New England Chic

Memorial Day Weekend..a whole different meaning now. Growing up? Parades, cookouts, and sweatshirts! (most usually, it was still cold in Boston). High school and college? Cape Weekend. A NHS ritual. Friends in cottages and hotels beaching it, partying and enjoying one another. (sweatshirts still required). Today? Grateful for every serviceman/woman who believed enough in our country and our citizens to serve unselfishly. I am especially thankful for those warriors who have paid the ultimate price on our behalf. I’m grateful for your service, humbled by your dedication and selflessness, and in total awe of your bravery. Thank you.

Well, all of my Boston fans and I were hoping for the sweep tonight over the NY Rangers. Didn’t work out our way, so we will focus on Game 5. I really need to look into something other than directTV, too. It’s a red letter day when I am able to watch my teams play on the teli.

I went shopping yesterday — to purchase a toaster, a foreman electric grill, and a bunch of other necessities for Alex. He’s in his new apartment for the summer—doesn’t have a meal plan, so, I’ve been stocking his fridge, pantry and freezer with the requirements.

His final report came this afternoon—-We are so proud of him! He’s been nominated for a national honor society and earned high honors on the Dean’s List again!

To celebrate, I made fresh pasta and purchased a lobster to make one of his favorite dinners: lobster ravioli! Tucked in the fridge—he will pick everything I purchased and made Thursday. Tomorrow I’ll make the Parmesan cream sauce to go on top of the pillows of ravioli—he will be happy!

For as long as I can recall, Katie has been determined to attend med school at MUSC to become a physician. Or possibly, attend MUSC’s PT school to be a physical therapist. Somewhere along the way, she’s been rethinking her strategy.

From our sometimes sketchy conversations (due to wi-fi issues in SA), I believe she’s rethinking her future. Grad school for English appears to be the front-runner at this time. Berkeley, to be precise. Or maybe Stanford. She would like to be in California it would seem.

I credit her current prof at UCT for helping Katie — she’s been writing papers that are deemed “publishable” while she’s been studying abroad. I am guessing that Katie didn’t realize just how authentically and well she wrote—accurately, too. (And obviously, she keeps her grammar in check!). She is not in creative writing classes, so the work has to be cited and based on facts. However, to be deemed publishable (with a few edits and in one case, a few extra paragraphs), is very exciting and obviously a wonderful opportunity for her to explore!

She is going to complete Vanderbilt with a double major—Health and Psych and English, roughly a year from now. While I always thought she would be at MUSC for the following 3-4+ years, it seems to appear that I thought wrong. Which is fine. As long as Katie follows her heart, she will be happy and fulfilled. Following her passions, wherever they might lead.

Been chatting with Katie throughout the afternoon-mine, not hers. She is still six hours ahead of us here on the east coast; but she’s been doing some thinking and arranging!

She went cage diving to visit sharks this morning—of course, she loved it! She is so open to absolutely every experience that my heart swells with pride! Not many want to venture far from their comfort zone. Let alone sand board, swim with sharks, unhook fish with the biggest and sharpest teeth I’ve ever seen (straight from the Zambezi) or, even truly immerse themselves in a culture that is drastically different from their own.

Katie does. And so do my friends kids—Eileen and Dan’s 3 kids have had all kinds of out of norm experiences. And, they make their folks hearts swell with pride, as well. Suz, Mike and Chris have all explored different cultures and journeyed on the lesser known paths, making Suzie and Brillo proud as all get out, too. And, God knows David and Alex have had their fair share of off the beaten path adventures as well.

Why do some embrace and actually enjoy their experiences, while on the other hand, others won’t venture out of their “hood”? Maybe the challenge? Could it be the opportunity that can’t be overlooked? Or, just maybe it has something to do with three little girls growing up in a small, safe hamlet? Who all shared the notion that exploring and experiencing with a vast safety net to support you was not only ok, but almost required to grow? Because that’s the gift our parents gave to the three of us.

I’m not sure what the reasons are, but I’m glad that these favorite kids of mine have all entered into a different world far from what they were comfortable and familiar with, and felt empowered and supported doing so.

Turns out? It has made all the difference in Katie’s life. And that, on top of her 4+ month adventures and wonderful, once in a lifetime experiences, means the world to her.

Happy Cinquo De Mayo! (??) One of my favorite holidays, since I do enjoy the passion and spirit of our Mexican friends that we have been blessed to know and care about over the years. Mostly, I admire their passion for life in its fullest! Family, friends, strangers alike—all welcome to the banquet of delicious food, friendship and the joyful music of the Mariachi! (and, if you are a stranger or newcomer to this wonderful extended family of about 50 or so, the “stranger” part is over in all of less than 5 minutes! Once introduced, you are in!)

The kids have always enjoyed our holidays in Mexico, love our extended family, the fun times, and the cuisine—they love the native fresh salsa and fruits, the soft, warm and delectable homemade tortillas, blue maize, and Mole—sweet with chocolate and cinnamon, yet earthy and complex. I have never attempted to tackle the recipe; instead I wait for one of my dream vacations to Mexico City or Querretero, where I will join my friend Guilla, in her native homeland and learn from the masters.

However, I do know how to make a mean guacamole (first hand from Guilla’s husband, Chema), and the marinade for the skirt steak and jumbo fresh shrimp fajitas is part of Guilla’s repertoire too, which I learned by her side.

Also on our menu is black bean and white roasted corn salad, a fresh salsa, chips, marinated peppers, jalapeños, Vidalia and tomatoes. For 3 of us! I will have plenty left over to send with Alex, who can’t join us since he’s studying for his last final—LAST final of the year! (in Spanish 3, no less!).

The school year has flown by—I am astonished how quickly the days, weeks and months have passed! Grateful, in some ways, however. Katie is enjoying her last 6 weeks in Cape Town, and Alex has a week off before Summer Session I begins. We believe that he has loved his year “up the 85” far more than he enjoyed his year in Dallas. In fact, we know he does since he tells us all the time. He is actually staying at school all summer—taking two classes each session, working on the maintenance crew afternoons, and weekends? He will be the familiar 6’7” sight outside High Cotton, Wednesday through Saturday nights, too. He is into enterprise, and finds work quite satisfying and is loving school. No doubt, he is enjoying his social life, and the basketball? Still has passion for the game and plays daily; however, he loves the idea of double majoring and earning great reports.

This week I’m shopping for a George Foreman electric grill for the guy’s apartment. And, hitting Costco and Publix to stock them up on the necessities that were not required living in a dorm on a full meal plan. No doubt, I’ll be doubling up on most recipes in the coming weeks just to help Alex and Chris stock their freezer, as well!

How? Why? When? To be examined.