My usual walk

My usual walk around the neighborhood is a 1.5 mile loop.  The other day I thought about the people I know or have known who live along my route and how this contributes to my sense of being connected to my community. In the small world category is this house, previously owned by Mr. Schuman,  my late 9th grade government teacher at Eastern Junior High in Greenwich. I particularly remember that class for three reasons:  It was the first time we had a black classmate. Kennedy was assassinated that fall, and we moved to Chicago mid-year.  One of my former high school students lives down the street and an elementary principal with whom I took graduate courses lives across the street.

Just last month I performed a wedding in this house.  As an elected Justice of the Peace, people contact me from time to time to ask about my availability and how much I charge (nothing).  The Thai nanny who works in this home emailed me while I was traveling so I didn't respond.  Shortly after our return she drove down our driveway one morning with her mother who was visiting from Thailand and the little girls she looks after.  How could I say no?  

Someone once told me that this driveway on a street that forms a border between Norwalk and Westport  leads to the lovely home where the jazz saxophonist Gerry Mulligan lived with the actress Sandy Dennis sometime between 1965 and 1973.

About two years ago a young couple bought this lovely house across the street. Even though Mrs. Donnelly --- the elderly widow who lived there for many years --- had a long driveway, our children always loved to trick or treat there because she was so clearly delighted to welcome them.

Giving thanks 2012

This morning I volunteered to help my friend Marcia at the Rowayton Turkey Trot, a fundraiser for the Rowayton Arts Center.  It was fun standing in the middle of the road in my orange vest, directing the runners where to turn at the intersection of Pennoyer St. and Rowayton Ave.  I didn't notice until the end of my shift that the race organizers had drawn a turkey on the pavement at each intersection.

Besides cheering on the racers, I suggested that what they were calling a hill around the corner was really just an incline. On my way home I passed a group of day laborers at their usual spot near the train station.  Will they get any work today?  Do they know it's Thanksgiving?

Charlie appreciates good art!

Early this morning 4 year old Charlie called to ask whether we knew James Flora wrote children's books.  Charlie had just borrowed one from his local library and learned that this was the same man whose paintings hang in our home.   Here's a section of the Flora painting in our sun room:

How cool that besides his album covers and paintings Jim Flora also wrote and illustrated children's books including My Friend Charlie and Charlie Yup and his Snip-Snap Boys.

5 Moose in Maine

Every year the Fabs and Wallersteins go to Portland Maine in August. Every other year we bring the Tretolas with us too. It is so much fun I don't even have a favorite part. The big reason we come here is because of family. We have 2 family members here and one moving here tomorrow. The family members moving here tomorrow are Aaron, Lauren and their new baby  Ellery. We are so excited to see them. The family members living here are Aunt Nancy and Grandma Neetie. 

Doing the Puff & Strut

Yesterday many came together to celebrate a wonderful public art project at the South Norwalk train station. Duvian Montoya, a graduate of Norwalk Public Schools, expressed how meaningful it was to him to have such a prominent installation in his hometown. As is so often the case, public officials did the puff and strut, recognizing themselves and taking credit for a job well done. Those in the know perhaps smiled along with me, remembering the work of mostly unrecognized champions who got the project moving in 2010, back when it was mired in government bureaucracy. But at the end of the day it's all about the talented artists and members of the public who get to enjoy their work.

Paying it forward in Greenwich

I've sometimes had a love-hate relationship with Greenwich.  This year's award ceremony at Hamilton Ave. School was definitely a time to feel the love. Graduating seniors who attended Hamilton Ave. return to be recognized and to speak with 5th graders.  Vito Sperduto, a successful businessman and Harvard graduate, returns every year to pay it forward. He told the students how he arrived at Hamilton Ave. from Italy in the 1970's not speaking much English.  This year he gave a scholarship to Nicole LaPointe-Jameson who will attend Columbia University.  I met Nicole and her proud parents, Noel and Lise, when I served as interim principal at Hamilton Ave. in 2005.

Fathers Day 2012

Dad shows me how to drive Ivy's  tractor.
Stanwood, Washington 1959

Today is our nephew Aaron's first Fathers Day.  We began at the Unitarian Church in Westport where family and friends welcomed our great niece Ellery (Queen of Babies) into the spiritual community.  For the second time this year I crossed paths with Ken, an octogenarian former colleague of our late father.  I remembered something my daughter told me about consequential strangers and realized it was more than chance that brought Ken and me together today.  The church is around the corner from a lovely mill pond where our Dad stayed at the company guest house before the rest of us made the move from Seattle to Connecticut in the 1950's.  It has been a remarkable day with new and old memories thanks to Ken and Ellery.