There we were at The Little Owl, Noah, Davy, Jun and me, squeezed into a corner table. Hugs had been exchanged, and orders placed. We chattered away, particularly Jun and me, until Davy spoke up.
“You two have never met before?” Davy asked Jun and me.
“Nope, but it doesn’t feel that way,” I responded, smiling.
In the past, I have posted about the highs and lows of the prior year. But in 2015, I experienced some of the lowest lows of my life. You lovely friends have been so supportive. Why would I make you relive all of that heartache?
So in lieu of a review of my 2015, here’s a little peek into how I spent New Year’s Eve.
I took a selfie before leaving, mostly to show my mother that I was alive and attempting to mask illness with lots of makeup and a salon blowout.
(Sources: lipstick, dress, rings by Swarovski-buy via Ebates for cash back)
I arrived a little early to check out the set-up and find our table. As usual, Bowery Collective did a wonderful job.
At this point, I’m aiming to remember not the pain of 2015, but instead the fact that when I leaned on my friends, they were present for me. I’m grateful for that.
On to 2016.
“I’m so sorry to disturb you,” I said to the woman next to me.
“It’s ok. I wasn’t sleeping, I was just dreaming,” she replied as I stood to slip past her on the Philadelphia-bound train to visit Dad in the hospital.
I smiled. Across the aisle*, her elderly husband was full-on asleep, arms crossed and head bowed. He was older than his wife who had taken the lead in finding seats and then in ensuring his comfort.
Looking at them as a couple, I thought of my mother, fit and strong and ten years younger than my father. Growing up, I never thought of their age difference as a big deal. Now, Dad’s age and health conditions are yielding a lot of heartache.
I’m trying not to equate love with pain and loss. But right now, it’s so very hard. Someday everyone I love will be gone. I too will leave this earth someday. And because I don’t have the crutch of believing in heaven, these feelings are a heavy burden.
Dad’s condition is stable now, but eight days into this hospital stay, we have no sense of when he might be ready to go home. No independence for Dad this July 4th.
I usually spend Independence Day with a family group in Rehoboth Beach. This year, there was an issue with the house we stay at so even if Dad were healthy, we were not going to be able to spend the holiday there together as is our tradition. Continue reading
I told you about the party so I figure sharing a few pics is the least I could do.
In order to keep my friends as friends, I will be selective. Surely you understand.
Remember my awesome friend Candace? Previously she wrote about applying to graduate school (and I wrote about her visit to NYC here).
So you’re having a baby!
Mazel tov on your growing family. I am so excited for you and can’t wait to tell that baby about all the horrific things you did in your youth (because I will). Continue reading
While I was in San Francisco recently, my friend Carolyn invited me to tag along to her friends’ party in Napa.
I was a tiny bit nervous about fitting in. Surely people who live in Napa must be way cooler than me, right? At a minimum, they would know lots more about wine. Continue reading
“What time is your flight?” Carolyn asked me
“10:45. But…I have to check a bag”
The faces of two horrified friends–Carolyn plus Morgan–stared back at me. I felt ashamed.
“I know. I don’t usually check a bag but this time…I…I just grabbed the wrong suitcase. I have four of them.”
Silence.
I fiddled with my wine glass and then continued.
“Recently my trips have been short ones so i have been talking my half-size wheelie bag.”
Stares.
“My suitcases are usually stored like nesting dolls. I grabbed the wrong bag and it was too big to carry on. I didn’t realize until I got to security at LGA and they sent me back to Ticketing.”
My friends nodded, but unconvincingly. At this point that I realized the extent of my friends’ disapproval. I may be shunned.
My fall from travel grace is complete.
* * *
I’m just back from a long business/pleasure trip to Chicago and San Francisco. As a result I have zero (!) blog posts scheduled. Bear with me.
In advance of a work trip to Mexico (again), I went for dinner with my friends Amanda and Adrienne. I figured I’d be home by 11 pm or so.
Spoiler: that didn’t happen.
Amanda arrived first and snagged a seat at the bar, texting me to say Mercadito is a “shoebox.” And she was right. To get to the bathroom, you will squeeze past the bar. But you’ll manage. You may even make a new friend.
What Mercadito lacks in size, it makes up for in flavor. And alcohol. And personality.
I went to my hometown for a few days. There was more snow there than in NYC but not a lot.
My parents and I got along great. Well, so long as we didn’t talk politics or religion. Continue reading
How was your weekend?
Brooklyn is such a big borough – NYC’s 2nd largest and most populous – that I sometimes feel bad for not exploring more. On Saturday, I saw friends and checked out new-to-me places without ever leaving BK. I loved it! First I met up with my new friend Sarah in Bushwick. We had brunch at Roberta’s and then walked – and walked – to the Jonathan Adler warehouse sale.
Brunch was terrific. Continue reading
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