tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-227395152024-03-14T00:58:02.164-04:00The MaterNothing fancy, just some plain talk about life in general and me in particular. Empty nests, clawfoot bathtubs, parking-lot trysts, unusual birthday gifts, accordion gigs, worldwide travel. Come along with me!The Materhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14778426906330684079noreply@blogger.comBlogger218125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22739515.post-50502724360860046912013-09-16T16:14:00.002-04:002013-09-16T16:14:54.848-04:00The last time I saw Paris... was the first time I saw Paris. It took me fifty years to realize a dream.
Four years of high-school French with a fiery little nun, Sister Zita Marie, had planted the seed. By senior year, we were only allowed to speak en Francais in the classroom. It was a heady time of hope and vision. We wrote glowing biographies of Jacqueline Kennedy, the elegantly bilingual First Lady, The Materhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14778426906330684079noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22739515.post-757382502731939542013-08-29T18:57:00.000-04:002013-08-29T19:03:23.004-04:00Man with a banjo
My dad, Joe, was a banjo man. He lived through two world wars and a great depression. For him, music was a way to make sense of life's more painful and confounding moments. It was blue-collar therapy.
He was mostly self taught. The music was in his genes. He played through his sorrows but also his joys. I don't think I ever heard a more striking sound. It was a constant in my growing-up The Materhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14778426906330684079noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22739515.post-24434440833927183372011-11-02T09:14:00.016-04:002011-11-02T12:48:49.438-04:00Disturbingly informativeThis past summer I took Sophie on a road trip to my hometown, Philadelphia. While there, she got to see where her mom and uncle grew up, learned to play pool, enjoyed a cheese-steak hoagie, took a train into Center City, and cruised South Street. She had a choice of museums and chose the Mutter, much to my astonishment. Forget the walk-through artifical heart at the Franklin Institute. This kid The Materhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08930405332285748751noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22739515.post-33473775653004829412011-05-30T12:33:00.005-04:002011-05-30T12:42:51.257-04:00For those who did not ...When Johnny comes marching home again,Hurrah, hurrah!We'll give him a hearty welcome then,Hurrah, hurrah!The men will cheer, the boys will shout,The ladies they will all turn out,And we'll all feel gay,When Johnny comes marching home.The old church bell will peal with joy,Hurrah, hurrah!To welcome home our darling boy,Hurrah, hurrah!The village lads and lassies say,With roses they will strew the The Materhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08930405332285748751noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22739515.post-22006037276375763422011-04-19T21:14:00.009-04:002011-04-19T22:28:33.754-04:00Turning tenSophie celebrated her tenth birthday today. My oldest granddaughter went to have her hair cut and streaked (blue) with her momma. I spent the afternoon with little sister, Hannah, who graciously allowed the older sibling to spend some quality time alone with their mater. The girls had just spent the weekend in Boston with their dad and had driven back this morning. Both were wilting by the end ofThe Materhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08930405332285748751noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22739515.post-15847318652776145672011-03-09T22:12:00.010-05:002011-04-18T13:52:24.811-04:00Sweet little-boy soundsAnother cold, blustery day. Knock on the door. My neighbor's car won't start. He thinks his battery needs a jump. I throw my coat on and trudge out onto the seemingly perpetual ground cover of crunchy ice, snow, and gravel which comprises our apartment parking lot. It's been a brutal winter and all of us are just about keeping up. Dead batteries only add to the misery. Last night we had a blast The Materhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08930405332285748751noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22739515.post-72609459976906820652011-01-23T07:24:00.003-05:002011-01-23T08:08:10.338-05:00CabaretWho knows? If we keep practicing, we may take our act on the road ... The Materhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08930405332285748751noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22739515.post-37901668821396699112011-01-22T18:04:00.005-05:002011-01-22T18:46:08.415-05:00Old song, new wisdomHad Sophie for another sleepover and, finally, we got to make some inter-generational music together!I never heard this song before but Sophie introduced me to it today. Irving Berlin. Possibly WWII vintage. My accordion may have drowned out some of the words while Sophie was singing, so I will post them here as the message is timeless, no matter which generation we're a part of ..."It's A LovelyThe Materhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08930405332285748751noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22739515.post-80275624727192835892011-01-18T10:46:00.004-05:002011-01-18T11:41:19.730-05:00Over the rainbow, under