I’m made of Nancy Drew, birdsong, three little sisters. I’m made of “Hail Mary Full of Grace,” small hands in lace gloves at the altar. I’m made of the color blue, two babies and one miscarriage, the love and loss of a best friend when I was 25. I’m stained glass. I’m “Hail Holy Queen Enthroned Above” and rosary beads in my mother’s hands; I’m guilt and hope. I’m a quiet attic where the dust settling in the daylight took the shape of stories that had to be written. I’m one published book and thousands of drafts. I’m ink and scar and redline. I’m Washington, D.C. in the 1980s. I’m Rock Creek Park, “Red Line Shady Grove,” Tilden Street Northwest. I’m a Mid-Atlantic song. I’m the Chesapeake Bay, all inlets and brackish water, splintering my way through Maryland. I’m quiet. I’m watchful eyes. I’m the eldest daughter. I’m mistakes. I’m grit. I’m “why don’t we try this another way?” I’m an all-girls-school sister of the traveling pants. I’m sororities and hand-me-downs and plaid kilts rolled up too many times. I’m the valedictorian who couldn’t get into Princeton. I’m falling in love at the University of Virginia. I’m Landon’s girl. I’m half my heart; the other is his. I’m one long, sturdy marriage. I’m a triple major in English, History, and French and a Masters in high modernist poetry. I’m a Georgetown girl. I’m a girl’s girl. I’m a bad book girl — a fitful, promiscuous, DNF-er — but a good reader. I’m a mother. I’m a cool palm on a warm forehead, I’m a soft landing, I’m the footfall in the hallway in the middle of the night. I’m a behind-the-scenes form-filler, shoe-orderer, lunch-packer; I carry everything from the bandaids to the plate color preferences.
I’m so much, and sometimes too much, but I am also and mainly love. Chief assets: love. Chief liabilities: love. Is there any other way to make up a life?
Post-Scripts.
+The softest kinds of love.
+Living room confessional.
Shopping Break.
+A perfect LWD if I ever did see one.
+Some fab new additions to the Suzie Kondi sale section, including grass green velour wide leg pants and this breezy gauze striped caftan (only $125)!
+You know I LOVE this body lotion in the neroli scent. I also keep this little roll-on perfume in the same scent in my bag — great for post-pool, while out and about, etc. The smell is divineeee.
+The cutest tunic top. Also comes in a tunic dress format. LOVE. Meanwhile, this swimsuit from the same brand is sooo up my alley. (Swimsuit look for less here — also adore in this gingham!)
+Fun Bottega inspired phone case.
+Love this colorblocked hoodie and these perfect sweats.
+Chic finishing touch to your athleisure look (think these shorts, this tee): this seersucker cap.
+Great athletic long-sleeve (in the red, white, blue stripe!)
+Have these smartly striped outdoor pillows in my basket — we’re due for an upgrade!
+This dress with the lobster embroidered on it belongs in your bag for Nantucket!
+This $150 scalloped storage bench for your child’s room!!! What a find!? They also have really cute skirted ottomans in the same stripe and piped x benches for under $100!
+Cutest boys swim trunks! Also love their kids duffels.
+More fun balloon style pants. (More on this trend here.)
+Fun way to store homemade ice cream.
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Oh how I love this, Jen!
Beautiful ❤️