Susan Senator
All happy families are not alike...
All happy families are not alike...
Keys to the Universe, Encore
In the past I have made lists of my Keys to the Universe, by which I mean the things that never fail to do what they are supposed to do. They can be light, they can be deep. I have some new ones that I would like to share with you, and I hope that you will share yours with me so that I may consider including them in my new book.
My Latest Keys to the Universe
1) Going to Great Eastern Trading Company, River Street, Central Square, Cambridge and just browsing, but let’s face it: I always end up buying something there. Case in point: I just bought a gorgeous deep purple and lavendar beaded cabaret style Egyptian belly dance costume! It is incredible. Totally over-the-top (except the top actually fits quite well). Glass bead fringe, matching belt! It moves with a life of its own! Makes me look like I know what I’m doing!
2) Putting on a belly dance costume and practicing.
3) I.M.ing with Ned.
4) Lunch at Family Restaurant; it is the lunchplace to see and be seen in Brookline! I run into all my old Town Hall friends there. I talked to the owner and he says he is thinking of having belly dancers there, for special occasions…!!!!
5) Dinner at a restaurant (do you see a theme here?)
6) Visiting Nat’s school. They now have a wonderful music teacher, who is teaching Nat some music theory!
7) A 20 minute nap, in the middle of all the action in the living room, on the couch with the yellow Restoration Hardware pillow under my head, and the green-striped Crate and Barrel pillow on top of my head, and the blue, green, and purple afghan Mom brought back from Wales.
8) Remembering to have Shabbat (Jewish Sabbath) on Friday night; it is a great way to end the week and set up a peaceful, family-oriented weekend. Plus I love making the boys recite the prayers in Hebrew, and watching their sweet faces as they struggle with the ancient, foreign words. Shehechiyanu, V’kiyamanu, V’hikianu, Lazman Ha-zeh. It is a Commandment, after all!
9) A good book idea. Yes, I have it. At last.
10) Giving a talk about Making Peace With Autism. It never fails; I always enjoy these.
11) My chocolate brown shearling coat. Totally gorgeous, totally warm. Makes me look forward to cold weather. Well, sort of…
12) Fun comments on my blog.
Your turn…
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Jeni’s Ice Cream in the North Market.
http://www.jenisicecreams.com/
The dark cocoa gelato is bliss in a dish. Jeni is a true artisan.
1) Peets for tea… every day… rain or shine
2) Zaftigs and/or Family Restaurant for breakfast and/or business meetings
3) Michael’s for the BEST Corned Beef around (He IS the Corned Beef King, you know)
4) Rami’s for the shwarma, falafel, hoummos, and salad plate
And last, but not least
5)My daily fill of Sue-Sen dot com
MMMM dark chocolate gelato — I had that in Venice on my Luna de Miela!
SA from B —
We go to all the same places!!! Well, I don’t (yet) go to Michaels or Rami’s, but the others — all the time. I must know you… C’mon, send me an email. I won’t tell.
Keys to the universe, that’s a new concept to me. I will have to mull that over. The new dancing outfit is simply gorgeous. You look like you are caught standing in the wrong century.
I guess some of my keys would be:
1. Long drives alone up and down Potter County’s mountain roads where views open up that show stripes of fields in all different colors. Even in the winter the fields are distinct with varying textures of white on stubbly white. Clears my mind of the stuff that brings me down. Sunset reflected on the wet bare branches of the tree in the middle of my neighbor’s backyard. So stunning it takes my breath away. I don’t think anyone else notices.
2. Sweet loving surprises that make me realize that others value me. A hug from my big old son who towers over me now, rather than the other way around.
3. Becoming a link in the “pay it forward” chain by accident. Feeling so good that someone else cares and wanting to pass it on.
4. Buying yards of cloth on the spur of the moment, then creating something out of the threads.
5. Time with my husband on a date. Being able to trust a sitter enough to relax.
6. Books that I can get lost in.
Once again, wrote way too much. Sorry!
1) A new Peter Straub or Phillipa Gregory novel to savour
2) Lap and book time with any of my kids
3) Working on a design concept for a project I’m really into and really getting it.
4) My wife and I laughing uncontrollably at some private joke.
5) Reading about other peoples positive experiences with autism to supplement our own.
First, who plays the Fender Stratocaster that’s in the background (my boyfriend is a musician–website http://www.therhythmcure.com–I‘ll let you guess which one he is!)?
Here’s one key to my Universe:
1. Newly found music by Eva Cassidy, especially her version of Time After Time.
Hi Carolyn,
Which one IS your boyfriend? Bill?
The Fender Stratocaster is mine; I (try to) play lead guitar but I haven’t in like a year.
Wow! Belly dancer AND lead guitar player! I play a little rhythm guitar, but not well.
Bill….good guess, but he’s a happily married father of four girls. My guy is Richie, the starving singer. He’s been playing since he was a teenager. David, Richie and Jeff actually played together many years ago.
What songs do you play? Favorite band?
Getting a new decorating magazine in the mail..I am totally addicted
Any excuse to eat a Party Favors cake {yellow please}
Hugs and kisses from my munchkins
First cup of coffee in the morning uninterrupted and quite alone
Finishing a 4 mile walk but not actually the walk
BTW. what color is your wall…Is it blue? It is very pretty
Carolyn — That is very, very cool.
My favorite band is anything with Eric Clapton, in his younger days (anything after “Nothing But the Blues sucks, IMHO)
Dori — The living room and dining room are both Restoration Hardware “Silvery Sage,” the color they have on the walls in their stores. It is totally yummy and serene. It matches most of my clothes, which is necessary because I am in there so much (it is where I write).
Keys to the universe,
I like this idea
1. my hot coffee, in my unbelievably ugly SUPER comfy chair with the sun shining.
2. watching my 2 year old discover all the things I never knew 2 year olds were suposed to discover.
3. watching my 8 year old when he’s just happy spinning, or my 11 year old drumming on the chair
4. Beint the only one up at night, and it’s quiet.
5. squishy hugs and oatmeal kisses
Annemarie<~~who can never remember her own blog login
My keys to the Universe…
– driving on the Chappy ferry for the first time each summer.
– sinking my toes in the sand and taking a deep breathe of the beautiful ocean air.
– snuggling up with my husband late at night.
– coming home after a long day and both my kids greet me excitedly.
– watching my kids play happily and lovingly together.
– getting a pedicure and facial in one day.
– tea time at night with my husband.
– my first cup of coffee in the morning.
– my yoga pants in the winter and the first time I get to don the shorts in the summer.
– time spent with my beloved brother who is valiantly battling brain cancer…
– date nights with my hubby when we get to have an adult conversation.
– listening to music from my college days.
– getting together with my college roommates and reminiscing…
This is fun!
Look at “therhythmcure” website….the recent photos are from the Jacksonville Landing Sat. the 18th. And Susan, I’m the one with the mustash and hair.