CocoGarcia

Remembrances of My Father

There are many things I cherish about my complicated father.  This poignant piece yesterday by Charles Blow in the NYT, Remembrances of My Father, really touched my heart.  At the end of the day we are all left wanting more from our fathers no matter how they behave.  Along with a lot of heartache my father taught me how to whistle, paint, swim, play ping pong, scrabble, hearts, monopoly, to wake early for the glory of skinny dipping at dawn.  He shared his love of beauty, cooked joyous complicated meals for the first time for big parties, made sure there was live music at all big celebrations, and started his day with the funnies and the horoscope.  Today what I remember most fondly about my Dad is this gift of pure pleasure, perhaps the best gift of all.

Hugh and Marilyn Rocking On!

In our family these days, our cup runneth over with the recent nuptials of my oldest younger brother Hugh and his beloved Marilyn.  We all gathered recently from all over the glove to celebrate with them with a good dose of our biology and all the rich cultural strands that weave our amazing tapestry of family and friends from Florida, Puerto Rico, Senegal, Argentina, Venezuela, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, California, Washington state and DC.  Here is an unvarnished picture of the happy couple on the night before their Palm Beach wedding reception, one in a series of joyous celebrations that began in Puerto Rico, rocked on to the Palm Beaches, and continues still back on the island. 

Pierre Vogelenzang Remembered in Amsterdam

 
My heart is with Vogelenzang family and friends as they gather today in Amsterdam at the home of Rogier and Nicoline to remember our suddenly departed Pierre.  Here is my feeble attempt at at his amazing story.  Forgive any inaccuracies, or better yet add to this story your own.  It paints a picture of quite a life.  Pierre's time with us straddled two continents and his travels much of the globe.  Born in Noordwijk, Holland in 1946 on the heels of WWII to parents Gerrie and Onno Vogelenzang, he grew up in a loving family with younger siblings Louise and Rogier, cousin Marina, and many dear friends.  Pierre completed his initial academic preparation in Holland.  Restless for more, he sought advanced studies in economics at Harvard and completed a masters degree in international law from Tulane University.  New Orleans awakened his soul to all sorts of possibilities.  He loved the humidity, the women, the history, the eccentricities of the american south.  After this walkabout he returned to the Netherlands and a serious legal career with the international law firm of Baker McKenzie.  But the restlessness remained.  He decided he would emigrate to the U.S. to practice law.  In order to qualify for working at a top U.S. law firm, he entered Stanford University and earned his ultimate degree, an american J.D. while a good 10 years older than most of his fellow students.  When I met him at Stanford he had already spent 2 summers clerking in Los Angeles and had an offer as an associate at Lawler, Felix and Hall.  Off to Hollywood he went in the summer of 1979 as soon as he completed law school, settling into a quaint duplex on Descanso Drive.  As Todd Baker lovingly remembered, he was often sighted in wild Hawaiian shirts and brightly colored pants.  He came alive in full color under the California sun.  He of course passed the bar exam with flying colors and went on to practice american law, his dream come true of living somewhere warm and working somewhere free.  At Rifkind and Sterling, working with Marty Goldblum, he became partner and practiced for the better part of a decade.  He excelled at what we laughingly called the organic chemistry of the law, international tax.  His career took him to Sachs and Phelps with Tim Scott and and to Alschuler, Grossman and Pines, before settling at Mayer, Brown and Platt where he worked as senior counsel for the past decade and from where he retired last year.  In a competitive and bumpy period in the legal business Pierre continually landed on his feet, making himself indispensable with his brilliant creativity and deep knowledge of the law.   While thriving in his practice and weathering all manner of professional storms, Pierre cultivated an impressive personal life from the house he made his castle on Edgecliffe; a deep and scholarly interest in romanesque architecture, persian carpets, clocks; a love of things Latin, wine, music, art, animals, and novel experiences of all kinds.  An interesting array of friends surrounded him in the neighborhood and from across the globe.  There were many times I found myself out on a limb traveling with him, fearing for my life while having the most amazing experiences as a result of his intrepidness.  Intrepid is a word I will remember Pierre by.  Pierre fought all his life to cultivate an enjoyment that would eclipse his demons.  A lesson well practiced and from which I well learned.  Au revoir dear heart.  You will always be with us when we raise a glass, gasp in delight on our travels through life and take in any amazing beauty.

Happy New Year!

Dungeness crab, lemon butter, ceaser salad, tostones and a bit of baguette to mop up the leftover lemon butter, all with a 2002 bottle of Cristal Champagne, topped off by fresh raspberries.  A small and intimate dinner for three to greet the new year and a new decade.  Happy New Year!

A Tote Becomes a Magic Hat

Kaya took one look at this fuschia lined tote bag and turned it into a hat with built in earrings.  The boundless creativity of a 10-year old!  Her Christmas gift to us were personal magic wands; river reeds adorned with pearls, glass and feathers.  Can't think of better preparation to bring on the magic for the new year!

Old Scottsdale Palm Trees in Lights

On this cold sparking night in Scottsdale even the palm trees are dressed in lights for the holidays.

Saguaros Dancing in Thanksgiving

Saguaros for as far as the eye can see, dancing in Thanksgiving for another beautiful day under the sun.  Each as unique as a person or a snowflake.  Varied shapes and sizes.  Tall, short, plump, stubby, graceful, gangly, with one, two and sometimes eight arms.  Holding each other and standing apart.  Reaching up to the sky and out to each other.  Moving in the stillness.  Filling my mind's eye with that unexpected cactus green against the deep blue beauty of the desert sky.  A happy thanksgiving indeed.

Joey's Bar Mitzvah!

  
How did this young boy become a man?  Today we celebrate his entry into adulthood, marveling at his journey and who he has become!

Friends Wed and Families Embrace

Last night I donned my silver lame flip flops to attend Britt and Rene's wedding on the beach in Malibu.  What a sight to behold!  Britt and Rene's families embracing surrounded by loving friends.  The night before bridal shower festivities took place at our house amidst a gaggle of the Elizondo women.  Denise Malone Photography caught it all down to the bride-to-be/mother-in-law embrace above.  Sweet!  

A Deep Breath of Life

Celebrating life with good friends in Portland over the weekend just put life in perspective all over again!  With my sister along we hiked, talked, shopped, laughed, cried and in between enjoyed amazing local food and wine.  All this against the magnificent backdrop of Portland's sun and rain splashed green canopy.  A deep breath of life.