October Reflections: Honoring the Women Who Shaped Me
There are many reasons why October is so special to me. The crisp air, the golden light, the colorful foliage is the season that feels alive with change.
But more than that, October holds deep personal meaning. It’s the birth month of two remarkable women who shaped who I am: my maternal grandmother and my mother.
Today, my mother would have been 106 years old. I often say that it’s their Irish working women lineage that most defined me. I carry many of their better habits with me every day, grateful for the foundation they built and the values they passed down.
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My Grandparents
With both my parents working full-time, I was fortunate to have my grandparents close by. My father’s mother, Nana, lived on one side of our duplex, while my mother’s parents lived right next door. My grandparents were constants in my young life, bringing rhythm, warmth and steadiness to my days. Life with them was filled with simple, grounding […]
From Theme Parks to National Parks: How a Little Passport Changed Our Family Vacations
Growing up in New Hampshire , I never realized there were places so historically or naturally significant that our federal government would protect and financially support them for everyone to enjoy. It wasn’t until I had my own daughters that I discovered the National Park System. The first park I brought them to was Minute […]
Nafplio and Worry Beads
While visiting Greece this year, we drove to Nafplio, a town that was built for wandering with its narrow cobblestone streets. This romantic seaport town in the Peloponnese, was part of Greece’s first modern capital. Among its charms, we discovered a shop filled with strands of komboloi or Greek worry beads. These beads are not […]
