My Dad and I and one of my brothers and his wife recently made the trip back east to Washington, D.C. for the celebration of life of Dad’s wife of thirty-one years, Sarah G. Epstein. The event, which happened at The Cosmos Club in D.C., was a spectacular occasion organized by her children, primarily her son Richard and daughter Sally Anne, but as in all the things Sally’s kids do, they supported each other at every turn on this event. Brother Jim prepared a spectacular photo array, depicting her life from childhood to the very successful and productive and philanthropic later years when Sally met and married my father. Miles and David arranged photographs and a generous spread of small ceramic pottery items made by Sally which guests could choose from to take away. They also had catalogues of a Munch exhibit for guests to take as well at the reception following the event.
Travel in one’s nineties as my dad is in needs to be carefully planned and executed, and I’m happy to say that the trip to D.C. was about as uneventful as they come. We flew on October 29 and ubered from DCA to the Cosmos Club, where we were staying. What a treat. It’s not many hotel establishments that have walls of Nobel Prize, Pulitzer Prize and Presidential Medal winners in the lobby.
Or an antiquated elevator which admonishes overloading in cheeky Latin. The route to our rooms in the Hillyer wing of the club was akin to that followed by Hansel and Gretel through the woods but without the bread crumbs. There was a hydroponic Gardyn [sic] in the hallway so you could gently munch a pansy flower or a leaf of basil if you felt peckish along the way to your room. I assure you there was never another moment that I felt peckish since then, as the food in the dining rooms from breakfast to dinner was extravagant from breakfast to the fluffy popovers at dinner. Indeed, I may never be hungry again.
The ceremony was at 1:00 p.m. on October 31, which would have been Sally’s 100th birthday and was appropriately festive in that celebration. Speaker after speaker spoke about the different facets of Sally’s life that touched each of them and were so impactful in the world. I loved the quote on the cover of the program, which was from Pierre Teilhard de Chardin below:
Nothing is precious except that part of you which is in other people, and that part of others which is in you.
What an apt description of Sally’s impact on so many individuals who spoke and on the recipients of her largesse of both money and passionate attention and time throughout her long and storied life.
The event, emceed by son Richard was captured by livestream so that those who couldn’t be there had access to attend virtually. Kudos to Ben Wong of RW Communications for a very smooth experience. I highly recommend his company for any needs in the Washington area. If you weren’t able to attend, let me know and I can share the link with you for a few more days.
We find ourselves in Cocoa Beach, FL, continuing the celebration of life, again visiting Dad’s sister and her husband and their attentive family. We were last here two years ago. We have not stopped eating well, and loving the proximity to beautiful water down here. Witness the photo above in the title block, which was the canal view of the restaurant where we had lunch yesterday.
After lunch we spied a green heron by the water’s edge.
There are so many beautiful birds here in Florida. Back at the house yesterday afternoon, Aunt Irene and I sat outside overlooking Sykes canal and watched as a few dolphins made their way up the barge canal to the ocean, their languid fins breaking the water both close to us and on the far side of the canal.
I’m so glad we were able to swing through Florida on our way home and enjoy time with our family here. In DC we were able to see cousin Betsey and her daughter Bea, too. They’ll be here in Florida today to resume what my Dad calls parental duties of taking care of their parents.
Celebrate life at every opportunity. You will be so glad you did.
lifeinthethe8tre 