I spent the weekend celebrating my parents. They were married on August 20th, 1959, and the next day was my mother’s 26th birthday.
It was a whirlwind romance. They met in Honolulu, where my dad was stationed in the Air Force, and my mom was living with her sister and brother-in-law, who was an Air Force Colonel. Three months after meeting, they were engaged. A few months later, they were married and were back on the mainland, where my dad was getting his master’s degree at Cornell.
The whirlwind ensued. Nine months after getting married, they had my sister. Thirteen months after that, they had my other sister. And twenty months later, they had me. During this time, they moved from Ithaca to State College, PA, to Meadville, PA and then back to Ithaca, where my dad went back to Cornell to get his Ph.D. while my mother juggled three babies. He landed a job on the other end of the earth: Oregon. I was eight years old, and we packed up our house, loaded up the Ford Torino with the three of us kids, a dog (Boodles) and a cat (Cozy Joe), and drove across the country to the new frontier. We were modern-day pioneers.
Oregon proved to be more than an ideal destination. It wasn’t the wild west my classmates in Ithaca thought it was when I showed pictures of it in show-and-tell. “Do they drive cars there?” “Is there electricity?” These were all great questions, and, at the time, I wasn’t so sure how to answer. But when we arrived in Portland, we found a “big city.” Bigger than any city I have ever lived in. With spaghetti highways, tall buildings, and neon lights. But we also gave into the myths about Oregon—rain and cowboys—and the first thing we did was go to the Portland Outdoor Store and buy western belt buckles and bubble umbrellas.
We settled in the bucolic little suburb of Lake Oswego, where my parents raised their three girls through the whirlwind of grade school, middle school, high school and college, and have remained there ever since.
The whirlwind continues, even as life winds down. On their 62-year anniversary, living, as my parents have known it, takes on a new meaning at this stage. My dad has Parkinson’s, and at 87, it is beginning to take its toll on both him and my mom, who, at 88, is in great health. While my mom and I planned to spend her birthday out in the wine country, the universe had other plans. We instead had to take my dad to urgent care. It turned out to be a minor issue, and the upside is that my mom scored an on-sale big bottle of rose’ because the urgent care was in a Walgreens (how convenient).
Sixty-two years of a whirlwind. Living through thick and thin, they continue to soldier on, as they’ve always done, rolling with the punches and creating a life well lived.
Peace is a journey of a thousand miles, and it must be taken one step at a time.
— Lyndon B. Johnson
Hey Jen,
Q: Summer is coming to a close, and cooler weather is on the way. I have such a hard time transitioning my wardrobe during the fall. I try to find inspiration on Pinterest and Instagram and then end up buying a bunch of stuff that isn’t really me. Have any suggestions for pulling together a transitional wardrobe without wasting money?
A: Actually, I do have a suggestion. But first of all, I want you to know I feel your pain. I’ve been in the same boat too many times, and it’s frustrating. I also look to Pinterest and Instagram for ideas. And, when I find some outfit ideas that I like, I head directly to my closet and “shop.” More than half the time, I find that I already have similar pieces that are on my “Pins”—they just need to be refreshed by combining them for different looks. For instance, I already have a bunch of boyfriend shirts that I typically wear untucked with a pair of skinny jeans (I don’t care what people say, skinny jeans will always be a staple in my closet) and flats. But the look in the pin, the shirt is tucked and paired with some sneakers—boom, new look, zero spend.
What also helps with this process is each season, I create a board—nothing fancy— with pictures of all my favorite pieces. This helps me take inventory, as well as visualize mixing and matching the clothes that I already have so I can create fresh looks. Here’s an example:
…Of the Week
Shop…
&OtherStories. Speaking of fall transition fashion, this is a great place to find ideas to take you from tank tops and flip-flops to light sweaters and sneakers. This is one of my go-to shops when I go to NYC, primarily because I love the clothes, and secondly because it’s conveniently located across from Bryant Park & the NYC library—my favorite places to hang. I also shop it online when I’m looking for pieces to round out my wardrobe.
Listen…
Love Letters Podcast. The Boston Globe advice columnist Meredith Goldstein provides thought-provoking stories about relationships—from romance to partnerships, sex, loss, and more—from real people. Some will make you cry, some will make you open your mind, and some will make you fall in love with love all over again.
Look…
CheapOldHouses. Do you have an affinity for old houses? Have fantasies of fixing them up? Well, then, Cheap Old Houses’s Instagram account is for you.
Taste…
Oven Baked Risotto. At first, I was scared of making risotto. Then I tried it on the stovetop, and it wasn’t as difficult as I thought, and, I must say, it would turn out perfect every time—so much so that it became a staple in our house. I’ll often throw in asparagus, or peas, or mushrooms…or all of the above. Top it with butter (or should I say more butter) and a squeeze of lemon. Delish. Then I came across this recipe for oven-baked risotto. But it felt so wrong. Like I was cheating on my long-term, steadfast and stable boyfriend, who is also kinda high maintenance. What, you don’t have to stand at the stove stirring for 30-plus minutes? It just can’t be real. Well, let me tell you. It is real and delicious and predictable…without all the work.