September Adventuring

 photo taken @ Yale Peabody Museum

"Best part about writing in a journal is what you learn about yourself... I know that when the light comes to your heart like this, it's a compass you ned to follow. And no one can dim it unless you let them." p.351 Secret of Honeycake by Kimberly Newton Fusco 

Cardinal flower outside Yale Peabody Museum, New Haven 

Diorams were incredible

East Beach, Watch Hill swim! Yay!! 19 September 25

 

"Flood Tide" chapter 118 "...It's the rising, the surging, the soaring- When the Might Atlantic finally stands up and shows what it's been hiding all along... It's worn a mask all this time, but now, surprise! It pulls it off, and shows its true colors,  which are very bright..." p. 337 Secret of Honeycake by Kimberly Newton Fusco 

Grasshopper on tulsi  14 September 25

"Halfway Point" Perhaps, ma'am, a bit of comfort is more Helpful than a drizzel?" p.79 "...Cranberries that grow at the seashore make Honey the rosy color of the sun setting on the ocean. No ordinary honey will do..." p. 348 The Secret of Honeycake

"I'll cross that bridge one step at a time." p. 285 The Secret of Honeycake

"Just like the colors of the ocean, there are many shades of me." p. 272

Kerry & Bob invited me to dinner at

L'Orico New Haven. "Omnia vincit amor. Love conquers all." p. 349 

"Mother-love. It's a powerful thing." p. 339 Secret of Honeycake by Kimberly Newton Fusco 

New Haven adventures 2x in 1 week!

Oscotillo

Perserverantia vincit. Perserverance conquers. p. 347 Perserverantia vincit. "Itmeans maybe we'll try again tomorrow." p.352 The Secret of Honeycake

Quartz Sandstone concretion

Rafflesia   a genus of parasitic flowering plants in Southeast Asia, famous for producing the world's largest individual flowers

"Slack Tide" : "It's the waiting tide, the in-between tide... Hold your breath! The seagulls do... scooching down waiting for the sea to change direction. But the real secret of slack tide is it's not just a waiting.  It's a BECOMING-the moment between one thing and the next." p. 175

Torosaurus  Peabody Museum

Umbrella Factory in Charleston, RI 27 September 25

"Verba volant,scripta manent." Spoken words fly away, written words remain. p. 331 The Secret of Honeycake

"We're two pieces of a puzzle that fot together because we're different." pp. 350-1 The Secret of Honeycake 

Weekapaug Look Out 28 Sept 25

Xiaojie gold copper deposit, Sichuan, China: Aragonite variety floss ferri

ale Peabody Museum 27 Sept 25

Zen moments at 9 Summit Street, Stonington 

As I continue "Cartwheeling Through Life"

September 14 - September 22, 2025

 14 Sept 25

 tagline:

"Change your fate"

"Doctor my eyes...tell me what is wrong..." Facebook "Playing for Change"

Jackson Browne and others

 Emulsify the human spirit into a stream of coherent harmony devoid of negativity is a miraculous gift of the soul. We are enabled to levitate our being above the conscious angst of our differences and to become one, dwelling for a time in a state of un-contaminated peace." ~ Ronnie Sirisky comment on this Facebook post source

"Feeling Stronger Every Day" by Chicago 09.18.25 Toni Pierce's Birthday :)

Gaskill,  Elizabeth: "But the cloud never comes in that quarter of the horizon from which we watch for it." SacredBee 16 Sept 25 

"He wags his tail softly,  trying to figure it out. Then he whimpers softly,  like he's list at sea." p.29 The Secret of Honeycake by Kimberly Newton Fusco

"I press my face against his, try and let my heart explain what my voice can't,  hold him tight against my bones." p. 29  The Secret of Honeycake by Kimberly Newton Fusco 

"Just when you need things to be swe et for a while, well, sometimes they are." p. 137 The Secret of Honeycake 

Mr. Keats :)

"Last Song" by Edward Bear Listen here

"May this song offer clarity. Comfort. And the courage to keep going. Help us heal the world: https://playingforchange.com/join Facebook post source

