Weekend Coffee Share is a time for us to take a break and enjoy some time catching up with friends (old and new)! Grab a cup of coffee. What’s been going on in your life? What are your weekend plans? Is there a topic you’ve just been ruminating on that you want to talk about? Our host, Eclectic Alli, is on hiatus, so I, and others are filling in to keep our chatty momentum going. Join in.
Good morning, Everyone!
If we were having coffee together, I would tell you that I am writing and sipping coffee in the NYC Marriott’s breakfast room. My dear beach-bum friend, Pam, attended a conference here and invited me to the city with her last night. I took the LIRR from Sayville to Penn Station and navigated the subway to her hotel. We had a fabulous dinner at Pappardella and saw Dear Evan Hansen—an incredible must-see production. After the show, we trekked around Lincoln Center, Times Square and Rockefeller Center to take in the spectacular Christmas sites. It was a beautiful night with my friend who had boundless energy.
Pam had to go back to her conference this Friday morning. I am going to get myself to the Lower East Side today. I want to walk the streets where my middle-grade story takes place and try to find the probable school and church that was there in 1910. The Mott/Hester Street areas are now part of Chinatown, but I hope to get the essence of what was when the area teemed with Italian, Greek, and Jewish immigrants. I also have a reservation for the Tenement Museum’s Outside Walking Tour this afternoon. The museum has a variety of tours. I aimed to experience each one. As always, research takes me down more rabbit holes, but I do love the fact-finding. I think, though, I am avoiding the last few chapters since the climax of the story is scary for my characters. Someone is going to get hurt. Also, once I end the story, I will have to stand committed and face the dreaded editing process.
If we were having coffee together, I would report that Matt is getting around pretty well with the new knee. He can now drive. Not only can he get himself to PT, the hardware store, and McDonald’s drive-thru (a vice I do not condone), but my time and attention are free-er.
If we were having coffee together, I would announce that my house is beginning to look a lot like Christmas—at least inside. The tree is up. It took me two nights of testing my patience to figure out how to plug in the ready to go lights on the tree. Every Christmas, I vow to mark and organize the cords so it wouldn’t be such a nightmare for the next Christmas. But once it is time to de-Christmas, all I can do is to hurry up and get the tree stripped and packed in the attic.
If we were having coffee together, I would relay that it did snow enough to look festive this week but not enough to suggest I shovel paths. We were a little late in contracting a lawn service to get the leaves cleaned up, but it should happen next week so that I can set up the outside lights. For the past few seasons, we use the projected light sprinkles to provide the necessary holiday decor. Matt nor I are stu…brave enough to navigate ladders.
If we were having coffee together, I would close by saying I am so excited for Christmas. All of my daughters, son-in-law, and grandkids will fill my house for at least a week. We have an itinerary of shows, events, parties, and visiting to squeeze in those days. I got groceries to stock up on, cooking, and baking to plan. It is crazy busy. The to-do lists keep growing, but this chaos makes my holiday happy and bright.
Have a good weekend and upcoming week, Everyone.
Make it great.
Antoinette Truglio Martin is the author of Hug Everyone You Know: A Year of Community, Courage, and Cancer. The memoir is a wimpy patient’s journey through her first year of breast cancer treatment.
Stories Served 
Sounds like an adventure! Wishing you the merriest of holidays!
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Thank you. Mery Merry to you and yours.
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That sounds so wonderful Antoinette! I can’t even imagine the joy of having so many loved ones under one roof for a whole week. Wonderful! For the first year in my daughter’s life I have not gotten a Christmas tree. It’s a little tricky, since we are just borrowing a studio apartment temporarily, and are moving in to our own house after Christmas. We will get into the spirit in other ways. Enjoy New York!
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We were tree less one year so I papered a door with craft paper, painted a tree and we decorated with paper chains and silly paper decoration.
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That is an awesome idea!
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Hi Antoinette,
I’ll be that guy who speaks up for Matt. The guy is dealing with a new knee and regardless of how well done it is, the indignity of PT is rough for us guys (I’ve been there and certify the accuracy of this statement). I’ll offer him the argument that McDonald’s can be PT for the real PT.
I smiled at the notion of not doing “ladders” any more. I too should not, but could not resist a simple small tree task last week and lived through the the experience without a fall. My wife would not have approved. . . Bless her and the God who sent her my way.
Great Christmas blessings to you and your family.
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Because of his array of new joints Matt is a frequent flyer when it comes to PT so he is use to the work and yelping. So is the plight of the Tin Man. 😉
Thanks for reading. Have a great week.
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How exciting to be in New York! I have been close but not quite to the city. To white plains and albany. I would agree I am excited for Christmas as well even though the schedule has a lot more in it!
I am so glad we had coffee today
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Always good to share a coffee chat with you.
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