Bella is moving onward and upward with her life and I KNOW she is going to do amazing and great things!

In the past ten days, Bella turned 18, went to prom, went to orientation, and graduated yesterday.

She leaves for Costa Rica tomorrow for an 11 day adventure with the same company she has been away with for the past three years.

That's a lot on one kids plate!

Last week was the senior breakfast, the senior bar-b-que, the senior awards dinner and time to get ready for graduation.

The Hen Hud Class of 2015 is a bright class. They had 78 Presidential scholars. There are kids headed to schools from East to West (California) and North (Canada) to South (Arizona, Florida). Ivy league schools, almost ivy, top 20, community, military and undecided. They are an adventurous group.

Bella was able to be a part of the quartet of young women singing the National Anthem as well as a few other pieces, including the senior song, "I Lived." (That song was also used as the senior dance piece. It is almost guaranteed to make me cry whenever I hear it.)

There were more than a few moving moments during this ceremony. The speeches were excellent. Bruce & Kathy getting their son Nicky's degree for him, as he is already at the Air Force Academy. Debbie presenting her daughter with her diploma. Seeing the pictures of Kate and Jack.

Photo credits: Debbie and Claire ~ thank you so much!

A shout out to the talented Sam Tetro for creating a senior video that had me weeping from the first note of the song "Home" to the ending videos. Bravo!

After the ceremony, 22 of us headed to Table 9 for a celebratory meal. It was so much fun! My sister Jane got this picture as they brought out dessert.

This year, the high school added this fun feature to our scrolling billboard - so exciting to see where the kids are all heading!

In August, Bella will be a freshman at the University of Vermont. It was her first choice of schools, so I am delighted for her.

Last week, we headed up to Burlington for orientation. It was a fantastic three days - seeing the campus, meeting new friends, both Bella and I - and having a chance to catch up with my niece Caitlan and her boyfriend Dave. Caitlan is a UVM alumni and remained in Burlington after graduation. They gave us a tour around town and heads up on the best places to get a bite to eat. We had dinner at a divine restaurant with them, catching up and getting to know Dave. (We like him a lot!)

Judging from Bella's reaction to orientation, I am assured she will not only get along stupendously with her roommate, but she will have a most marvelous time.

Like most parents, I am particularly proud of my kids. It's been an honor to raise Bella. She is confident, sassy, caring, hilarious, and one of my favorite people to take a road trip with. Ninety percent of the time I love her music. The other 10% of the time, I need quiet. (She hates that 10% for the record.)

Here's what I know about my Bella:

• She has a smile that lights a room
  
• She loves her friends
  
• She loves having them hang out here
  
• She loves a Carvel run
  
• She is far more sensitive than she will ever let on
  
• She honestly loves school
  
• She likes to get good grades
  
• She is not afraid to go out into the world and be herself
  
• She knows I adore her

OH (!) the places I expect this kid to go.

Congratulations my Bella Girl!

I love you more than you will ever know...until you have your own kids.

Happy, Happy EVERYTHING!

xo

Bella and I, along with my sister Jane and her daughter Colleen, and our friend Jean and her daughter Caleigh saw GLEE Live a few times.

All three girls graduated this year ~ Col and Caleigh from Yorktown High School on Saturday.

Colleen and Caleigh are both headed to SUNY Plattsburgh in the fall! Right across the lake from Bella.

Since the girls AND the show graduated this year, I thought, here's the perfect version to share.

Each of you have YEARS to LIVE.

DO it!

xoxo

Last Saturday was the end of a very long week for me. I was tired and fried and had seen the evolution of more updos in a 24 hour period than I ever imagined I would.

The weather was crappy on and off all day. Damp. Dismal. Even the occasional downpour.

At the end of this very long week I was going to a walk along the Hudson River to celebrate the beginning of summer. The summer solstice, the day with the most light in it.

I was in no mood for it. I was tired. I was drained. I wanted to go home to jammies and a book and HGTV.

However, along with Kacey and Demitra, I knew I had to show up. I knew I had to put on my big girl pants, and rain poncho, and hat. So, off to the river I went.

We changed the time. We changed the meeting point. We were starting at 8:00. Nope, scratch that, we're starting at 7:00. We're meeting at the top. Nope, we're meeting at the bottom.

Yes, we did all that. Ultimately, those of us who were at the lower parking lot met up with those from the upper lot who walked down and met us. I got there at 7:00 and others staggered in a bit later. In total we had nine women who needed this walk.

It appears more than one of us had the same kind of week. There was exhaustion and frustration and pent up nerves.

And then we gathered. And we walked. And Kacey brought along candles in lanterns. And we chit chatted.

We got to the end of the paved walk where there is a magnificent sun dial and sculpture commemorating 9/11. There was zero rain.

Demitra, as is our tradition, blessed the evening. Kacey read something from "Sanya Says." We went around the circle, as is also now our tradition, and said a few things we were grateful for. Kacey and I had brought all of the intentions that had been written at our past events. We had been saving them to give them up to the universe for all these months.

There is power in having water, and women, and fire all gathered together for good. Add in the song below, and it was extraordinary.

This was a few days after Charleston and we vowed that collectively we would continue to spread love to the best of our abilities. Eight white women and one black women, holding hands, praying, and doing a tiny bit to help each other and the earth.