the boardwalk, and all points in betweenIt's been almost a year since Sophie started vocal lessons. She loves to sing and the lessons have helped her grow in confidence. Last spring she surprised us all by signing up for her school's talent show. Sophie, Little Miss Introvert, performing in front of her peers and teachers! True grit. This past year, as her parents' divorce became final, she has grown in so many ways. Taller, sharper The Materhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08930405332285748751noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22739515.post-65818550172405902332011-01-17T20:58:00.007-05:002011-01-18T10:46:09.703-05:00YearningThere was a lot of activity at my daughter's house this past weekend. Jenn's friends drove in from Syracuse to build a surprise loft bed for Sophie. The husband, Zeke, is a master craftsman, teaches woodworking to college students. In a two-day period, he managed to create the most amazing bed and free up much needed space beneath for shelves, hooks, a dollhouse and reading nook. Sophie's very The Materhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08930405332285748751noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22739515.post-67650996587830601202010-12-15T22:01:00.013-05:002011-01-18T11:49:28.319-05:00Tidings of comfort and joyThere are moments in my life when I catch a glimpse of something fleeting, something good which hints at hope and endurance. One such moment happened this past week. Daughter Jenn appeared on my doorstep, Santa hat in hand and a mischievous twinkle in her eyes. "Mom, a blogger friend of mine, Neil Kramer, is hosting his annual blog-community holiday celebration online and he wants us to The Materhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08930405332285748751noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22739515.post-7162321471220804702010-05-12T10:09:00.003-04:002010-05-12T11:22:49.551-04:00Matters of the heartI've taken the plunge. After quite a long hiatus, I'm back into the intriguing, amusing, and frustrating world of online dating. It's only been a few weeks but I've already been "quivered" and flirted with by men: a) looking for a mother or grandmother figure. Singlebiker is 29 but "prefers older women". Honey, I could have been changing your diapers; b) Mysteryman is 49 and thinks I'm hot. I The Materhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08930405332285748751noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22739515.post-32980597433101158302010-03-08T20:45:00.007-05:002010-03-08T23:44:10.572-05:00Contracting, expandingMy social network has shrunk since moving up here to be closer to my daughter and her children. This is no one's fault but mine as I have focused mostly on the unexpected transitions occurring within the past couple years, changes which were not part of the future I had planned when I chose to leave job, hometown, and lifelong friends. The cup was supposed to be half full. I even dreamed of an The Materhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08930405332285748751noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22739515.post-81630327228135473912010-01-12T21:49:00.005-05:002010-01-12T23:11:43.822-05:00Music lessonsSophie loves to sing. Since she was a toddler, she would delight us with her sweet voice. As she got older, the once familiar nursery-rhyme songs turned not only to show tunes and pop music but also to original, lyrical creations of her own. I love that she finds joy in making music. I started my own music lessons at the age of eight. Now that she was the same age, what better Christmas present The Materhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08930405332285748751noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22739515.post-57733643145239489462009-12-31T13:05:00.003-05:002009-12-31T13:39:52.293-05:00DecadeTen years ago, I was ... selling a house which was a home for thirty years ... finalizing a divorce while celebrating my daughter's marriage ... anticipating becoming a grandmother for the very first time ... working full time as a college administrator and advisor ... surrounded by a network of family and friends ... twenty-five pounds lighter ... moving into my very first apartment ... startingThe Materhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08930405332285748751noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22739515.post-69615012618878423182009-12-09T16:59:00.004-05:002009-12-09T17:39:08.152-05:00CinderellaWe had looked in several stores already, hand in hand as we searched for the perfect dress for Sophie's holiday concert. I use the term 'holiday' loosely. Sadly, this year's songs had little to do with the religious traditions of the season. Certain parents had objected to the idea of actually singing carols and folk songs so the school played it safe and chose songs about the environment, The Materhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08930405332285748751noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22739515.post-33792942750379090692009-08-18T15:36:00.009-04:002010-04-23T11:53:56.271-04:00Watch the tram carThis has been a whirlwind of a summer and I'm so overdue here. Let me share a rundown ... The month of July brought: unemployment, birthday-gift trip to Vancouver BC (tour of a television set, hobnobbing with the cast and production crew