Pushing on a Rope
Friendship
We’re outta touch
If “resilience” was the word for 2012, 2013’s theme must be “connection.” After starting the year off with a bang, finding and meeting my birthmother, and a whole “new” bunch of relatives, we Vaneches are continuing in the same vein. Basil has heard from a couple of schoolmates he hasn’t spoken to in years, and … Continue reading
Cat’s in the Cradle …
Finally finished celebrating Christmas this weekend. Yes, you read that correctly. Between the swim meets, volleyball games, gymnastics competitions and a million other things, this was the first weekend we could get together with Jacquie and her family. Jacquie is my dearest friend from college, a soul sister who is sometimes mistaken for actually being … Continue reading
Flashback Friday — Life’s a beach party
It’s been cold, windy, damp and, well, generally like winter here in Connecticut. If I could, I’d go to work in a Snuggie. As it is, I wrap myself up in flannel PJs and my bathrobe as soon as the sun goes down, living as I do by the maxim that if it is dark, … Continue reading
A whole different ball game
Church league volleyball game today, but like so much of life, it didn’t turn out as planned. The Archangels girls got to Bridgeport on time, warmed up with their Holy Trinity counterparts and waited. And waited. And then waited some more. The ref didn’t show. Rather than squander the opportunity, though, both sides agreed to … Continue reading
There’s the rub
Given how my week started — finally finding my birth mother after 5+ years of searching, speaking to her and seeing a picture of her all in the space of three days — you’d think not much could surprise me. Enter my friend Kristen. As I was heading in to teach at the Jazzercise Center … Continue reading
You gotta get up and try, try, try
We enjoyed a belated holiday celebration last night with our former neighbors. Now that we don’t see them over the fence or at the front door each day, it’s a great treat to spend time with them, see how big the kids are getting, hear the crazy things they say, see the youngest one (conceived … Continue reading
Looking back on a year full of laughs
We started 2012 with a walk at the beach and a promise to breathe and keep things in balance. It was the last time that happened all year. Like many of you, we had a year full of ups and downs, challenges, setbacks, milestones and, well, you name it. Through it all, we tried — … Continue reading
Life lessons from Sandy
Slowly, but surely, some sense of normalcy is returning to lower Fairfield County — for many of us, any way. For others, life will never be the same. Sandy cut a devastating path through our area this week, and my heart is sick to see how much suffering there is. Those of us fortunate enough … Continue reading
All it’s cracked up to be
As I’ve said many times before, I rely on humor to get me through. Whether it’s in the wake of near disaster (read about that here, here or here) or to navigate the mundane — like this, the ridiculous (like this event here) or some other nonsense (like those two different shoes, which are still dogging me), … Continue reading
About-face
You could almost have called Friday night The Great Vanech Face-off. Our dinner companions, meeting Basil for the first time, all remarked that he looked the same in person as he does on Facebook. I don’t know if they meant this Facebook picture: or this one: or this: maybe this? Even this one, perhaps? Anyway, … Continue reading
Pushing on a Rope 