2023 Retrospective Perspective

I bring to you a blog post capturing my year in photos. It was a good year, overall, with some bumps along the road, especially this last month of December, when I had to close my yoga studio for one month due to flooding and the damage it caused.

Though many of the photos below are beautiful, my life is not all a bed of roses, you see. I’ve been around long enough to know that no one’s life is easy all the time. So when you see gorgeous retreat photos of Sicily, Iceland, and Greece below, you must know that a lot of work goes on before the start of each retreat. That smile you see is real because I did all the work behind the scenes to get to the point where the photo is being taken. And when you see a welcoming yoga studio, you have to know that it didn’t just appear. For years, I worked for everyone else until three and a half years ago, when I set up my own studio. When you see me smiling on one of my retreats, alone or with a group of yogis, you have to know that seemingly perfect moment or posture (asana) didn’t just appear out of thin air. Effort, consistency, fortitude, hard work, tenacity, honesty, a strong work ethic, a strong sense of putting one’s best foot forward, genuinely believing in the physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual benefits of the yoga practice…and, quite simply, showing up day after day, even if just one person shows up for class, and showing up even when your sister is dying of COVID..that’s the real truth behind the photos. 

It’s no secret. You just show up and do your best, day after day. When I teach, I leave my  problems behind and step into the sacred space that is love and kindness. There’s a Sicilian saying that goes along the lines of The Bitter with the Sweet or The Thorns  With the Roses.  It goes like this, according to my mamma: “Lu Signiuruzzu li cosi, li fici dritti, vinni lu diavulu e li sturcìu.” God made things straight, and then along came the devil and twisted things up.”  Yeah, mamma got it right. Things get a bit twisted every now and then. People die and then we learn to carry the memory of those we love in our hearts. Studios close. Repairs are made. Studios reopen!

I was looking through some papers and came across this beautiful quote written some years ago by Leslie Shattuck from Vashon, Washington:

Appreciate what you have, because someone, somewhere, only dreams of being as fortunate as you are.

Mostly what I want to say is Thank You.

Thank you, family and friends.

Thank you, to the yogis who have taken classes with me for nearly 28 years and thank you to the yogis who have just recently discovered the studio and my teaching (in-studio and online) and who have started taking classes with me.

Thank you to my blog readers, for your interest and your comments.

Thank you to small business supporters. I could not do what I do without your support.

Thank you to everyone who offered to help me during my horrible studio flooding. I’ve had a really hard time, emotionally and financially, and I so appreciate your reaching out. I am feeling better now that the cracked foundation has been repaired, the dry wall done, and the flooring installation now underway. All restoration will be done at the 11th hour and I will reopen the studio on Tuesday, January 2.  The best way to help me is to help spread the word about my classes, workshops, and other offerings in 2024.

Most importantly, thank you to all who help spread light, joy, and peace in this needy world, a world hungering for kindness.

Wishing you, to all of you, a health-filled, joyful, successful, and peaceful New Year 2024.

Namaste, Fran

*************

January and February

Off to a strong start with the in-studio and live stream classes in full swing. My heart is so happy because I have a studio where yogis have a welcoming space to practice yoga in a peaceful, healthy environment. As you do yoga, you can relax and let the best of you shine through.

March

A yoga retreat in tropical Costa Rica.  Our youngest yogi was Baby Nora. So much fun to have her on board. And running a retreat with Laurie Leonetti is one of the best experiences.

Hard to pare down to just four photos, but here you go: Pura Vida!! 

April

Another year without Toni in this world. On the two-year anniversary of her COVID death, I made an altar for her once again.  My heart still aches from the loss of my special sister Toni. She comes to me in my dreams. In my dreams, I see no traces of the tracheotomy, no traces of pain.  She is loving, wise, and beautiful. She is whole. I think about her every day. She is a part of the fabric of my being.

And then there is Yoga in Sicily. Dreamy! This was the year of retreats. In 2024, I will take a break from leading international retreats and resume in 2025.  Here’s a memory of Sicily, the Pearl of the Mediterranean. It’s hard to pare down the Sicily photos!

Sicily Villa Saracena Clouds Beautiful!

Sicily Villa Saracena Clouds Beautiful!

And I celebrated 35 years of my life with Rick!

