On October 7th, my parents celebrated their 42nd Wedding Anniversary.  Growing up they were my first love teachers.  My parents are passionate people and they inspired me to open my heart to embrace the world around me.  Recently I interviewed my mother and father and asked them to name what they love.  Here are the answers that spilled out:

“My partner in life. I love that he is my best friend, confidant, and lover all in one. My family. Watching each amazing child grow. I love hearing them laugh together. I love listening to their ideas. I love that they share so much with us. I love the smell of the earth responding to a spring rain. I love watching green tips of growing plants poke through the dirt. I love poems by Mary Oliver, high billowing skies, flesh tones in different lights, flip-flops, skinny slices, green lemongrass tea, patios, yellow sunlight shining through leaves. I love shadows dancing on the fence, paintings and painting, grandchildren.” 

—My Mom 

“Time with my family. Travels with my amazing beautiful wife and, when possible, my great family. Warm Mediterranean beaches. Denmark and Ireland, India with friends. Reading books to my nephews, then acting the stories out with them. Enjoying my wife’s ethnic cooking, the many recipes from my mom, or from the children’s recipes. Music to set the mood, live or recorded, especially played or performed by family and friends. Art: poetry, artwork, writings, drawings, paintings, songs, stories, dances, theatre, from family members and friends. Love Research, for its honesty and sensitivity. Family memories and memorabilia, antiques, artwork. The smell of spring gardens, small fuzzy animals, fresh produce from my own gardens . . . ”

—My Dad