2018 was quite a year. The most difficult thing was losing my father in March.
After my father became ill, my mom, brother and I started having family dinners every Sunday. Sometimes extended family would have dinner with us too. It became a real source of comfort.
Nothing fancy. Quite the opposite. It needed to be easy, so we would get take-out from a few local places. The main thing was that we were all together sharing a meal. That had been so important to our family while my brother and I were growing up.
After my dad passed, we decided to continue the tradition, but we decided to eat at out at some area restaurants. Over a couple of weeks, we tried a few, but nothing felt right. I think that we were feeling too sad. My father was a huge presence and energy in our lives. And he was gone.
Even though I felt broken, I strongly believed (and still believe) that when a major person leaves your life, someone else will appear. Not to replace them. But just in keeping with the nature of physics. It has to happen. Energy doesn’t disappear. It’s a constant and just transforms.
My brother mentioned that we should try Bertucci’s. There was one near where he lived, so it would be easy. We had always loved their food and especially the rolls. None of us had been to one in many years, but we thought it was a great idea. Especially after just hearing that many of the restaurants would be closing.
So one Sunday in April, we went to Bertucci’s and our server was a lovely young woman named Kassy. She had just started working there and was so friendly and sweet. We all bonded immediately. We started going back there every Sunday and Kassy was always our server. For the first time in a while, our dinners started feeling happy again.
So why am I telling you this? Well, Kassy doesn’t work there anymore, but she has become like another member of our family and I have been mentoring her. She has an artsy side like me and also making her way in the professional world.
Recently she started a blog called Embrace Women In Art, where she interviews women who are involved in the arts. Her latest post is an interview with me!
Since it’s also Christmas Eve, to those of you who celebrate, Merry Christmas! 🎄
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Updated 5/16/20: The interview is no longer available online, so the link was removed.
