Five things about my mom

Juliet Rankin Greeno Hadden died Friday, August 8, 2008, after a long, courageous battle with lung illness.

Losing your mother is devastating, even after they have lived a long and productive life. You lose the one (human) person in your life who loves you unconditionally, who never stops loving you despite physical and emotional distance.

Occasionally I watch Grey's Anatomy, and there was a little vignette that really struck me, something to the effect of how it was important to realize that there were always five special things that you know about someone you love. So, here are five things that I know about someone I love, my mom.

1. She loved her children, loved being a mother, and loved being a grandmother, above all. She had great generosity of spirit.

2. She loved to read, and loved to write. She passed these gifts down to all her children. It made gift-giving so easy - especially since we all shared a passion for Harry Potter. I can still remember being read the very un-pc "Little Black Sambo" by my mom as a tiny child - my favorite. And my sister's favorite, "Ping." (This led to many years of Alex refusing in horror to have roast duck for Thanksgiving!) And my brother's favorite, "Mike Mulligan's Steam Shovel."

3. She loved to cook, and eat. I owe much to her taste and talents, and enjoy some funny as well as tasty memories. Blushing barf (oops I mean Bunny) anyone? Her mustard sauce and shortbread recipes live on. . . .

4. She absolutely adored animals (human and otherwise). I cannot remember a time growing up when we didn't have at least one dog or cat. In fact, Elfin (our springer spaniel) taught me to swim at age 2 and would drag me to shallow water if she felt I was being too adventurous. When Mom could no longer care for a cherished companion herself, she relied on the company of a stuffed poodle which looked like her beloved Diamond.

5. She was a woman of great courage - and her bravest moments were at the close, in choosing the manner of her death. She died peacefully surrounded by her adopted family at St. Clare's, as well as her son.

Mom's ashes will be buried with her beloved Abby's ashes on September 6th, with bagpipes and balloons, just as she wanted.

One if by Land, Two if by Sea

Last Thursday Cici and I played hooky, compliments of elderhostel.org and Jaime. Jaime, who is a program director at Elderhostel/Road Scholar, arranged for us to join an educational tour of the history of Boston Harbor which had the added enticement of being on a boat.

It's a great way to see Boston, and I really enjoyed the educational aspect. The fact that the day began with a lot of fog just added to the atmosphere.

We emerged from South Station and took a walk past the wonderful milk bottle in front of the Boston Children's Museum.

We left from Moakley Courthouse on the waterfront, scene of a LONG bout of jury duty for Louise a few years back. We saw the Constitution from the water (Jim and I had a very memorable hunger brunch some years ago and were able to board the ship.)

We were regaled with the history of Boston Harbor while viewing the various islands through the fog. A high point was seeing Boston Light in action.

We disembarked on George's Island, which houses Fort Warren. George's Island was a very familiar sight to both Cici and I, as the kids' favorite urban camp usually traveled there during the camp session as a field trip.

We had a lovely lunch catered by the Daily Catch, a restaurant owned by one of Jaime's Cambridge classmates' family.

It was great seeing Fort Warren from a different perspective (i.e. not trying to keep track of three or four active kids!)

The afternoon was over too soon, and it was back to work for us. (sigh!)

Just because you are dying is no reason to stop living

a thought while attending to my fragile, ill parents. every second of every minute of every day is precious.

What's worse than a trip to the dentist? A trip to the VETERINARY dentist!

Thursday Bonnie went to the vet for her Lyme disease vaccination, all 100 lbs of her quivering and quaking, another measure of support to our kindly Dr. Murphy. Of course, she's already been to the doggy dentist so her fears were well-founded.


That was the EASY trip. Saturday, we scheduled our three geriatric cats, missing assorted limbs, teeth (but not claws!) etc. for their checkups and various vaccines. We planned carefully, closing doors and trapping the felines. Or so we thought.

Despite SEEING Cow in the kitchen as we tag-teamed Bird and Gimpy into their crates, he somehow vanished in a room with closed doors. We spent a half-hour looking in 120 square feet with no luck - how did a cat with three legs completely vanish? Off we went to Dr. Murphy, with a feline duet of wails from the other two serenading us all the while. Copious "fear shedding" was enjoyed (not) by all, and poor Bird, at age 15, is suffering from gingivitis and broken teeth. So, Cow (we hope) will be vaccinated today, while Bird goes to the dentist Thursday. He does NOT approve.

Some like it... fizzy. Or, it IS easy being green!

While in Portland, I was captivated by Miguel and Aurelia's Soda Club machine. This is a gadget that takes regular old tap or spring water and more or less instantly carbonates it to the carbonation level of your choice. You can save bundles if, like me, you are partial to fizzy water, or water "avec gas" en francais. As long as you have water, you never run out! Plus you aren't generating lots of plastic bottle waste! I had to have one. I must say, it is very cool. If you are intrigued - http://www.sodaclubusa.com/! I plan to experiment with rose water, lavender, and other herbal sodas myself.

Belly Bombers Bursting in Air

While in Wellfleet, when not surfing, basking in the sun with friends, obsessing over puzzles and playing Scrabble, we enjoyed the fruits of the sea, and the garden. One night we had fresh carrots and peas, a roasted beet and goat cheese salad, and fresh local cod.

For Jaime's birthday, a small group went out to the "Wicked Oyster", a nice restaurant in Wellfleet. Birthday cake was enjoyed by all, and then the younger set went out to the fireworks (Louise stayed home with the dogs, who barked everytime a firework went off!)

For a post-birthday celebration, a large group went fishing in Wellfleet Bay. We were less than successful, snaring only crabs (Louise and Lindsey) and a tiny black bass (Dave) that was returned to the wild.

We caught some organic salmon and tuna at the seafood shack on the wharf to console ourselves. Collie made some seared tuna with avocado and wasabi, Jaime and Dave made planked salmon, and Luke made grilled steak. Two types of salad accompanied.

The time went too quickly and soon the boat pointed homeward and we were off to Boston, Plymouth, New York and Amherst to resume our day jobs.

Beach Bonnie and Bonny Beaches: Wellfleet Wanderings

On June 28th, we packed the minivan full of two weeks worth of groceries, bedding and beach towels, plus 4 humans and 2 dogs, and trekked down to Wellfleet, MA, to celebrate Cici and Jaime's birthdays. Wellfleet is below Truro and Provincetown on the "lower Cape", which is really the northerly end of the Cape, but never mind. It's a beautiful location, somewhat removed from the "tacky" side of Cape Cod vacations. Beaches are on both the bay side and Atlantic side, and both sides are stunning.

Bay side


Atlantic side

Bonnie took full advantage of the surf, and surfed the couch as well (she highly approved of the cushions!)


Stay tuned for more Wellfleet Wanderings!