Friday- June 11, 2021

Dear Marion,

  The sun is bright here in our seaside town year-round and these Norwegian eyes are forever sensitive and in need of protection. Sunglasses have been my uber-important go-to accessory for as long as I can remember. You also wore sunglasses whether they were prescription or clip-on sunglasses but eventually, you relied on your prescription glasses that changed to sunglasses when you walked outside. There are stories that stick with me and bring me to laughter as though it happened yesterday and one of those happened on a trip to the movies. You parked the car, while a friend of ours and I ran in to save a seat as we were running late and it was a new, popular movie. The theater was packed and when you slipped in, we waved you over. After the movie ended, as the credits rolled, we all sighed and unanimously exclaimed what a great movie from the story to the cinematography, to the acting and fashion. Without missing a beat, you said the only criticism you had was that you found it to be really dark and hard to see in some scenes. Note: there were scenes in the desert that were very bright and scenes in a cave that was very dark. Our friend and I questioned you as we looked in your direction- complete silence for a moment and then we fell into hysterics unable to speak or explain. In all of your rushing, you were still wearing your sunglasses. Not long after, you started wearing the glasses that change or tint when you walk outside and back to clear when you move indoors.

  As a teen, I bargain hunted for the least expensive sunglasses I could find that still gave me the look or trend I found to be best on me(or so I thought). Eventually, I became more aware of the other important factors to my sunglass journey. UVA and UVB ray protection and polarized lenses all became very important for my eyes and their sensitivity. We were shopping recently for a pair and spent a good hour checking out all of the features and how they looked on each of our different shaped faces. It was fun to see how our appearance changed and how it made us feel. Sporty, sexy, chic, smart, cool, and sometimes simply not the right shape for me and my face. I have collected glasses, broken glasses(sometimes able to repair), lost pairs and even had them stolen faster than we could turn our heads but always no matter the weather, I have worn a pair. As per your advice, I keep a  pair in the glove compartment of my car, a pair in my bag, as well as the pair on my face. Some pairs have stuck by me for a few decades, while I can remember losing a pair within a week, much to my disappointment as well as my wallets. Sunglasses can be iconic and timeless, just think of Tom Cruise wearing aviators in the movie Top Gun (after all of these years a second “Top Gun” will be in the movie theaters soon). I remember seeing Jack Nicholson and Meg Ryan wearing metal frames with blue lenses and thinking how cool they looked. By the way, my blue lenses or rose lenses serve me well on those gray or hazy days, especially at the shore. Think of James Bond, no matter which actor you covet in that role of 007 a big part of the imagery is the chosen pair of sunglasses. The Kardashians, Jennifer Lopez, and many a musician or rocker sport their lenses with pride while influencing many viewers. No matter the trend, I always wear them and most importantly wear them proudly. They are that accessory that is a necessity to protect your most valuable eyes while completing your look for the moment, season, or a classic timeless you.

  I binged on a new podcast that was equally enlightening, eye-opening, and hilarious. There are few people who can make me laugh out loud while I am driving by myself and Sean Hayes is one of them. The podcast is called ‘HypochondriActor’ and it is co-hosted by a licensed, practicing doctor(internal medicine) with the comedian and actor Sean Hayes. Each show highlights a particular health ailment or concern and they interview a celebrity who has experienced or is in treatment with topic illness. Sean Hayes is inquisitive and shares his personal experience while simultaneously serious, caring, and hilarious. The show is supported by the questions and suggestions or empathy by the cohost and practicing physician Dr. Priyanka Wali who also happens to be a comedian. I suggest listening to any of the episodes particularly choosing one that may relate to a health concern you may have or have experienced.

  This week we experimented with Chocolate Whoopie Pies and they did not disappoint. We played around with a few recipes and as fortune would have it a case of fresh farm-picked strawberries landed on our doorstep thanks to a special friend. The combination of fresh strawberries with the chocolate was mouth-watering and truth be told they were super delicious on their own as well. Strawberries in season, fresh from the farm is what dreams are made of- and they are good for brain health too!

Talk soon,

Forever Yours

Quote:

“We eat for our stomachs, but we hunger with our hearts.”

Padma Lakshmi

World-renowned Chef, Author, Activist

Born 1970