Natalie Cole "I Live for You Love" listen here

Ocean of healing:  19 Sept 25 Watch Hill, RI

"...Puzzled about things." p. 28  The Secret of Honeycake by Kimberly Newton Fusco

 

"Returning to Myself" by Brandi Carlile great song - listen here

"...There's always room in your heart for a cat who needs you." p. 118 The Secret of Honeycake 

"Universal power music to emulsify the human spirit into a stream of coherent harmony....

deVoid of negativity is a miraculous gift of the soul. We are enabled to levitate our being above the conscious angst of our differences and to become one, dwelling for a time in a state of uncontaminated peace." ~ Ronnie Sirisky 

"My Words of Encouragement Journal is all Worried about how things are going." p.47 "...Wrapping myself around her like a strawberry vine." p. 31 The Secret of Honeycake 

"eXceptional!" p.129 The Secret of Honeycake 

"You can trust me... I'm a good bet." p. 119 The Secret of Honeycake 

Pamela Zagarenski's art on Facebook 14 Sept 25

September 2025 "Being Home" by Gunilla Norris

"Angel Down" by Lady Gaga sad because of how important this call to action NOW listen here 🎶    

Breathe: "Hands to Heaven" listen 🎶 

Carole King's Nightingale 1974

"Discovering the Spiritual in the Everyday" is a perfect subtitle for this not so "little" book

"Ecstatic process" p. xix

"First thought -- as in "first light" -- let me be aware that I waken in You." p. 2

Gunilla Norris' book on the sacrament of the present moment:

"Help me to feel that tremendous, unrelenting joy which is Your constancy and will not let any of us go." p. 3

"Hope Floats" and smiles upon us all... 😊

   

"Invitation to a process..." p.xiv

"Jolt me open to Joy." p.20

"... Know this is the way many ancients prayed... innate Knowledge-- this ancient confidence" p.6

Linda Ronstadt "Long Long Time" listen here

 source

"Natural response-- the living of praise." p. xxi

"Our House" by Crosby, Stills, Nash, & Young great song 🎵 and video 

P!NK : "Sober" 2008 listen 🎶 

Queen "A Kind of Magic" 🎶 listen here

"Reverence. Quiet Reverence every day." p. 28

"Shower the people you love with Love" ❤️ by James Taylor

Taylor Swift's "Cowboy Like Me" (listen here) and "YOYOK" below

Unrequited love ❤️ "Long, Long Time"

VERY BIG p. xx "Your trust in my Vulnerability." p.12 Being Home by Gunilla Norris

Wholly present to the living gift of time." p. 3

eXperience of sea." p. xx

eXtreme "More Than Words" listen

"You're On Your Own Kid" by Taylor Swift listen here

Zach Bryan "Madeline" (featuring Gabriella Rose) listen here

Story of a Life: A life in progres

Reflecting on each charm turned into... the story, of a life...Harry Chapin's song "Story of a Life" came to mind as I began writing this blog post at 5am on 27 August 2025 

"Sometimes words can serve me well / Sometimes words can go to hell / For all that they do..."

My story began July 13, 1961

Here I am on what must have been around my 1st birthday 🎂 

 and I already had 2 big sisters, Susan was born Oct 18, 1959 so she is 1yr and 9 months older, Karen was born March 9, 1956 so she is 5 years and 4 months older and my big brother, Ken was born June 15, 1957 so he is 4 years and 1 month older than me. This picture was taken around Christmas 1959.

Summer 1960

For my 2nd birthday,  I got a baby brother 💙 

 This is likely that christmas (1963) with my two sisters, Karen and Susan

Celebrating our Birthdays: My 5th and John's 3rd 1966

Our baby brother Robert James was born May 10, 1966.

And I believe I started Kindergarten that Fall, 1966

 So this is probably Christmas of that same year: 

Grandpa Joe Robert Thomas, Mom, Dad, Grandma "TT" Lois Thomason: Robert James 1966, John Joseph 1963, me 1961, Susan Mary 1959, Kenneth Alan 1957, and Karen Ann 1956 ❤️

   

Silly time with Dad, John, and Susan. John was there too - I'll see if I can find that photo and add it.