of Sanctuary), the official "Mattern Cousin Reunion" with the Pacific Northwest Matterns descending on us here in the Berkshires, followed by a three-day August The Materhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08930405332285748751noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22739515.post-3392753044292621702009-07-03T17:35:00.006-04:002009-07-04T13:32:16.573-04:00UpliftingIt had to happen. And today was a perfect day to make it happen.My daughter has been taking the heat all week for an article she had published in the Boston Globe. Writing in her usual humorous and self-deprecatory style, Jenn related how she and her two little girls handle the everyday occurrences of living in a very small house and how they often share moments of nudity (and hilarity). The The Materhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08930405332285748751noreply@blogger.com36tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22739515.post-58320254998188478382009-06-22T22:02:00.005-04:002009-06-22T22:26:57.258-04:00Pilgrim soulTo my daughter on her birthday, a poem by David Whyte from The House of Belonging.... one small thingI've learned these years,how to be alone,and at the edge of alonenesshow to be found by the world.Innocence is what we allowto be gifted back to usonce we've given ourselves away.There is one world only,the one to which we gave ourselvesutterly, and to which one daywe are blessed to return.I love The Materhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08930405332285748751noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22739515.post-55174966959429970002009-05-10T08:25:00.012-04:002009-05-10T13:34:14.158-04:00The wonder of it allTwice in my life, I became a mother. I was not ready, at first, for the tremendous responsibility of holding that tiny newborn and trying to calm her cries, giving her what she needed. Those first few weeks were a blur of anxiety and apprehension. Am I doing it right? The it, of course, being motherhood. My mother only smiled back at me, wisely and mysteriously. She knew what I had yet to learn, The Materhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08930405332285748751noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22739515.post-40715262063749747032009-05-01T08:13:00.008-04:002009-05-01T09:10:18.168-04:00Swimming lessonsI usually write positive things but this seems the perfect day to release some bad news at the micro level. My job is 'being eliminated' on July 1. My boss told me the same afternoon I found out that I have some dental problems. The dental problems have turned into three surgical procedures. No dental plan. Small amount of savings as a nest egg for the unemployment will now be re-directed to the The Materhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08930405332285748751noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22739515.post-90144744513045517662009-04-20T16:31:00.008-04:002009-04-20T20:38:09.876-04:00Declarative sentences"I'm glad you moved here, Babci."It was spoken softly by the little dark-haired girl descending my staircase. I was in back of her and almost missed the spontaneous words. Sophie's sincerity caught me by surprise."Sophie, I'm glad I moved up here too, to watch you and Hannah grow.""You would have missed a lot.""I know." Oh, dear heart, I know. Believe me, I know."Thank you, Babci, for having me The Materhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08930405332285748751noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22739515.post-384906384895831472009-04-05T17:11:00.006-04:002009-04-05T18:26:36.692-04:00Lambs and sinnersMarch has suddenly morphed into early April and still the cold lingers. Sophie spent another delightful weekend sleepover and we raced to the car last night while blowing snow tickled our faces. At least Easter will be arriving soon with its message of renewal and redemption. I think I need both. I've been a bad girl.Sophie and Hannah and their mommy had treated me to dinner out a few weeks ago The Materhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08930405332285748751noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22739515.post-7028744525974872682009-03-30T20:47:00.016-04:002009-05-02T08:03:42.891-04:00MaryMy mom was born in Greenfield, Massachusetts. Greenfield is less than an hour away from where I, my daughter and granddaughters now live. I find this quite amazing considering that all our family stories are set in Philadelphia.Just why Mom was born in New England remains a family mystery. Philadelphia was where she and her folks set down roots, where I was to grow up. Perhaps my granddad (who The Materhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08930405332285748751noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22739515.post-36611953608893441902009-03-15T08:43:00.010-04:002009-03-15T09:50:20.464-04:00Love notesYes, today's the day. My Medicare card is on its way. I am turning the big "65" and have very mixed feelings about this whole getting older thing. At 60, I felt much more svelte, alive and adventurous. A lot has changed these past swift five years. Some good. Some not so good. Life happens, eh? I am working again, full time. Retirement seems farther away than ever now that the Ponzi schemers on The Materhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08930405332285748751noreply@blogger.com13