Another Thing to Love About the Duchess of Cambridge

I admit it.  I was anticipating Zara Phillips wedding to her longtime love because I was looking forward to the fashion choices that the Royals, Catherine in particular, would choose to wear for the second Royal wedding of the year.  They did not disappoint.

I was a little disappointed, however, to see that Catherine chose to wear the same outfit that she wore several years ago.  But, it makes me appreciate her a little more.  She, who can now afford to never wear the same outfit twice, is choosing to recycle her clothes like any ordinary person would do in life.  I love it!  It underscores the fact that she is an "ordinary" girl who got lucky and married her prince.

AND, may I add that "they" say that she also chose to recycle as to not upstage the bride.  How lovely and generous of heart, if true!  I know many a person in real life who wouldn't think twice about it.

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What do you think about her choice of recycling clothes?  Do you think she should only wear an outfit once?

A Friendship Tested

A friend, who shall remain nameless (and who I don't believe reads my blog), has been having an affair with a married man for nearly a year now.  It is not the first affair that she has had and just like the other one that I'm aware of, I disapprove.  I support and encourage all my single friends to find loving, committed relationships but I just cannot approve of one that is mired in infidelity and deceit.

The first affair she was involved in was when I was single.  I didn't disapprove but I never really approved of it either - perhaps I was indifferent.  I never met that boyfriend and I didn't really want to meet him.  This time around I'm married and I have a clear understanding of the sanctity of the marriage vow.

Now, I've met this guy.  He's nice, of course, but I'm not surprised.  A family man of sorts.  She says that he doesn't want to leave his wife because of the children - they have a child who requires a lot of attention because of some special emotional needs.  I kind of get that part.  But, I wonder if his wife would leave him, if she knew that her husband was having an affair.

There's one more thing.  This guy is the partner in a law firm.  A law firm where my friend is an associate.  No need to say anything more.  Right?!

I wonder why my friend gets involved in inappropriate relationships.  I think she needs therapy.

I'm not going apologize for the reasons why I can't be supportive.  In fact, I am very close to not wanting to be friends with her.  I don't think this relationship - the one with her boyfriend - is not going to end well.  While I wish her the best and I believe that she truly believes that he will leave his wife once the kids are out of high school, I can't standby and watch and support.

It makes me sick to think of the idea of Mark deceiving me like her boyfriend is deceiving his wife. His family.  I think that if he really loves my friend, he would let her go.  He would encourage her to find her way into an appropriate relationship or he would end his marriage now.

I wish that my friend would look in the mirror and find the self-respect to leave him.  She is an incredibly smart woman who deserves to find a man who can be present in their relationship 100% of the time.  I can't tell her that anymore.  She has closed her ears and eyes to it.  I have to let go.  I've definitely stepped back and it makes me sad but I need to do what I need to do.

Am I being too hard on my friend?  What would you do if you were in my position?

When I Grow Up...

Astronaut, doctor, teacher, artist.  All of those plus more were professions that I thought I might grow up to be when I was little.

I had an odd interest in space when I was a kid.  It may have come from visiting the Smithsonian's Air and Space Museum so often when I was little.  I out glow in the dark stars on my bedroom ceiling and loved the movie The Right Stuff, which came out when I was 8 years old.  Yowza!  But, I hated math and science mostly because I struggled so much with it so that ruined my dreams for becoming an astronaut (or doctor or marine biologist or...).

My Montessori through sixth grade teachers were incredible people.  Each of those teachers left a lasting impression: Mrs. Knauf, Mrs. Lustig, Ms. Moody, etc.  They taught me that learning is fun.  I remember so much of my early days of schooling.  Almost all of my love of school came from those early years.  My dislike of school came from my later years in school.  For Montessori and elementary school, I went to an incredible school in Vienna, VA.  I learned Latin and French.  I learned about Ancient Rome and Egypt.  I bonded with the kids in our small class - friends who I remember still today but have not ever connected with (even with the advent of Facebook).  I wish I could send our future children to that school.  I think they would love it.  But, alas, I was not meant to be a teacher.  I love children but I don't love teaching.

The Arts - visual, literary and performing arts - have always been a huge part of my life.  I grew up playing the violin - through the Suzuki method.  Art history has always fascinated me because I was taught it starting very early.  I had nearly enough college credits to minor in it.  I took ballet when I was young child, was taken to the symphony on field trips and was read to from the start.  My mom and I would take trips together when I was in high school over Spring Break to New York and see musicals and shows like Les Miserables and Cats.  I will forever appreciate the people including my parents who instilled that passion in me and I hope to instill it in my future children too.  But, alas, I gave up the one talent that I had in the arts, playing the violin.  I guess I could take it up again but I think it would be terribly difficult.

Instead, here I am.  I'm still trying to figure out what I want to be when I grow up.  I have my freelance PR business and was doing a lot of volunteer work but I still need to figure my stuff out.  It is hard to grow up but I think it's about time to figure out what I want to do with my life.

Did you become what you wanted to be when you were little?

Homebody

As much as I love to travel and explore other countries, cities and cultures, when I'm at home in San Francisco, I am a homebody.  Literally.  I love to be at home.  I am a nester.  I love putzing around our apartment, organizing, cleaning, trying out new recipes, doing things around our house.