 First day of school circa 1967

 and First Communion circa 1969

July 13, 1973

Christmas 1973: Our family of 8 drove from Connecticut to Florida in the family station wagon. Yep. We did that. Here is 12 and 1/2 year old me in the hotel room, reading a newspaper with pen in hand:

 Seven of us at "the happiest place on earth". Dad took this photo, and now he is in THE happiest place, having left this existence 10 August 2016.

I can still remember being in the shop on Main Street Disney World with Mom, just before the parade, I think. We chose  2 charms: Mickey and Disney World

  

A gift from Mom.& Dad for my Golden Birthday  July 13, 1974

8th grade PJHS 1975 combined French classes trip

Tennis racquet 1976

Kristen was born January 10, 1977 

 Kristen and me Summer 1978

Andrew John Lidestri was bron November 6, 1978 

Bob, Mom, and Andrew John Lidestri born Nov 6, 1978

 Senior class trip 1979    and Graduation Day   

Graduation Day was 15 June 1979 Thimble and Sewing Machine charms represent my affinity for sewing that began with a plastic sewing machine that actually worked! I made clothes for my Velvet Doll in the early 70s enjoyed ay least that part of "HomeEc"onomics with Mrs. Phyllis Critcherson

Summer of 1979 I was working at Harbor View with Ken when there was a fire on Father's Day. After that I cleaned a couple of houses in the Borough a few times, then Gram got me a job at Imagine in Old Mistick Village. Karen and Richard Douglas bought me these PJs and hat for Christmas.

Katie was born in January 20, 1980

 Christmas 1980

Jonathan was born March 24, 1981

  

Graduated Thames Valley State Technical College June 1981

Started working at A&T the following Monday

JoAnne Barber and I shared an apartment on Summer St in westerly when I was "settled" in my job, but not ready to "settle in" with Michael... I started seeing Bob. When that all blew up in my face and with a 💔 I moved back to 27 Pawcatuck Ave and began working on a project in Houston, Texas 

The airplane charm represents that first ever flight, and then many more

 The spirit or dove charm next to it is from my Confirmation

I was a programmer and worked closely with engineers for a 3-D Seismic Surveying project for Petty-Ray Geophysical > Geosource [6909 SW Freeway Houston, Texas] I Googled and found a Facebook page for that company and saw "Hello doodlebuggers"! I'd completely forgotten about that word!! And "smudge" ~ George Selectman 

Oh the cowboy boot! Texas for work numerous trips from Spring 1982-Summer 1983 on the stories "gotta million of 'em" ~ Doug Gilbert

 aka Texas roadkill. 

 

 This photo was taken my bedroom Nov 1982. Dad converted it to a dining room for Mom when most of us had moved out of their 900sqft house I must not have been in the basement with John and Bob for very long.  While working in Texas in 1983, my favorite TV show (M*A*S*H) ended it's 11 year run and I called my brother Bob after we'd both watched it. Jessica Lynn Law was born in February 1983. 

This photo was taken the first time I met her:

Fall 1983  9.4.83 Mom gave me when I moved to 34 Moss Street Pawcatuck CT. I did love living by myself, even though the kitchen and bathroom were tiny, they were adorable,  and I had everything I needed. 

This photo was taken at Karen and John's house.  5 George Street, Westerly RI on Thanksgiving 1984.

Baking Christmas Cookies with Mom and Grammy "TT" 1984

Caroline Jean Law (on the right) was born 22 Sept 1985

Carl visited me at Moss Street on New Year's Eve 1986, and just stayed. It was strange, really, and then my landlords reminded me the apartment rental agreement was for 1 person. Awkward So... Carl and in I moved to 4 Trumbull St Stonington CT 1986-1988

  Disneyland California 1987 with Carl who actually smiled when I took a picture of him with Minnie Mouse

We also went to SanJuan Capistrano 

And many drum shops and many "Dateless Figs" gigs. So... This sterling silver,  pearl inset drum is actually the best representation of my 3 year relationship with Dr. Carl

 Mom was not a fan of him or the situation 🙄 🤣

My best days there were when he wasn't there and I got to mow the little lawn and unearthed an adorable little garden that had peonies, a peach treet, four o'clocks and more. I also like walking in the Borough, and playing soccer at Owen's field.

