Tuesday, January 5- Friday, January 8, 2021

Dear Marion,

  The last few days I was reminiscing about a trip we took last year to Montreal, Quebec, Canada for your granddaughter’s sweet 16 birthday. For a few years, she had been laying the groundwork as she wanted to go somewhere that had snow. That’s all she wanted. She didn’t want a party and really didn’t have a particular material gift in mind...just snow. After some discussion, we thought that Montreal would be decorated for a traditional Christmas and had a very good chance of snow in December. We left on a Thursday(her actual birthday) and returned on a Sunday. It actually snowed just after we arrived and continued off and on until we departed. We walked and laughed and ate whenever and wherever she wanted. Along the way we toured McGill University, a museum that was built on top of the original city- Pointe-a-Calliere Museum, unique shops, a Ferris wheel, and an interesting hat shop that captivated our interest for a fair amount of time.

  The hat shop was filled with knowledge as were the sales associates. They understood the art of the hat and the gift of choosing the right size, color, and style for the corresponding personality. It was more about style than a trend, although they had the trendy too. Our person gave a brief synopsis of the hat and how to wear it as you know both Andrew and your granddaughter have a very short attention span. We laughed and had fun trying on hats and assuming poses for the paparazzi(us). 

  There was a time that the properly dressed person would not leave home without a hat. I remember you sharing with me your adolescent and early adulthood experiences with appropriate dress. A walk up Fifth Avenue in Manhattan would require both a hat and gloves up until the 1960s. I looked up a couple of expressions…when a gentleman put his own  ‘hat in hand’ it was a manner of showing no sign of pride or self-assertion...and to ‘doff one’s cap to’ was to declare enthusiastic approval of. The hat would represent authority and power.

  Sometime during this past summer, I gained a strong interest in podcasts and amongst the many, we have been enjoying “SmartLess,” with Jason Bateman, Sean Hayes, and Will Arnett which has captured the interest of both your granddaughter and me. It is a mix of fun, hilarity, and interesting vantage points. Each week one of the three interviewers introduces a surprise guest and leads the interview. The reveal brings the other two surprised interviewers into the loop and then the conversation ensues. One week late in December 2020, the guest was James Corden. He is absolutely the hero of your granddaughter(I am a huge fan too) and we were thrilled to hear his interview as it made our driving and completing our errands more worthwhile. James Corden is a man of many hats...a writer, comedian, actor(drama, musicals, comic) of both stage and screen, host of The Late Late Show with James Corden, and family man. He is a man who has a true gift with both the written and spoken word. Every action, expression, and look in his eye declares a purposeful statement and response. As a performer, he understands the power of his decisions to act and react. It’s heartwarming to watch him and during this pandemic, I am grateful for the laughter he has given me.

  Words matter. Actions mean something. This week we have been inundated with some powerful words both written on Twitter, voiced in crowds, and pointedly spoken in many a speech, and on many different platforms. To say it has been overwhelming would be an understatement for me and I am sure most. With all of my heart, I hope and pray that we as individuals will be more aware, careful, and respectful with our words and the power they can invoke. Words matter. We may no longer wear hats and gloves as a sign of respect, but we must find a way to treat and show one another respect regardless of our politics. We must find a way to honor the golden rule we were taught as children. There is no moving forward without finding a way to talk to one another respectfully and treat one another respectfully. It starts at the top. I didn’t have control over the chaos in Washington, D.C. on Wednesday nor the aftermath, but I do have control over how I choose to let it affect me. It is a sad, anxious, and overall very emotional period, but life often is before big changes can happen. I still have hope that we will come together as a nation but it will take a lot of communication, compromise, and hard work. It begins with each one of us and our willingness to listen.

  As the first week of 2021 comes to an end, it is chilly and I find we are craving something comforting, warm, and healthy(especially after all of our Christmas baking). We have tried a new soup recipe- Potato and Carrot Soup. It is puréed and can be made with chicken or vegetable broth. Your granddaughter researched it and I am convinced she chose it so that  I would purchase yet another kitchen tool, that of the purée function.

Happy New Year.

Talk soon,

Forever Yours

Quote:

“The future ain’t what it used to be.”

Lawrence Peter “Yogi” Berra

American Professional Baseball Catcher, Manager, Coach

1925-2015