May

I celebrated Kathryn’s birthday in Santa Barbara, California. A short sweet visit. We enjoyed each other’s company. Enjoyed her Bengal Kitties, and I took a bunch of rose photos at the Santa Barbara Rose Garden.

June

Get Fit Yogis class goin’ strong. After a half hour of yoga, followed by weights, cardio, and core workout, the class gets to chill out for 15 minutes. Pure Bliss!

July

I guess you’d say I work a lot. I do!  I love teaching. And here is Yoga in the Park. It’s an annual summer highlight! Next year, I will start as soon as it is warm enough to be outdoors!  And I will go as long as weather permits us to be outside doing yoga!

My nephew John and family came to Washington for a visit! We went to Leavenworth for a week. OH, my heart!  I love them so much!

August

For the first time, I floated a lantern at Green Lake on the 78th anniversary of the bombing of Hiroshima. This is a sobering and  meaningful annual event promoting peace.

September

And a retreat in Iceland. A week filled with Yoga, hiking, hot springs, glaciers, and otherworldly Landscapes. One of my favorite places!

October

I came home from Iceland, taught a week and a half at the studio, then took off again for two two-week back-to-back retreats in Greece. OY!

As I mentioned above, I overdid the retreats this year, so I will be taking a break from International Retreats until 2025. In 2024, I will focus on my studio offerings. Maybe I’ll even be able to blog a bit more in 2024. That’s the plan, Stan.  Some cool events/classes/workshops/local day and weekend retreats coming your way. Stay tuned!

Came home from Greece and immediately flew back east to Massachusetts to attend my cousin Fran’s Memorial Service in Plymouth. A grand adieu to my dear cousin. Sis Zina and I were hosted by our cousins, John, Anne, and Chris Gallo.  We loved our time with them. We hope to see more of them, under happier circumstances.

November

A home-style retreat in Gig Harbor, Washington. Tiffany & Family & Friends used to attend an annual weekend yoga retreat at our Ocean Shores sanctuary and home until we sold it in 2019.  Post-pandemic, we have started up again in Gig Harbor.

And the end of November holds two bundled celebrations: Thanksgiving and my birthday. Thank you, Barbara and Denise, for hosting us in your new home on Whidbey Island. This photo was taken on the morning of November 25, my birthday:

December

A flooding incident forced me to close my studio most of December. It’s been a hard time, though I am happy to report that the studio is being renovated and I will be able to reopen on Tuesday, January 2. Note: I am not including photos of the damage until the renovation is complete on Friday evening this week!

Hallelujah!

And here are the dreamy sunsets of December! If you live in or around the Seattle area, I know you saw these sunsets, too!

     Wishing you a happy New Year 2024!

http://www.frangallo.com

A Retrospective: 2022

This blog post brings you wishes for a Happy New Year filled with joy, peace, love, the best of health, and much success in all your endeavors.

What a year this has been! I feel fortunate to have time to reflect on this past year. I take this time to thank you for being a part of my readership, for your presence in my life, and for being on the yoga journey with me.  In this blog, I am posting my favorite photos from each month of 2022. 

January 9, 2022 Temperatures in Seattle dipped below freezing and parts of Green Lake were frozen solid. I marveled at the skating ducks, who appeared to be walking on water.

January 14, 2022  A sunrise like no other I have ever seen before! It was a Friday, my day off.  I woke up early, went to my yoga studio to do a workout before sunrise. As I was working out, I noticed the sky was purple and deep pink, so I rushed across the street to Green Lake and below is what I saw. The sky kept changing, a series of unrepeatable moments in time.

Same morning:

February 16, 2022 I hosted two yoga retreats back-to-back in lush, tropical Costa Rica. The best part of Costa Rica? …the yogis on the retreat, working and collaborating with my friend and fitness coach, Laurie Leonetti, being at our perfect retreat venue in Uvita, and the concept of Pura Vida, the “Pure Life” philosophy of Costa Rica, a country said to be the “happiest country” in the world.

March 12, 2022 Rick and I took a trip to Granville, Ohio to visit our family: John, Jenna, June, and Jade. I basked in family love and warmth, and in the wonder of being with children, who see the world through fresh, innocent eyes. It was super hard to chose just one photo, but this one is my favorite.  Here is Uncle Ricky reading to our grandnieces.

