whole future was unraveling before my very eyes.  But then, we went away on vacation - never went back - I resigned from my career, had a nervous breakdown (that some days I think is still going on?), sold a hous ..read more

It is July of 2017.  Our family of six had just landed in Denver, rented a big red GMC Yukon, and are making our way west from Colorado in to Utah.  Because we'd been up at 3:30 AM to catch our 6:00 flight out of Houston, the kids were exhausted and fell asleep in the car for the first part of the drive.  When they wake up, we turn on the stereo - synch it with our phone - and play music. My memory of this exact moment is so crystal clear, a time in my life I will never forget.  I'd switched seats with William so he could sit in the front next to his Dad who was driving. &n ..read more

When I think of the people who I admire and love the most in this world, my mother, Mary, and her sister, Grace (Auntie), are among those at the top of my list.  Both my mother and my aunt attended and graduated from parochial schools, and have stories - upon stories - of encounters with nuns when they were growing up. Because of their devout Catholic background, my mother, whenever she introduces herself, or my aunt, will tell them with a wink, "Just remember Hail Mary ... Full of Grace."  I adore them both, and am so grateful for the privilege of being related to them, and for the ..read more

This morning I made a concerted effort to get on the floor and stretch. As I attempted touching my toes, with outstretched legs, and felt all the muscles in my legs and back seize up ... I pondered how long it has been since I've really devoted myself to being limber and flexible.  I'd guess 1985?  It doesn't seem that long ago that I could contort myself in to a pretzel with zero pain.  It also doesn't seem like that long ago that I met the love of my life during what was supposed to be a brief exchange from South Carolina to California (1991); we brought home three babies ..read more

William left a week ago, today, for his exchange program to Germany.  We dropped him off at school, he loaded a charter bus with fellow students - and they drove down to Boston.  Half the students boarded a flight to Madrid, the other half to Frankfurt.   I pulled up his flight, and tracked it - while it crossed the Atlantic and flew across Europe.   Only when he had safely landed and I reminded him to turn his phone to "Airplane Mode" (so we wouldn't get a $1500 roaming phone bill) until we could get him on an international calling plan the next day, did I peacefully go ..read more