 Fortunately, I met Lynette at A&T, and although she only worked there for a few months, we found common ground in our relationships and volleyball and she quickly became part of our family. 

This was kindof the first LawLaPalooza celebrating June and July Birthdays all together ❤️ 

 Jonathan David at Napatree 

Jess and Me East Beach, Watch Hill 1986 maybe?

I moved my boxes from the moldy basement on Trumbull Ave to a new condo at 11 Michelle Lane Mystic with Lynette 1988.

Tracy Ann was born Feb 20, 1988

 this picture of Tracy on Lynette's shoulder was taken at the party after Brendan's Christening in New Haven late Aug/early Sept 1988

Brendan was born 9 Aug 1988

Lynette and I had fun with our two cats. One was Houdini, who loved getting into my lobster pot coffee table, but then couldn't get out. Drove to Michigan and across the country together 

 

and made this gingerbread house for Christmas 1988

January of 1989 I met Dave at work and was "smitten" people at work called it. Lynette moved to Norwich where she worked for CSC. I moved to Rosealeah Dr Mystic for a minute. I don't know why I never knew until this week (September 29, 2025, exactly where Lynette moved to in Norwich 🤷‍♀️ I didn't know my new roommate,  she was Ernie (from A&T) son's girlfriend and was rarely there but she loved hairspray and hated cleaning. Karen and Mom help me clean the gross mold in bathroom, but I was sad and lonely (and smitten) by the guitar playing, retired Navy Submariner, with a 23' O'Day he named it "Pegasus"

Our first official date was a Navy Yacht Club sail from New London (Thames River) to Block Island, RI on Memorial Day weekend 1989 and shortly thereafter,  I moved into his house at 18 Brook Drive, Hope Valley, RI.

In September 1989 we went to the Newport Boat Show with Pat and Mike Davidson and bought a 1990 Hunter 36 and named it "Definitely!" because everyone kept asking if we were sure about it, even the loan processor at the bank!

 We became engaged on Memorial Day 1990

 

Terry and Caryn Malaghan's wedding 

 July 1, 1990

 Sept 1990

 "through trial, tribulations,  and travail" ~ wedding vows from when we eloped on August 16, 1991 before moving south for his job. I drove by myself with my "stuff" cried most of the way there. Dave and Regina followed. They were going to fly, but Hurricane Bob was heading up the coast (and I didn't know it. No cellphones). Hello!? Red flags 🤪 

We exchanged wedding bands outside of Gloria Jean's Coffee Bean's at Greenbrier Mall in Chesapeake one day after work without telling anyone. 

Michelle Nicole Law was born Feb 15, 1992

Dave, Regina and I first lived in an apartment on Hiawatha Dr while our new house was being built. Mom and Karen came to visit there and saw our not yet finished house at 5973 Glenview Drive, Virginia Beach.

   

May 23, 1992 We sailed from Watch Hill to Old Saybrook and then Norfolk, VA over the next two weeks for our honeymoon. In the fall of 1992, Bob enter the best treatment facility in Montréal : Pavilion Val David Canada. Kerry went two weeks after Bob. 

After an intervention with Bob and Kerru, and Bennie...

Mom went in April 1993. I went to her family closing weekend and knew I wanted what the three of them, and many others, were discovering there, and so... I spent my 32nd birthday in a 28 Day treatment facility, and am eternally grateful 🙏

 These two pictures were take at the family weekend August 3rd? 1993

 

and then we all went back home and my life really began to change :)  Work completely flipped for a number of reasons, and I was relieved to be living a more authentic life. 

Ryan was born 21 Sept 1993

Harrison was born 29 Sept 1993

A great picture of your two healthy,  happy parents at the end of your father's 28day stay.   

Tracy with Harrison John Law winter 1993-94

And this is me and your Granda in Val David Canada Summer 1993 and Fall 1995 

  The whole family went to Montréal after my Dad's closing

Hawai'i 1995 Dave had a 2 week trip for work so I flew (by myself) Wednesday to Wednesday. That Sunday was Mother's Day and we went to the Unity Church of Hawai'i and a power prayer was felt, written,  and answered...