April 6, 2022 I made a small memorial altar for my sister, Toni, and burnt a candle all day in honor of the one year anniversary of losing her to Covid. Over the course of the day, friends and students brought flowers, more candles, and cards. I couldn’t believe the swift passage of time, but I felt, with relief, that I had survived a whole year without her physical presence. I was reminded of the deep support of my loving family and community of friends and students, who held me up when I felt I would crumble. A shattered heart does mend and those who leave us physically live on in our hearts. Toni taught us about kindness and courage. Her life makes us think about the true meaning of legacy.  What intangible gifts will we leave behind when our time comes to say goodbye?

April 14, 2022  Also in April, the Adaptive Yoga Therapy yogis started coming to my Green Lake  yoga studio! The first time Jonah came to the studio, he laughed nearly the whole 30 minutes! He was thrilled to be coming to a yoga studio for his yoga sessions.  Both Jonah and Maggie benefit from Adaptive Yoga Therapy in many ways, but also in different ways since they are different people with varying needs. I can say that they leave the studio feeling accomplished and satisfied.  Adaptive Yoga Therapy helps Maggie with her balance, organizational skills, focusing skills, and we have fun. Adaptive Yoga Therapy helps Jonah by stretching his tight legs, hips, and back. He feels more comfortable in his body. Stretching relaxes both Jonah and Maggie. Plus they get a huge dose of love from me. In the photos below, Maggie rolls her mat at the end of her yoga session (this is an important skill requiring a lot of focus) and Jonah gets a great spinal stretch!

May 14, 2022 Rick and I went on a nice day trip to see Woody and Ginger in Eastern Washington. The meadow and pine forest was filled with wildflowers. Balsam Root flowers were in full bloom as you can see from the photo below. The other flower is a wild rose with dew on it (rose photo taken on Whidbey Island). And yes, the wild roses are very fragrant.

June 16, 2022 Barbara and Denise joined me on a visit to see Anne Tiber (also known as “Los Osos Anne” or “Anegrey”, which sounds like Annie Grey) in the Morro Bay area of California. Anne was my father-in-law’s companion for the last five years of his life. She is a mother-figure for me. I admire and love her so much.  Barbara and Denise fell in love with her, too. Anne is very charming, engaging, and easy to love.

July 16, 2022 I held an outdoor home-style yoga day retreat in Lakemont, Washington (near Bellevue). We had our fingers crossed that summer really would be in full swing by July and it was! A lovely group of yogis gathered for a day of yoga. We enjoyed a Malaysian-style lunch, and a hike on the nearby trails (the house is surrounded by forest). It was an unforgettable experience.

August, 2022 August brings us this gorgeous yellow rose from Janet’s garden in Anacortes, Washington. On this same day, I went on a day hike with Don and Simone. Don is photographed below with Annie, who is aging and now needs to be carried on hikes.  I also held another yoga day retreat. This one was on Vashon at the Mukai Farm & Garden. A wonderful group of yogis gathered and the retreat was held entirely outdoors. We enjoyed a homemade lunch lovingly made by organic farmer, Karen Biondo of Vashon Island. We also enjoyed a tea ceremony with tea master, Kyoko Matsuda. Once again, we were blessed with perfect weather.

August 14, 2022 Vashon Yoga Day Retreat, Mukai Farm & Garden (the ice-breaker in full swing before the yoga session begins)

August, 2022 A healthy hydrangea from Simone’s garden. Over the years, I have been inspired to photograph many of her flowers. She definitely has a green thumb and her garden is delightful.

August 24, 2022 Rick and I spent a weekend in Mazama with Kathryn, Ben, and their kitties. I have many photos from our weekend visit in the Cascade Mountains, but this one really captured the scene. Best dinner setting ever.

September 2022 Iceland! If you are a photographer, then you need to spend some time in Iceland and capture this otherworldly landscape.  In September, I was in Iceland, where I led a yoga retreat. It is so hard to choose only two photos, but here they are: the Northern Lights  (Note: Photo taken by Hana) and a photo of my boots, cleats and all, standing on Iceland’s largest glacier, Langjökull.  It looks like I am levitating.

Hana northern lights

October 2022 Autumn at Green Lake (Seattle). I love my neighborhood.  So happy to live and work here.

