party on the Parkway

This year for fourth of July, Eric and I packed up our granny cart with snacks and libations and headed down to the parkway to join the festivities.  This was the first time Eric had ever been to the parkway on the 4th,  and I was excited to see how he would react to the experience.  The madness that is "the parkway" is a rite of passage for all Philadelphians. 

We found a great spot, under a tree, not too far from the stage.  We were next to a group of college kids that cared way more about getting wasted than seeing The Roots, although they claimed that was the main purpose for them being there. 

We saw some interesting sights as we waited for the acts to begin...a conga line and a boy in a tree...

The prize for most patriotic outfit went to this gentleman.....

Bonus points for the retro Iverson Jersey!!

There were a few surprises...Boys to Men sang a bunch of their old hits....which brought me straight back to Middle School!  One of our intoxicated neighbors was punched right in the face...he said he deserved it!  And I danced to Michael MacDonald, Earth, Wind and Fire, and The Roots like I was a flower child at Woodstock...which I guess isn't really a surprise, because I do that all the time when I have a few cocktails.

The night ended with a great fireworks display and a long walk home.  We both had a wonderful time on the parkway....and might even do it again next year!

weddings and Water

Last weekend one of my dear friends, Dorene, took the plunge into marital bliss.........

the next day Eric and I took a plunge into the inner harbor (figuratively not literally)

ooh heaven is a place on Earth

in the Outfield

in the Grass

warming Up

in the Dugout

in the locker Room

no Words

called Up

Backstage tour of what I consider to be a heavenly place on Earth!

finally I can put holes in the Walls

Meaning we finally can hang pictures!!! Here's what we did so far....

missing pieces and houses of light...a few days in Atlantic City

I realized a few weeks ago I never walked on the boardwalk in Atlantic City.  I have been on it. Once or twice after a dance compititon when I was a kid, and a few times at night to smoke a ciggarette and feel some fresh air. But I had never walked the boards in AC. 

We started at the dodgey end and ended at the dodgey end, and what was in betweeen didn't really suprise me or knock me off my feet.  But I did find a few places that were picture and memory worthy.  I don't know why, maybe it's the cliche contrast or the amazement of neglect, but these places caught my eye.  For some reason AC reminded me of that little christmas tree in Charlie Brown Christmas. I wonder if anyone one is gonna put a blanket around it, or just build another hotel to hide it from the tourists?

this is only the Beginning....

I have finally begun the journey that I have ignored, postponed, and feared for the past five years. For some reason, I believed that if I started selling my fathers belongings I wouldn't be able to keep his memory and spirit alive.  That these "things" were the only connection I had left and by surrounding myself with them he would never truly be gone.
I now know that is not true.  That those thoughts never lead you out of the prison of your own grief, they only have a stronger grip on you. Even worse, thoughts like that can lead to hoarding, and being the organized person I am, hoarding is not in my future.

So the shop is open on the interwebnets, Etsy to be precise, and the digital shelves are slowly filling up.

I named it Back To Mono....after one of my favorite box sets by the brilliant (albeit insane) producer Phil Spector.  His heyday was a simpler time, when girl groups sang about love and the ones that filled their heart with it. Boys sang of heartache and the struggle of their emotions.  And no matter how sad the song, it always had some hint of tenderness, a soft, comforting feeling. I miss that in music.

I am officially on my way, and I'm documenting this journey so I can look back and see where it takes me.  It should be one hell of a ride......