Reflecting on each charm on my charm bracelet 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
My story began July 13, 1961
I already had 2 big sisters, and a big brother. Karen was born March 9, 1956 so she is 5 years and 4 months older; Ken was born June 15, 1957 so he is 4 years and 1 month older; Susan was born Oct 18, 1959 so she is 1yr and 9 months older.
My Mom, Nancy Ann Thomason Law was 25 and my Dad, John Byron Law was 27.
This picture was taken around Christmas 1959, not long after the Law Family moved into the house that Jack Built on Pawcatuck Ave.
Summer 1960 Mom with Karen, Ken, and Susan Mary ❤️
For my 2nd birthday, I got a baby brother 💙
This is likely that christmas (1963) with my two sisters, Karen and Susan
Our baby brother Robert James was born May 10, 1966.
Celebrating our Birthdays: My 5th and John's 3rd 1966
And I believe I started Kindergarten that Fall, 1966
So this is Christmas of that same year:
May? 1967 Kindergarten Graduation with TQ
Grandpa Joe Robert Thomason holding Robert James, Mom, Dad, Grandma "TT" Lois Thomason. Susan Mary, Karen Ann, Kenneth Alan, John Joseph, Jacquelyn Beth, and Kenneth Alan ❤️
Silly time with Dad, John, and Susan
First day of school circa 1967
and First Communion circa 1969July 13, 1973
Christmas 1973: Our family of 8 drove 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
Kristen was born January 10, 1977
Kristen and me Summer 1978
Andrew John Lidestri was born 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 gave 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 down" with Michael Morrone... I started seeing Bob LaChappelle. 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 s
terling 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 I walked around the Boro, sat on the jetty nearby, and tended to the little lawn. I unearthed an adorable garden that had peonies, a peach tree, four o'clocks and more. I started playing soccer at Owen's field with the "old ladies" 18-40 and met Cheryl Rand.
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 kind of 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" (as someone 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'd named "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. We met our "new best friends, Pat and Mike Davidson, 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 and bought a 1990 Hunter 36. We named it "Definitely!" because everyone (including the loan processor at the bank!) kept asking if we were sure about this"
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 entered a wonderful treatment facility in Montréal : Pavilion Val David Canada. Kerry went two weeks after Bob, and 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. 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 Grandpa in Val David Canada Summer 1993 and Fall 1995
The whole family went to Montréal after my Dad's closing
Hawai'i 1995 you father 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 where a powerful 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...
20
1 Sarabande Dr, Cary NC 
And here is one of you at the back door and me at about the same age
And here is and entirely separate, private blog space dedicated to you, Logan Bailey
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
December 10, 2007, my first official many great nieces was born. Ava Rose Lidestri
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.
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!
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
14 Sept 25
tagline:
19 Sept 25 Watch Hill, RI
19 Sept 25 Watch Hill, RI