November 2022 Thanksgiving and birthday travels to NYC  (photo below of me sitting on Hans Christian Andersen’s lap in Central Park, photo taken by Marilyn). Onward to Salisbury, Maryland to see Zina and family for Thanksgiving, our birthdays (Zina’s and my birthday are four years and three days apart), and a quick stop-over in Alexandria, Virginia to visit Tom and Ursula.

December 2022 Finally! The in-studio yoga classes are starting to draw more in-studio yogis. Yay! It is a great big joy to own a studio and to offer both in-studio and online (Zoom and Facebook Livestream) yoga classes. Dare I say I am feeling like I can lift my feet over the emotional wreckage of the pandemic and bravely walk forward? We, dear readers, are survivors. What have we learned? What wisdom shall we carry?

Photo below from one of my Get Fit Yogis classes. Get Fit Yogis is offered four times weekly as an in-studio only drop-in class. This 75-minute class is a combination of Hatha yoga (30 minutes) + weights and core work  (30 minutes) + relaxation (15 minutes).

December 2022  Still a few more days to enjoy here in Zihuatanejo, Mexico. This has been a perfect time to reset, relax, rest, and rejuvenate.

Please let me know which photo/s are your favorite in the comments below!

Namaste, Fran

Invincible

Here we are in the midst of the holiday season. Rick and I have put up a cheerful strings of lights in the yoga studio, our holiday lights are up on the condo balcony, and I am busy as ever, wrapping up the year.

Over the Thanksgiving holiday, I went to the East Coast to visit family and friends.  Had a wonderful time all around. It was also my birthday, so, when I arrived in Salisbury, Maryland, my sister Zina treated me to a Yoga Nidra class with Monica. It was wonderfully relaxing. Monica read the following poem by Albert Camus. I hope you will like this as much as I do:

In the midst of hate, I found there was, within me, an invincible love.

In the midst of tears, I found there was, within me, an invincible smile.

In the midst of chaos, I found there was, within me, an invincible calm.

I realized, through it all, that…

In the midst of winter, I found there was, within me, an invincible summer.

And that makes me happy.

For it says that no matter how hard the world pushes against me,

within me, there’s something stronger-

something better, pushing right back.

-Albert Camus  (French-Algerian philosopher, author, journalist)

I am adding to the above poem, some photos from my time on the East Coast. Enjoy the photos.

Central Park

Here I am, sitting on Hans Christian Anderson’s lap and reading “The Ugly Duckling” in Central Park! (Photo by Marilyn)

New York Botanical Garden, in the Bronx

Fabulous Walking Tour of Harlem with our guide, Neil Shoemaker, of Harlem Tours

Almost-Birthday Twins  Zina and I have almost the same birthday. Hers is on November 22 and mine is on November 25. Often one of our birthdays falls on Thanksgiving. Here is Zina on her brand new yellow beach bike, a birthday gift from her son Adam, his wife Aista, and their kids, Thomas and Amelia. (Photo by Jim)

Making Pumpkin Pies for Thanksgiving (photo by Zina)

And why not a picture of me when I was a kid?

Zina’s kitty, Bella

Taking a walk with my brother-in-law, Jim, and dog Bailey. (photo by Zina)

Long Shadows of Late November, Maryland

Sunset Dancer Pose on the Verrazano Bridge (photo by Zina)

East Of The Mountains

East of the Mountains  You hear that expression a lot living here in Seattle. East of the mountains is where we go for  sunny warm weather in the summer, apples in the fall, skiing in the winter, and gorgeous wildflowers in the spring. Last Saturday, Rick and I drove through rain, over to Pine Hills, east of the mountains, where rain gave way to mist, and mist gave way to dramatic clouds and bursts of sunshine. There, we spent the day with our friends and fellow yogis, Ginger and Woody.  We did a five-mile walk on their pine-wooded property and had a magical visit.

wildflowers and green meadows

pine trees and pine cones

an old abandoned cabin about to be restored

groundskeeper-jack-of-many-trades Shane welcoming us to have a look around

the socked-in rainfall turned to face-moisturizing misty drops

tell me more about how you met Patty, I ask Ginger. what will you miss most about her, I ask.

i imagine the bright yellow balsam wildflowers and deep blue camas flowers will smile as the Wednesday Walkers approach with the ashen treasure in their hands

ashes of a dear friend about to be strewn in the alpine-forested meadow, ashes among the late spring wildflowers, memories of Patty carried by the wind

the rainbow I couldn’t find as the misty drops fell and the sun started to make its appearance

the squinty-eyed foursome almost ready for the bright sun

late spring in Pine Hills, a day well spent

The photos below capture some of the imagery I mention in my free writing above:

Wheelin’ and Dealin’ with the Lord

For three days, we were receiving good reports on my sister Toni’s health and her battle with COVID-19.  We were feeling optimistic. She had turned a corner for the better.  All reports indicated her health was stable. So you can imagine our shock when we got a call the day before yesterday saying that the outlook for Toni is bleak.

