When I walk into my favorite Italian store, I can’t wipe the smile off my face. It’s like coming home. There’s a smell Italian stores have; a combination of peppers and oregano with a little hint of salami and tomato sauce in there for good measure. I love it.…
Summer means fruit pie season and I am a ho for fruit pies and crisps — especially right out of the oven with vanilla ice cream on top. Every time I overeat, then vow to cut out sweets completely (this happens weekly) I realize I could never do it if it meant not having fruit pie again. This is clearly genetic. My brothers are both ho’s for blackberry…
Just as a woman is watching her face shrivel up like the faces in those paintings in the haunted house at Disneyland, a cruel irony of life surfaces. She sees her daughter burst into full bloom in front of her; probably as beautiful as she’ll ever be. It’s like roses on a rosebush. The mom is the one that’s left with just a knob and some straw-like hairs…
I’ve always been pretty silly. I really can’t help it, I don’t know how to be any other way. This has always been encouraged by my friends and family. In fact, I’m amazed at people who are always serious — how is that possible? Maybe my silliness has caused people to take me less seriously, but I really don’t care because I have way more fun.…
My dad was never one of those “I love you” guys. He was affectionate, gave me hugs and the occasional kiss on the cheek, but those words never left his lips when I was young.…
I’ve been using cookies as communication devices for years. The College of Cardinals uses a smoke signal to tell us there’s a new pope, and I use cookies to send messages too. They can say: I love you, I miss you, or Happy Birthday. After I left Pennsylvania in the early ’80s, I knew I’d lose touch with my family and my young nephews if I didn’t connect.…
I can’t read stories about what just happened in Santa Barbara and not be affected by them. I also can’t help but search for positive stories of people who’ve come back after disappointments and changed things for the better. I am an unapologetic, annoying optimist. I can’t fault the parents of the student who killed six people before taking his own life. I don’t know them or their…
I’ve always thought that one day I’d do something that would make me exceptional. But I’m 59 years old and am not exceptional yet, so things aren’t looking terribly promising.…
I just got off the phone with my brother Bernie, who’s walking around, sucking on oxygen and about to be released from the hospital. This is a minor miracle because the personnel at the hospital said they’ve only seen three people survive a heart attack on the golf course. Naturally, that would be where Bernie would have his heart attack because he loves golf and excitement.…
“Be always nice, have a respect, anna remember, de appearanze issa 100 percent.” This was my mom’s recipe for a good life and I heard it daily when I was growing up. She was on to something! …