Ten Years...

June 1969

     Ten years...it can feel like yesterday or it can feel like a lifetime ago. 

     Ten years ago…June 2001.  Maybe your life was better or maybe it wasn’t.  Since then you may have found someone who is important to you, or you may have lost someone important.

     Ten years ago this month I lost my mother.  She was dynamic, fearless, and ambitious.  She was only fifty-nine years old—and she had breast cancer.

    Ten years ago today I sat through her memorial service, which felt as surreal then as the memory of it does now. 

     If I said I didn’t cry every single day for the first few years after her death, I would be lying.  If I said getting out of bed on all those mornings seemed impossible, I would be telling you the truth. If I said there is a hole in my heart and that I miss her more than words can say, that would be an understatement; and if I said the hurt on every anniversary of her death feels as painful as it did on the actual day of her death, well, that would be my reality.

July 6, 1984

     Ten years...sometimes it feels like yesterday, sometimes it feels like a lifetime ago.  I hate it that I can’t remember the sound of her laugh but thankfully I can still see her smile and the way her upper lip flattened out over her perfect teeth.  For the life of me I can't see into the depths of her eyes but I can remember the breadth of her love and the vastness of her spirit, which was always visable in those brown eyes. 

     I can not picture her walk, but I can hear it.  Her footsteps were always heavy and purposeful, and sometimes they still wake me up at night.

    I can picture her hands; small and soft, and I know that I would recognize her fingers—especially the one with the short thick nail, the one she hated; the one that a bull had hooked on a barbwire fence.  Yet, it kills me to admit that I don’t think I would recognize her voice.  Time has stolen that from me.

Dec. 25, 1993

     I can still imagine the feel of her thick, red hair, which I used to bend around a curling iron.  But to this day I still get sick to my stomach when I think about her wig, a memory that time refuses to rob.

     Try as I might I’m unable to remember if her hugs were high around my neck or low around my waist, but I do recall that they were long and tight and that she hugged first, and let go last.  If I close my eyes I can remember the feel of her fingertips lightly tracing the pattern of my face, tickling my forehead as I lay with my head in her lap.

     Time is an indiscriminate thief of memories, randomly taking one and thoughtfully leaving another.  It may have robbed me of certain recollections but it can't steal the feelings of those memories, which are just as fresh, deep and real today as they were a decade ago.  And I imagine as they will be a decade from now. 

     Ten years...some days it feels like yesterday, some days it feels like a lifetime ago.

Nov 28, 1996

Di Anne Marie Grimm

11/28/41 ~ 6/14/01  



But Enough About Them

Do you remember our most interesting friends, the Lexuses? I'm sure you recall Denny, the guy who earlier this year finished 2nd in the Caribbean Iron Man Contest. Yep, that's him...but enough about Denny. 

     I mean, who could forget his trophy wife? Well let me tell you, she is not just another pretty face. No… the woman who power shopped her way through the islands is also the matriarch of a whole family of over-achievers. But enough about Karen.
 

This story is about the most interesting accomplishments of the little Lexuses. Daughter Suzy is a bigwig Emergency Room doctor in NY and was a Pulitzer nominee for her dissertation on an innovative new technique which is now used to diagnosis Strep throat. Her research proved that, yes, is it possible to render a positive diagnosis of Strep using a butter knife and a dive light. She has also been semi-successful in performing tonsillectomies using a cocktail fork, olive tongs and a head lamp.      

    I am sorry to report that some of her research went right out the window when Elvis proved that it is entirely possible to remove a tonsil through your nose. But enough about Suzy, more about Elvis later. 

    
Daughter Nicole recently graduated summa cum laude from CSU with a degree in Occupational Therapy. Her thesis, which was titled Getting Old and All That Shit, or GOATS as it was known by its acronym, was so well received by doctors in the geriatric field, that Old Folks Homes everywhere be will implementing her therapy methods which are based on Yoga practices. They include a lot of downward dog and corpse poses. Denny will be one of the first old GOATS who will participate in the case study. But enough about Nicole.      

     Natalie, the littlest Lexus, took top honors and graduated with a PhD in her field of International Travel. Dr. Natalie was also named the winner of the prestigious Life Long Student Award, but unfortunately was not able to join us because she was too busy trying to locate her passport. However, she did become a charter member of our Flat Cat Sail and whether she knows it or not, she had a most interesting time. But enough about Natalie. 

     Son-in-law Joe may not have graduated from any prestigious school, but not to be outdone by those over achieving Lexus women, he is quite successful in his own right. He recently won the Nobel Peace Prize for his humanitarian work in Honduras and is so revered in that country that rumor has it that he will likely be elected as the next Honduran President. Joe says he is honored, but his true calling in life is to be a dog sitter so he will likely decline the position. Elvis approves and can personally vouch for Joe’s uncanny dog sitting abilities, saying, "it's like I was in his head at times." Enough about Joe...more about Elvis later.