My apologies,  I haven’t been able to write about this before now. I haven’t had the energy to update anyone.

The doctors went so far as to suggest taking Toni off life support at the two-week mark of her being on the ventilator. The two week mark is Monday, November 30. They suggest giving her morphine to keep her comfortable and “decrease her hunger for air” (doctor’s words).

Nora fielded the call and then informed us. Later we had a conference call with the lung specialist. I already had a feeling about the downturn because I had called Toni the previous night.  When I saw Toni on the hospital iPad, she was clearly struggling with her breath. Her face looked strained.

Just to be clear, we are not giving up on Toni. She is fighting for her life. She has a whole team backing her up: family, relatives, friends and more friends, healers, prayers from Catholic priests and Hindu priests, reverends, deacons, ministers, rabbis, imams, Buddhist monks, Christians of every denomination, Aboriginal healers, Quantum physical energy healer, reiki practitioners, and meditators from many traditions. Love is pouring in..

We asked for more time on the ventilator, to see if Toni’s lungs can show some improvement.

The world needs Toni. The world needs her goodness, her purity of heart, her joy, her smile. We need Toni to teach us that life is meant to be lived simply.

My friend Daphne reminded me of the following:

Toni fields our love.

Toni is filled with love.

Love surrounds Toni’s aura.

One of my best friends told me she hasn’t prayed in over thirty years, but that she has been praying nonstop for Toni.  I have also been praying nonstop for Toni to beat COVID-19. I haven’t prayed in nine and a half years, not since I lost my sister Jeanie due to complications from Multiple Sclerosis.  Perhaps the prodigal daughters’ prayers are the loudest?

Today Toni is struggling more than ever. She is in a lot of pain as she is being weaned off the sedatives. In addition to her ventilator tube and feeding tube, Toni has a chest tube inserted into her side ribs and lung and feels pain every time she takes a breath (sometimes she breathes over the intubation). She is growing weaker and has air pockets under her skin from the lung collapse, which also causes great pain. The air pockets won’t go away until she is off the ventilator …and in order to get off the ventilator, she has to come off the sedation because under sedation, she can’t breathe on her own. But when she starts coming off sedation, the pain is great. Her lungs are inflamed with COVID-19 pneumonia. When the doctors lower the sedation, she struggles with her breath. It becomes rapid breathing and she goes into respiratory distress. It’s a series of Catch-22s. Her COVID-19 pneumonia is severe. According to Toni’s lung specialist, for two weeks there has been no improvement from the point of view of pneumonia.

I think of Toni and all the people in the world affected by this wretched virus and I feel overwhelmed, a collective grief gnawing at my heart.

Toni survived meningitis as a child at 18 months of age (that’s when she suffered severe brain damage). And 10 years ago she survived the worst type of breast cancer, Triple Negative Breast Cancer.  Is there one more fight in her, the fight against COVID-19?

Please, dear readers, don’t judge or mock me when I tell you that I found myself making promises in exchange for keeping Toni alive. Yes, I actually caught myself wheelin’ and dealin’ with the Lord. I came up with a good simple formula: I make a promise, make good on it, and the goods are delivered.  Today I made the realization that my promises have nothing to do with wheelin’ and dealin’. Instead, I am making promises simply to honor Toni because, you see, Toni brings out the best in people and I want to follow her example!

In honor of and influenced by Toni, I am going to incorporate two actions into my life: just like Toni, I’m not going to speak poorly of anyone. In addition, once a month, I am going to start bringing home-cooked meals or special baked goods to the homeless in the park across the street from our condo. For a while now, I have complained bitterly about the tents, encampments, and trash around the tents in the park. But now my attitude about my homeless neighbors is forever changed as I emulate Toni’s goodness. 