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It doesn't take much for me to get outside especially when I know it is sunny and warm.  I'm eager to go hiking, go for a walk along Crissy Field or in the Marin headlands, see an exhibit at the museum but I really love being at home.  Living in California, there are a LOT of sunny days and so I'm always secretly excited for a rainy, yucky day so we can stay in.

It could be an effect of having traveled so much for work in the past.  There was a time when I literally lived out of my suitcase.  I'd travel for a few days, come home for a day or two and then hit the road again.  I didn't unpack my suitcase.  I'd take out the dirty clothes, do laundry and then put them back in again.  I never unpacked my toiletry/make-up bag because there was no point.  I wasn't able to cook because any food leftover would go bad in my fridge.  I'm so grateful not to live that kind of lifestyle.  I vow not to do it again.

Anyone else a homebody?

Fear of Aging

When I was younger, I couldn't wait to get older.  I thought that by 24 I would be married and have children.  Boy, was I wrong!  It wasn't until 10 years later that I was walking down the aisle.  During that decade, I worried that I was missing out on marriage, a family, a life.  But, I realized that I was gaining experience in the other paths that I chose for myself.  I wouldn't change a thing.  Those fears turned themselves into growing experiences.

Now, I fear getting older not because of myself and the dreams that I still have awaiting to be fulfilled but because of our parents.  Mark and I are both facing the hard facts that our parents are aging and dealing with health issues.  I feel like at our age, we should not be dealing with this but I know friends who have dealt with it much earlier than we.

There comes a point in our lives when we start to parent our parents.  It hasn't started yet when it comes to my parents - unless it has something to do with technology, I'll almost always get a call.  It was slowly happening with one of Mark's parents until this weekend when we got a HUGE wake up call where we faced a lot of fears and the unknown.  Fortunately, our crisis over the weekend was averted - after more anxiety than I've almost ever experienced and wish to ever experience, everyone is safe, healthy and unharmed.  But, we now know that it is time to start parenting one of our parents.

In our minds, we recognize this need but emotionally we want to go back to what it was before.

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It is a delicate dance of supporting a parent in their need to maintain independence but yet ensuring their health and safety.  It is clear that there will always be a denial that the need for help by the parent is there.  And, I understand why that denial is there.  After decades of independence and responsibility of caring for one's children, the situation is reversing - perhaps more slowly in some situations and more quickly in others.

It is a devastating time for all parties involved.  I wish there was a road map to tell us how to navigate this journey but there isn't map.  Instead we'll rely on instinct and need.  And, we'll call in experts as needed.

I know that it will be a bumpy journey but I have faith that we'll get through the maze to the other side.  Hopefully with a little laughter along the way.  Just like the rest of life, I know that these fears will turn into growing experiences - ones that I know will bring me closer to Mark's family and to mine.

A Delightful Dessert: Meringues

Earlier this year, one of our Supper Club themes was Alice in Wonderland.  I chose to bring dessert and wracked my brain and the Internet for ideas.  I ended up choosing a variety of desserts and one that I chose were meringues.  If you haven't eaten a meringue, they are very delicate "cookies" made simply.  I call them delicate because they are extremely light and airy.

I found this recipe online and much to my surprise they were simple to make.  Mine weren't as dry as I hoped but I blame it on the weather.  It was very damp and dry the day that I made them.  They were a hit still!  I served them with strawberries and fresh whipped cream.

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I love them because of their light and airy texture and deliciously sweet taste.  It helps to know that they are low in calories!

Ingredients

• 4 egg whites
• 2 1/4 cups confectioners' sugar

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 200 degrees F (95 degrees C). Butter and flour a baking sheet.
2. In a glass or metal bowl, whip egg whites until foamy using an electric mixer. Sprinkle in sugar a little at a time, while continuing to whip at medium speed. When the mixture becomes stiff and shiny like satin, stop mixing, and transfer the mixture to a large pastry bag. Pipe the meringue out onto the prepared baking sheet using a large round tip or star tip.
3. Place the meringues in the oven and place a wooden spoon handle in the door to keep it from closing all the way. Bake for 3 hours, or until the meringues are dry, and can easily be removed from the pan. Allow cookies to cool completely before storing in an airtight container at room temperature.

Heat Wave

There's a major heat wave covering most of this country (except for San Francisco, of course).  A large part of me is jealous because I would LOVE to take my laptop and work outside in the park but it's too chilly for me to sit and work - I'll definitely take a walk though.  Today's high temps in my neighborhood are 69 degrees and partly sunny.  Clearly, no heat wave here!

I've said this before and I'll say it again: Fall is my favorite time of the year.  I can't wait for fall!  Ummm...I could totally live in this house:

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The sense of excitement of the new school year, fall clothes, the crumble of leaves as they change color and drop off the trees, the smell in the air.  Apple cider, apple picking, apple crisp, apple butter.  And, of course, my birthday is in the fall!

I look forward to fall's arrival even though it means the end of the summer.  But, I think that many people will be happy for the fall season to begin to get some relief from this heat wave!

What's your favorite season?