     So after a several days of talking about and looking at the various diplomas, awards, trophys and degrees, the Lexus family settled into some of that adventuresome fun that they are known for. While I’m sad to report that Denny didn’t wrestle the Hammerhead shark this trip, he did perfect Nicole’s yoga corpse poses, and in fact got quite caught up in doing the downward dog-ear pose with Elvis.

While Karen and The Big Guy spent an ambitious morning holding down some beach chairs, the rest of us went on a thrilling ATV ride across Jost Van Dyke. The view was spectacualr and the consensus was that we all looked pretty darn good in the helmets.

     Suzy, the thrill-seeker of the bunch, showed perfect form when she was shot out of a cannon, from an old pirate ship, and flew right over the top of the boat, yelling, "look Dad, no hands!", on her way by. Denny swelled with pride. Not to be outdone, Nicole, who is a real dare-devil got brave one night and tasted cilantro! We all watched in awe but it turned out to be a let down, as Nicole said it was tougher to swallow than it looked.  Joe, who mostly worked on getting the swelling out of his legs, found out that not only does he love dogs, he loves fish too. Just not on the same plate. But more about Elvis later.  

The week flew by and as always it was a most interesting time with our most interesting friends. But enough about them...have I ever told you about Elvis?



     This recipe is for Mahi-Mahi with Ginger-Lime Beurre Blanc. It's an original creation and while I hate to brag, it just may be the best thing I've made since...well, I don't know when. 
     The Lexuses loved it; even Joe and Elvis who have been overheard saying they don't like fish. I've made it about 4 or 5 times now and  usually serve it over cheesey grits. It would also be delish served with coconut rice, orzo, or dog food. Go to the "Recipes" tab at the top of this page to view it. 

Mahi-Mahi with  Ginger-Lime Beurre Blanc, served with
 Cheesey Grits and Roasted Asparagus & Grape Tomatoes

The Flat Cat Sail

Our good friends, you know the most interesting ones we have, the Lexuses...well they came back to the BVI's to spend another week with us in what was supposed to be a celebration of all the little Lexuses respective graduations. (More about that later.)  Because of a passport SNAFU Natalie was not able to join her most interesting family. Created by accident and born out of necessity, we now have a new and exciting way for you to cruise the islands. Sound to good to be true? Read on! 

Think you can’t afford a week aboard a private yacht in the Caribbean? Think again. Captain Big and I (The Admiral) are happy to announce that Pisces is offering you the opportunity to vacation with us on what we are calling the “Flat Cat Sail.”
      Get this...it will cost you next to nothing. Just send us two headshot photos of yourself and we will blow them up to life size and tape you onto our flyswatter. From there you will get to experience the islands without ever leaving the comfort of your home.

Flat Natalie, enjoying her morning coffee

Our first guest, Natalie (The Flat Nat Cat Sail, we called it) didn’t come all the way from  Arizona to sail with us! Because we kept her updated daily with photos on Facebook, she barely noticed all the things that she wasn’t getting to enjoy!  




Like Natalie did, you can just relax and work on your tan or you can hang out with the Captain, who will even let you drive the boat, if you ask him nicely! 



If you are feeling adventurous you can dive into some water sports, like kayaking or laying around on a floatie. (Note: snorkeling is NOT recommended) 



The Flat Cat Sail includes all your meals and if you like to cook The Admiral will let you spend the day in the galley helping her prepare all those wonderful Island meals that you won't get to feast on! Plus, there are no additional charges for not eating all you want! Yes, you heard me right!

Want to party like a rock star?  You can start your day with Bloody Marys, drink Pisces Punch with lunch and throw back the vino at dinner, all while knowing that no matter how much you indulge there will be no worries of a hangover! Man, life just doesn't get any better than that! Can I get a witness?  

So what are you waiting for? If this sounds like your idea of fun, gather up a group of your friends or complete strangers and call us today!
     Operators are standing by. Use the word "Flatamaran”  in a sentance and get two extra days at no charge! Certain restrictions may apply. Photos will not be returned and the flyswatter will be reused. Taxes, fees and Captain's tip are not included in this offer.

This recipe (from my sister) is for Island Pancakes, which I swear on a stack of Bibles, are thee best pancakes you will ever eat! And I mean EV-VER! Go to the store, get yourself some Coco Lopez and some macadamia nuts, then go to the "Recipes" tab at the top of this page to view it.  

   Flat Natalie, loving her some Island Pancakes!