Time for Tea.

I really don't like the word 'blog'. It sounds like the combination of several bodily functions gone awry. The concept of 'Notes to Myself' is pleasing to me, so that is what I will be posting from now on-
Note to Myself: Sometimes you find the most unexpected treasures in your own back yard. Enter the Angel Museum in Beloit, Wisconsin (http://www.angelmuseum.com/). I had the pleasure on national 'Be An Angel" day to be the featured guest of their lovely annual, full Victorian Tea. If you know me, you know that I am crazy for a tea sandwhich done right. And they were crazy about the angel qualities in Stay for Lunch, so it was a perfect pairing. We were in the 'Heavenly Cafe' which is nestled in well-tended, lovingly cared for gardens below the 14,000 angels housed in the reclaimed brick 1920's 0ld church on the shores of the Rock River. (Oprah's collection is housed there.)The volunteer 'angels' of the museum know their Tea. It was perfection.

But my favorite part of this unexpected road trip with Francina, as experienced yesterday, is the stories shared when groups, large and small, gather to chat with me about life lessons gleaned from the book (see bookmarks, on home page, http://www.pleasurablepausepress.com/). I'm amazed by the commonalities in the twists and turns life offers each of us. We had many laughs over tea and shared experiences, (I was positioned between the savories and dessert, so we kept it moving!) and I also saw many eyes brimming with tears, mine included. A truly delightful, genuine, intimate gathering of what became, new friends. Thank you Angel Museum for being here and for thinking of Stay For Lunch and for having me to Tea.

Sandwich anyone?

I have recently had the pleasure of being interviewed by a couple of radio stations regarding Stay For Lunch. I joined Stacy McKay on The River in Ohio and Mary in The Morning on YOU-FM out of Traverse City Michigan. Radio is a challenge for me. I tend to not find my words as quickly as I would like, especially at 6:OO AM! But gaining the experience is fun. The topic on the show prior to my visit with Mary was 'The Sandwich Generation', the challenges we face simultaneously taking care of both our families and elderly parents. I am definitely part of this phenom and last night after a particiuarily discouraging evening with my parents had a quiet contemplation and came up with this thought: If more of us made the effort to befriend people of different generations and spend time with and help these friends and enjoy these friendships as Francina and I experienced, we might not need a term such as 'The Sandwich Generation'. By sharing a sandwich with Francina on a regular basis, perhaps I helped ease her children's minds on their Mother's well being, at least over the lunch hour! Maybe it takes a village to raise a grandparent as well.