In many ways, my father’s world came to an end in 1982 when our mother passed away. He quit teaching and largely withdrew. Politics became his new passion and he loved bantering at the Bagel Barrel. For over 30 years my Dad would write to me at least once a week, often railing against one political wrong or another. No matter where I was in the world;Italy, Panama, or the Middle East, my Dad’s letters were a comforting constant, which I will miss.

My grandpap waited thirty years, all the while still madly in love with my grandmother. I’m not the most religious person in the world, but I truly believe that somewhere, somehow they’re finally reunited. <3 

He was a month and a half shy of turning eighty-five, my lucky number and personal [age] life goal. 

Much sorrow.  

I have so much emotion welling up beneath my skin and nothing is finding its way to my mouth.

Bleach, bleach and more bleach!

I didn’t particularly care for the fact that the semi-permanent pink/red dye that I used on my hair the other day is already fading. I want something that stays as bold as it was when it was first colored. So here we go, permanent red hair dye. Let’s get this show on the road.  

• A lot of fuschia and a little yellow make red.
• Red and yellow make orange.
• Yellow and turquoise* make green.
• A lot of turquoise* plus a little fuschia makes blue.
• A little turquoise plus a lot of fuschia makes purple.

*Remember to double the amounts of turquoise as compared to the other colors.