Toni’s goodness is inspiring and infectious. When I texted Zina and Nora my plans to do the above actions on Toni’s behalf, they immediately texted me back with the following:

I will make a promise, too, Fran.  I will serve special needs adults with free haircuts once a month as long as I’m able to work. 🙏🏼 -Zina 

I promise to continue to volunteer and teach yoga at St Agnes (Toni’s Adult Day Care Center) once a week, post-Covid for as long as I’m able. -Nora

And Rick talked about the changes he will make on behalf of and inspired by Toni:

What I am taking from Toni and why I need Toni is to bring more innocence into my work. Like Toni, I will bring more unconscious naturalness into my writing. Toni is free. She has no constraints of self-judgment.  She draws freely and everyone applauds her.  Coloring with her and drawing with her is so much fun. Who cares if you go over the lines? It’s just pure fun!  She does serious art and underlying it is always her fun spirit. Thank you Toni. -Rick

Toni’s fabulous artwork

 We are offering our good deeds to Toni. Next time I talk to Toni on the hospital iPad, i will let her know my plans, all the goodness being done in her honor, and tell her how she has made me become a better person.  In my next conversation with Toni, I will let her know that I am here for her, that I am bearing witness to her, that I acknowledge her presence. I will softly encourage her to do what she feels she needs to do. (Thank you, Daphne, for your guidance, wisdom, and insight). 

Toni with brothers-in-law John and Rick. Toni is one of the few people who liked Rick’s Santa-like Beard!

I Believe

I believe Toni will survive COVID-19.

I am happy to report that my sister Toni, though still in the ICU at St. Mary’s in Hobart, Indiana in critical condition, infected with COVID-19, sedated and on a ventilator, has turned a corner towards recovery. For three days in a row, we have seen baby steps towards healing. Toni will be healthy again.

I believe in miracles. (Thank you, Susan, for sending me this quote by Audrey Hepburn):

I believe in pink.

I believe in reaching out to my family and community of friends and students.

I believe in Chicken Soup for the Soul. Beth calls this “Jewish Penicillin”. Thank you, Beth, for bringing us this soul food.

I believe poems can heal the spirit.

The love of a sister
On my heart lies greatly
Now that she works so hard
In every breath she makes.

-Howard Eustis

I believe in eye-glass bending Toni-Hugs.

I believe that love, meditation, energy work, optimism, and prayer can help heal another person. 

I believe in in community.

I believe in the power of words.

I spoke to Toni using the hospital iPad. She was deeply sedated, the sound of her ventilator keeping time with my breath. She looked peaceful.  I used my calmest  “shavasana” voice and asked her body to heal and told her not to be afraid. I told her she was safe. Here is Toni’s meditation.

You are going to be healthy again.

Everyone is praying for you.

Our cousin Padre Vincenzo in Sicily prayed for you all day.

Every day, Nora talks to the doctors and nurses to hear about how you are doing.

We talk about all the fun things we will do when you feel better.

We need you, Toni.

We miss you.

Right now, I want you to relax and rest.

Your body is working so hard to be healthy again. 

Everyone loves you.

You are safe. 

You are going to live. 

Soon you will be able to breathe without the tube.

Soon you will be able to talk again. Soon you will be able to dance again! 

You have so many get-well cards waiting for you at your house! As soon as you are better, the nurses will read the cards to you.

Your friends can’t wait to see you again. They miss your smile and your sweetness.

We are so proud of you. You are amazing.

Remember when mom and dad used to say to us, “Curaggiu! Curaggiu!”? Well, now is the time to be brave. Curaggiu!. You can do this.

We are all praying for you.

We can’t come visit you because of the virus. But we can talk to you this way. 

You will get healthy again. There are other people who have been sick with this virus and they got better. You will get better, too. And you will go home again.

The doctors and nurses have to cover their bodies and their faces so they don’t get sick. They look strange, but they are good people. They are helping you.  Don’t be afraid of them.

They are always watching you, even if they are not in the room. 

The machine in your mouth and throat is breathing for you. Soon they will take it out and you will breathe on your own. Just relax and sleep as much as you can.The medicines they are giving you are helping you get strong again.

We want to see you dance so get strong soon.

You are pure love. 

You are beautiful.You are strong.

You are healthy.

We are praying for you to get well.

We love you, Toni.