Mother and child and Winnie the Pooh represent the birth of the prayer: On March 21, 1996, I became a Mom. Actually,  I became a Mom on June 15, 1995 🥰

 surprise baby shower at our next door neighbors on Glenview Drive,  Chesapeake,  VA. 1996

March 21, 1996 

This is where we lived when you were born. 

Seattle Space Needle is from our July 1996 for greay grandfather's 100th birthday 

This picture was taken by our friend Deb August 21, 1996 You were 5 months old.

Your father moved to an apartment in NC in September 1996 for his new job at Tangram.

On October 31, 1996, somehow you and I closed on the sale of Glenview Dr and drove with Angie to...

201 Sarabande Dr, Cary NC 

And here is one of you at the back door and me at about the same age

Here is the blog post I created to celebrate the 18+ years Angie was in my life: "Gorgeous weekend to appreciate and remember" 

And here is and entirely separate,  private blog space dedicated to you, Logan Bailey

"Joy With New Eyes"

Amanda Kathryn was born May 19, 1996

Matthew Mitchell was born April 17, 1997

And Nicholas was born Sept 26, 2000 

You were in preschool in 2000 when the famous blizzard hit after Grammy arrived just as Dave and I were heading off on a cruise 🛳 to celebrate his 50th

On Sept 1, 2005 I got a text to check my email  which began... "As of today, my new address is..." exactly 20 years ago today, Sep 1, 2025. He moved out while we were in CT for my parents 50th Wedding Anniversary surprise party. 

In Nov 2006 our divorce was finalized and December 16, 2006, I graduated from Meredith College 

 

January 2007 we went to NYC to see Wicked on Broadway 

Sept 30, 2008 Madeline Kate Lessig was born!!

March 2009

Uncle Ken stayed us on his way to Key West and visited me at Meredith College and we were treated to a tour of the grounds and this photo by Aaron Schettler

What can I possibly say about Misty 

 

 

  

Except, it started out as a wish... and we miss her very much xoxo 

On Sept 1, 2025 I put together a phrase I cut from a magazine and this picture from maybe 2011 based on the "clues" : dress, background, mood, and likely who took the picture: You! :)

I just noticed, I printed the word "ANGEL" when the word I intended to write was "angle" Almost everything except that word is written in cursive. 2 Sep 25 about 6 am and then, another connection point popped up at the end of something I was watch on TV... The sing I was trying to remember was "The Story" by Brandi Carlile from 2010 love it! Listen here

I tried so hard to keep the house. Used every penny of my A&T 401K and then some...  in 2013 we moved to an apartment: 11022 Halesworth Drive Cary 2013-2014 so you could finish Cary High School. Afterwards, we moved to 3016 Farrior Raleigh NC Summer of 2014 and your cousin Amanda was one of our first visitors.

 

   

  Three of our favorite things about living there were our fun young neighbors, the swing they helped us get hung on the huge tree in the front yard, and hiring goats to clean up the back yard for a garden.   

 

  

Plus, it was just over a mile to the back gate of Meredith College where I worked and volunteered in the gardens for more than decade.  This charm represents not only finishing my BA, but also representing the 23+ Program

Grandma Thomason died November 2008

January 2010

 

On November 1, 2018 we left NC and drove with Misty and Kendall to 46 Pawcatuck Ave, but that did not work out the way any of us imagined. Kendall passed that winter and is buried there :(

Kendall and Angie on our screened in porch, a rare shot, now both have passed on ...

We moved to a one bed room apartment on Anthony Road 9.19.2019 and I can't believe we stayed there until 5.13.22.  With a huge amount of help from Lynette, with the purchase and paying for movers, we bought the condo right next door to her: 292 Pequot Avenue 4B better, much better! 

Blog post here

I can well remember Logan saying, "We live here" the one time we swam in the pool together and... "I just want to sit under a tree and draw and not have to walk a mile to do that." Which became my motivation to find our Forever Home. Misty was beginning to fail and the 4th floor was not optimal for the many, many walks per day, and the condo just didn't feel like we were "home" yet.... 

 Nov 26, 2025

And Finally... Our Forever Home 

 photo by Ken Law, at our door (now purple!) Dec 2, 2024 at 6 Dorien Drive Norwich NOW & Forever