I once heard Jay Leno describe his grandmother as a Sherman tank model, as opposed to the grandmothers in L.A., who were skinny, petite older women with skimpy outfits and names like Bambi. Ma was of that Sherman tank build. She had a hardened appearance and a heart of gold. The weight of the world […]
Author: sharonstories
A Vineyard Trip
My first visit to Martha’s Vineyard was with Rob and his parents. His brother, Chris, was not long out of culinary school when he landed a job at The Black Dog Tavern in Vineyard Haven. Funny name because at the time Vineyard Haven was a dry county. But it was, and still is, a wonderful restaurant […]
People Change
Everyone hung out at Maureen’s. She was a sweet woman, petite, in her twenties, and a divorcee with two adorable kids. We’d sit in the kitchen sipping cups of tea. She always had tea. Maureen did not allow any drinking or drugs, although if you had already imbibed, you were welcome in her home. She […]
Skin Deep
Once upon a time, we were gifted a weekend in the Poconos – meals included. To our surprise and the surprise of four other couples, we shared an assigned table. I only remember two of the couples. A tall, slender, well-groomed, newly married, quiet couple. Their hands were often entwined, as I’m sure were their […]
Treasured Memories
One of my mother’s “hate to miss” shows is The Antiques Road Show. My mother has been interested in antiques for as long as I can remember. I’ve been to innumerable antique stores, estate or garage sales, flea markets and thrift stores with her over the years. I inherited the gene. I find meandering through […]
Just Visiting This Planet
The t-shirt read “Just Visiting This Planet.” David was three or four years old when someone bought him that shirt. It was a perfect fit, the sentiment I mean. David had his own language. Some words sounded like English. Many didn’t. But if you didn’t understand him, he didn’t get discouraged. He worked with the […]
Too Bald or Not Too Bald
THAT IS THE QUESTION Watching old movies or old tv shows and spotting a toupee used to amuse me. I wondered why men preferred that look, or the combover, to their perfectly charming receding hairlines. I did get it. If I was a man, I’d want to hold on to a full head of stunning, […]
Stranger In The House
How crazy is it that I am starting to get emotional over inanimate objects? I blame it on the Pandemic. A new refrigerator arrived today. I never actually gave the fridge a thought, with the exception of wishing it didn’t have that “convenient” water dispenser on the front. An eyesore and waste in my opinion. But […]
Awaiting Our Elephant
Over the years, Rob has surprised me with pets I never asked for and couldn’t imagine keeping. A pair of lovebirds that squawked continually and threw seed shells as far as possible from their perches, and a nocturnal hedgehog who was afraid of his own shadow come to mind. Lately he keeps talking about getting […]
The Alzheimer’s Red
Less than a week after my brother got back from Viet Nam my stepfather threw him out of the house. A year before he had thrown out my oldest brother. He was recovering from an almost fatal accident that left him crippled and in need of therapy. My other brother, my sister and I left […]