Saturday, July 17, 2021

Dear Marion,

  There is something fun about spontaneously driving for an hour or two to visit a place you haven’t been to for some time. Depending on who you are with and the time in your life the same trip can easily show you a different view. We spent some time at a park we have been to many times and I assumed it would be the same as my memory. In the past, we have enjoyed tennis, a walking path, basketball court, picnic area where we had attended at least one birthday party and yet this recent trip showed me another side that I don’t remember seeing. Possibly because I don’t recall ever walking completely around the park, we would walk, and most likely someone lost interest so we turned around eventually back to the playground.

 On this day, we were treated to more swans than I can ever remember seeing anywhere at one time. It was a ballet of Swan Lake quite literally with their babies/cygnets following behind and it felt as though I were watching National Geographic right before my eyes. We moved on and came upon a white either Heron or Egret moving gracefully through a quiet area. The lighting was almost ethereal around the heron and I couldn’t pull myself away but for the impatient ‘Trail Blazers’ calling my name to move on with our adventure. We cleared the furthest part of the walk and hidden in the grassy marsh was a brown bird with their babies so camouflaged that I couldn’t see it even as everyone kept directing where they were snuggled in their nest. On our drive home, I couldn’t help but think how funny that the three birds that stood out for me were oddly enough a good example of fashion and style. The Swan poised and elegant moving seamlessly but in demand of attention center stage, the Heron in white also but moving in the background at its own pace and unaware of the attention and its own beauty, and lastly the brown bird(I forgot what the chart claimed to be its name) in camouflage equally stylish but preferring the bohemian approach. So, style is in everything and can be found when you least expect it ...or at the very least influence your thoughts about style.

  Next Year In Havana by Chanel Cleeton caught my eye and I had been meaning to read and now was the right time. I loved the blending of family, history, style, and the questions left open. What would you do in a dire situation when you have but a moment to make decisions that will affect you and your family’s safety. What is more important, love of family or love of country? What would I do for freedom when it is being taken from me? It was a book that I didn’t want to finish because I loved the characters and the descriptions of the beautiful land, unlike anything I have experienced so full of passion and beauty even in the face of such adversity and injustice. A great read any time of year, and particularly one that can transform you to another place. Travel without the worry of a budget, a delayed or canceled flight, or the itinerary plans.

  During the week as we discussed our summer while keeping in mind our obligations and expectations, we decided on some comfort food. Chicken fingers, breaded- yes but baked and accompanied by small cubed potatoes dusted with spice for flavor and steamed green beans. The Baked Chicken Tenders recipe was chosen from our newly purchased recipe book, Food Between Friends by Jesse Tyler Ferguson & Julie Tanous and the potatoes were created by your granddaughter’s own liking. Everything was flavorful and the chicken moist and tender unlike any chicken tenders I have tasted...no need for dipping sauce unless of course, you choose. Perfect for a picnic or road trip. Your granddaughter definitely acquired your gift for cooking.

  Next time, I can’t wait to share with you some interesting photos and experiences from our Road Trip to Rhode Island.

Talk soon,

Forever Yours

Quote:

“Freedom, in any case, is only possible by constantly struggling for it.”

Albert Einstein 

German-born theoretical physicist 

1879-1955