Toni’s Potato Salad

I dedicated today’s yoga classes to my sister Toni and all who are currently suffering from COVID-19. Toni was diagnosed with COVID-19 eleven days ago and has been fighting for her life since then. Her left lung partially collapsed yesterday and her right lung partially collapsed today. She had emergency surgery today and is now on a ventilator.

The worst part of Toni’s situation is that, other than medical staff, no one is allowed to be with her. Absolutely no one. Toni suffered brain damage as a child and is, in some ways, much like an eight year-old girl in a 67 year-old woman’s body. Knowing that she is alone is by far the most painful part of this whole experience.

For now, she is sedated and resting. We have complete trust in the medical staff tending to her. Plus, we have a mountain of healing thoughts and prayers being said for her.

Here is what my friend Jerry wrote and I couldn’t agree more:

The world needs Toni and people like her to teach us about compassion, loyalty, family, and overcoming challenges.

Toni is, among other talents, the Best Potato Salad Maker in the Universe. And she makes great salads, too. Below is Toni’s Potato Salad Recipe. Actually it is my mom’s recipe, but Toni mastered it and since mom is not around anymore, we will give this one to Toni!

Who doesn’t love potato salad? Right up there with Deviled Eggs, Potato Salad is pure comfort food. Perfect for Pandemic Times. I have listed the ingredients and you will have to figure out how many potatoes you want and how much mayonnaise you’d like to add, etc. Be creative.

Toni’s Potato Salad / L’Insalata di Patate d’Antonietta

Potatoes (Boil potatoes with the skins on them. Cool the potatoes. Peel them. Cut them.

Hard Boiled Eggs (Cool the eggs, peel them, slice and chop them, save some slices for garnish)

Celery (Sliced thin and chopped fine)

Green onion (Scallions) sliced

Mayonnaise

Mustard (maybe 1 teaspoon)

Salt and Pepper

Paprika to sprinkle over the top

Below: Toni with big cuddly Teddy Bear, nephew Adam Stanley

Pasta Dreams

Imagine my joy when I discovered that today is World Pasta Day!  I didn’t even know such a day existed. It was early morning when I made the discovery and I immediately started planning this evening’s meal: penne with fresh chanterelles sauteed with shallots. The whole dish would then be sprinkled with grated Reggiano cheese and finished with a generous drizzle of liquid gold olive oil from Italy.

I love pasta and cannot imagine a life without.

My mother, a great interpreter of dreams, insisted that if you dreamed about spaghetti, it meant that you were involved in a messy situation, entangled, unable to free yourself.

Who doesn’t take pleasure in gathering long strands of tomato-sauce-drenched spaghetti and twirling it into a bite-sized skein, before devouring it? Mom, I’ll take the entanglements and free myself later.  First, allow me to indulge in the heaping plate before me.

Pistachio Pesto Pasta

Spaghetti, lasagna, rigatoni, penne…

Lasagna

 Pasta is more than food.  Pasta is comfort.  

 Pasta is tradition. 

Zia Maria and Zia Tanina’s homemade cavatti

 Pasta is love.  

Pasta with fresh ricotta cheese

Eating pasta carries memories of Sunday dinners with mom and dad, my sisters, my aunties and their families. Pasta is meant to be eaten at a great big table covered by several table cloths sewn together, a table creaking under the weight of delectable dishes made by loving hands. Pasta is accompanied by laughter and loud conversations, everyone talking over each other.  Eating pasta is chaos and love bundled together.  

This is how I grew up: my family Sunday dinners. (Francy in the red dress)

Pasta is an integral part of life. Pasta is a part of my culture. Pasta brings family and friends together.

Calogera “Lilly” Lum

I think you will get a kick out of Shel Silverstein’s poem below. I enjoy reading this at retreats in Italy!

Italian Food by Shel Silverstein

Oh, how I love Italian food.
I eat it all the time,
Not just ’cause how good it tastes
But ’cause how good it rhymes.
Minestrone, cannelloni,
Macaroni, rigatoni,
Spaghettini, scallopini,
Escarole, braciole,
Insalata, cremolata, manicotti,
Marinara, carbonara,
Shrimp francese, Bolognese,
Ravioli, mostaccioli,
Mozzarella, tagliatelle,
Fried zucchini, rollatini,
Fettuccine, green linguine,
Tortellini, Tetrazzini,
Oops–I think I split my jeani.