I brought sparklers and we lit the night with joy and laughter. When we cleaned everything up, we marveled at being in such a magnificent place, in the dark, ultimately feeling one million percent better than when we arrived.

As is now also one of our traditions, we walked the half mile or so back in silence. Each of us immersed in our own thoughts - for our own good and for the good of all around us.

It was now about 9:30 and we were energized and invigorated and hungry. So, off to the diner we went to continue sharing the love.

YOU would have loved it.

Our next event is next Tuesday, June 30.

Join us at Hudson House on Main Street in Cold Spring, NY from 6pm - 8pm. 

The unforgettable Rock and Roll Randy Patterson will lead a lively and interactive workshop where we will discuss the four distinct personality types. Which one are you? And how can you best get along with the others? 

$5 per person. Cash bar.

Please text Kacey at 914.323.8343 to RSVP.

We invite you to join us at any of our events. 

We have created a Facebook Page you are welcome to join, A Circle of Women. Between the three of us, all of our events are shared collectively on that page, our own FB pages as well as via email and this blog.

I hope to see you at an event soon!

xo

This is a glorious instrumental that will absolutely soothe your soul, calm your nerves and make you feel at ease.

https://youtu.be/BJMIQRfXfPY

My mother has said on many occasions, that for parents, the busiest months of the year are September and June; new beginnings and endings.

Hear, hear, I agree, amen, and a robust, "SERIOUSLY!"

Let's play catch up, shall we?

Peter finished his freshman year at college and returned home on Mother's Day. He had some well deserved horizontal time for a couple of days. He started working on the Thursday after he came home and has been at it Monday through Friday ever since. He is helping out a friend who is a DJ at big events. "Mom, here's the truth about drunk women. They are hilarious. NOT very pretty...but hilarious." (As if men are all that attractive in the same state...) He is playing baseball and softball. He goes to the gym every day. He has a new (for him) truck that you can hear coming from quite a distance away. He loves it. He tends to be the voice of reason more often than not in this house. It's terrific to have him home.

Bella's 18th birthday was last Wednesday night. She and I went out to dinner as the men in the house had other obligations they needed to attend to.

Thursday was the prom. This is my favorite close up of the 150+ pictures taken that night.

Bella's dress was spectacular. She took pictures with all the guys she has been friends with for years and it confused a friend of mine on FB because she couldn't figure out who her date was. Because this girl is so awesome, she went without a date. And had a superior time.

The kids all slept here after prom and were up and at 'em to Seaside, NJ (along with MANY other high schools, apparently) by 9:15 Friday morning. A grand time was had by all!

All of Bella's exams are done. This allows her to sleep in and relax after an incredibly hectic senior schedule.

The salon has been super busy with proms, weddings, and everyday hair. We have a couple of more weeks of updos galore and then we can go back to color and cutting and keratins - THE must have hair treatment as we head into the summer months of frizz.

Kacey, Demitra and I are hosting a Solstice Walk along the Hudson River on Saturday, June 20 to celebrate the light of the solstice. 

We will, of course, have a blessing, no doubt a meditation, a few other beautiful rituals, and no doubt a lovely time.

If you would like to join us, we are meeting at the parking lot by the fields (and the bathroom), past Senasqua and the Croton Yacht Club, at 8:00PM. There is no charge for this event.

xo

Kacey, Demitra and I had an entirely different day planned for yesterday. But, as Demitra pointed out (and I knew) Mercury is totally in retrograde, and as such, things change. We ended moving from an indoor venue to the peaceful, beautiful Chuang Yen Monastery. Thanks to Kacey for coming up with the inspiring location.

Kacey got us started. As always, Demitra led us in a beautiful blessing. And then we walked. In quiet.

I have had a lot of noise, chatter, phones ringing, and blow dryers in my life. And as much as I am "on" while at the salon, I am someone who craves quiet and solitude. I need peace. I need to retreat into my own little world and come out when I am ready. I have honestly not had that for far too long.

Today, we spent a small bit of time, probably ten minutes, in quiet contemplation of the women who have guided us - past, present and future.

We walked in silence to the "Lady on the Lake" (the goddess Kuan Yin, an 18' stature that was placed there on 4-28-94) and tossed three stones in honor of our amazing women. (That's where the picture up top was taken.)

As we walked along we came upon gorgeous sights.

We walked back to the Great Buddha Hall - a vast and glorious space to spend in quiet contemplation. It is the home to the largest Buddha in the Western Hemisphere. At 37 feet tall and surrounded by 10,000 tiny Buddhas, it is a spectacular sight to behold. We took our shoes off and entered.

The woman on the floor was chanting her morning prayers the entire time I was in the hall. It was soft and lyrical; her song filled the cavernous space with a lilting joy. As much as it is a place of reverence, there was the sound of young children laughing and running through the space. Life, it is always happening.

We walked back to the parking lot and shared a quick tailgate snack. We mingled with our new friends. We pulled cards from Amy's lovely oracle deck. Corinne took a short, wonderful video asking each of us to share what "got" from the day. Demitra finished the day with a blessing of goodbye and then everyone began their day, again, in my case, a little more peacefully than two hours before.

As soon as I turned right out of the driveway, the skies opened up. Leaving me feeling refreshed, clean, and grateful, as always for the power of women.

xo

I love listening to Snatum Kaur.
Her music makes me feel uplifted, present and delighted.

https://youtu.be/gPbmJwHmbDA