Thanksgiving, 2013…

Thanksgiving Thursday As is our family tradition by now, my sister Vivian and her husband Jeff opened their home and their hearts to a number of us for Thanksgiving this year. Bob and Joe came along with me, and we joined, in addition to Vivian and Jeff, my parents, Jeff’s sister and brother-in-law, and a … Read more

Just because you tell a story the same way for years, it doesn’t mean it ‘s true…

~Monday~  While having lunch with my parents for their ‘tween birthdays on Saturday, I decided to take advantage of one of the few remaining living sources that could verify a story that I’ve been telling for years—and have repeated recently a couple of times in the context of the election of the new pope. I’m … Read more

Thanksgiving, 2012

~Thursday~ I was up at 6:30, with an ambitious goal of making 30 deviled eggs and three loaves of bread by 8:00, in order to leave Raleigh at 8:30. I’ve made deviled eggs many, many times now, and I’d already peeled, sliced, and de-yolked the eggs, and mixed up the filling last night, so I … Read more

Mom’s 80th Birthday Lunch

~Saturday~  Robert and I left for Jacksonville around 9:00 this morning, arriving at mom and dad’s at about 11:30. We caught up for an hour, which included my trying their new “spring loaded” chairs that both recline and lift them out of their seat when needed. At 12:30, the four of us headed over to … Read more

Christmas 2011

~Sunday~ I was on the road to Greenville by 8:30, and with one stop at a Sheetz gas station along the way, I arrived in Greenville shortly after 10:00. I started things off with a bourbon and diet, and mom and dad arrived not too long after that. This was The Year of the Snowman, … Read more

Mom checks back in (to reality), walks “a miracle mile” on her new hip, and a rainbow celebrates…

~Friday~  Dad and I left the house around 9:15 and we stopped at the Jacksonville IHOP for a quick breakfast. Just as we approached the place and saw the long wait, Meagan called to say that mom had left her a voicemail message crying that she’s afraid she’s been abandoned at the hospital. This did … Read more