Poppies and Dreamy Slow Downs

I am a planner. I like to have my calendar filled with activities, hikes and camping plans, dinners with friends, cultural events, and retreats. I love my old fashioned paper calendar. I love scribbling in it, highlighting words, names, times. I love using different colored pens to denote my workouts. A big red heart next to a planned bike ride gives me great satisfaction.

A sign in front of a neighbor’s house. Be the one!…..

There are no social events on my calendar, other than a few Zoom gatherings. Instead, my calendar is filled with teaching online yoga. Most of my yoga events have been postponed to next year. I am trying to figure out how to anticipate what comes next.  For example, will there be a spike in COVID-19 cases come September and October 2020 as predicted by scientists and medical experts? My head hurts from trying to figure it out. My head hurts from arming myself with whatever information I can glean, from coming up against the same wall again and again. Each time, I come up empty of answers.

How I love Seattle!

On the other hand, I am finding that I like this slower paced lifestyle.  Every morning, I wake up early, shower, set up my yoga studio, teach my online classes. Then there’s breakfast and a few media tasks, followed by a quick walk around Green Lake, followed by chores.  The days flow with less stress in my life than ever. No public transportation to navigate, no quick pick me up coffees (with a little scone to go with that lovely cup of coffee), no rushing from one end of town to another, no pressure to make plans with friends.  No eating on the go. No more eating fast because I’m so darned hungry, I can’t slow down!!  To my surprise, I like this slow-paced, quieter life.  I enjoy eating dinner at an earlier time. I enjoy savoring the delicious slow cooked meals. This slowing down works better for my digestion. I have discovered just how much I love our condo and realize that before March, I hadn’t spent much time here. It’s a nice place for a quarantine. While many people talk about COVID-15, referring to the 15 lbs they have gained during this time, I am 10 lbs lighter. No more tight feeling when I wear my jeans.

Keep it Moving!

Yesterday, we went over to West Seattle and did another social experiment under the new norms of socializing.  It was wonderful to see Sal and Kathleen. They had set up tables in their back yard so we could sit more than 10 feet apart from each other. We brought our own lunch and water. When we weren’t eating, we wore our groovy masks.  After lunch we took a 3 mile walk, keeping the 6 foot physical distancing between us.  It was so nice to see our friends and I left feeling very happy.  We CAN do this.  It does take discipline to follow the rules, but we have to do this and we are!

The new way of hugging.

All of the photos in this blog post are from our walk in West Seattle yesterday.

Poppies en masse

Closer view of the poppies

Spent red poppy

freshly popped poppy, still all wrinkled!

so delicate

And then you have garden art…

…fanciful fence posts

The best attention sign!

West Seattle, where many streets are closed so people can walk widely apart and enjoy the neighborhoods…food and other deliveries can drive through.

Yoga Pose at the top of the hill in the High Point neighborhood park! High Point is a novel neighborhood, a mixed-income community designed with an emphasis on Green Living. The neighborhood of High Point has an inspiring healthy design which includes this park, a community center, a bee garden. For more information: LINK

Bumper-Blooms and Elegant Chickens

As I write, the condo is filled with the scent of lilacs!  Simone called me yesterday and said that her grandmere’s lilac bush has produced a bumper-bloom of flowers this year and that she had prepared a bouquet for me. She asked if we could go over there, sit apart from one another in her garden, taking all the precautions necessary to keep us healthy. I’ve been so starved for time with friends! Of course we said yes. So today we went over to the Greenwood neighborhood to spend a cautious hour with Don and Simone.

We came home, arms laden with freshly cut herbs, a grand bouquet of lilacs, and farm fresh eggs from their chickens.  Below are some photos from today.  I have always enjoyed taking photos of Simone’s flowers and today was no exception.

Grandmere’s Lilacs (heritage lilac bush from Simone’s French grandmother)

Shiva’s Cosmic Dance

Socializing: The New Normal? We sat more than 10 feet away from them.

A textured garden!

Perhaps the hardest was not to pet Annie! She couldn’t possibly understand why Fran and Rick wouldn’t / couldn’t pet her. She looked very sad today. Best to only let her mom and dad pet her.

And finally the chicken-gals. I’d have to describe them as elegant. Just look at them! Elegant and Chunky.  They are well-loved and cared for.