Pushing on a Rope
Terri S. Vanech
Sibling revelry
Catherine and I tease Basil because he likes to say, “When you see it, you see it.” Today, I saw it. At lunch with my newly discovered brother, Chris. We’d barely sat down when Chris said, “You’ve got to see the resemblance.” I admitted that while I saw a bit of it around the mouth, … Continue reading
Venus and Mars
The difference between men and women? We had 10 minutes yesterday afternoon between when I got home from my staff meeting at the Jazzercise Center where I teach, and got washed up and changed, and when we had to leave to catch the train to New York where we were taking Catherine to the Discovery … Continue reading
No time like the present
We’re in the midst of a huge transition at our house, and for a change it has nothing to do with Catherine’s stages of growth. On Wednesday, Basil retired from 35 years with the US Postal Service, leaving his official badge and 15-lb. keyring behind. I will no longer be able to hand him birthday … Continue reading
At Seventeen
Happy, happy birthday to our daughter, Catherine, who turns 17 today. As I watched her walk to the bus stop this morning (yes, I still watch out the kitchen window, every morning), I couldn’t help but remember her first steps, those chunky-monkey thighs wobbling under the effort. Her first words (Da-Da, naturally. Sigh. But many, … Continue reading
Lies my brain told me
The human brain is an amazing masterwork, able to think and reason, create incredible things … and lie. Yes, lie. To ourselves, that is. Not the little white ones, but bald-faced, nose-growing lies. These past few weeks, I’ve been taking part in a 30 Day Healthy Challenge run by my friend Kristen under the auspices … Continue reading
Flashback Friday: Happy Easter, Take 1
Me, on Easter Sunday 1970. I am 4 here. I have great memories of the Easter egg hunts my Mimi and Papa used to host at their little bungalow in Hawthorne, NY. All the cousins came and we were let loose in the yard to find the plastic eggs that were stuffed with goodies and … Continue reading
And now, for a closer look
Family resemblances are a pet project of mine. I am endlessly fascinated by how people look and act alike. It is, I presume, the result of being adopted and growing up without seeing another person who looks me. Catherine’s birth nearly 17 years ago began to change that; she looks a bit like me, especially … Continue reading
Saturday Morning Fever — The most fun you can have in sneakers
How did you start your day? I got my Saturday moving the same way I do every week — with the 8:30 am class at Jazzercise of Southwestern Connecticut. Two nights a week, I’m in charge of the mic, but on Saturdays, I take my place on the floor with our fabulous customers and take … Continue reading
Giving voice to a breath of spring
Beautiful finale at the Greenwich High choral concert Wednesday night — all five choirs squeezed onto the risers to sing Irving Berlin’s “Give Me Your Tired, Your Poor.” It was a wonderful way to end an amazing evening of vocal entertainment — and a fitting welcome to spring. (As with the winter concert, it is … Continue reading
Sharing TMI at the library
When did the library become the equivalent of a Starbucks sans beverages? I admit I’m old school about the library, a point of view that harks back to my days as a page (yes, you read that right) at the Port Chester (NY) Public Library, where i spent time after school and Saturdays shelving books. … Continue reading
Pushing on a Rope 