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Wherever Books Are Sold!Boomer Travel. Food. Laughter. Breaking the Empty Nest Rules!
Wow – what a year! We’re so grateful for tons of travel, the release of Going Gypsy, new friends from all
over the world (that includes YOU!), and a spectacular wedding!
Our most liked photos on Instagram included our African photo safaris in Tanzania and South Africa, our river cruise through Holland and Belgium, and our bike tour in Sicily.
Cheers to 2016 everyone – let’s make it shine!
Wow – what a year! We’re so grateful for tons of travel, the release of Going Gypsy, new friends from all
over the world (that includes YOU!), and a spectacular wedding!
Our most liked photos on Instagram included our African photo safaris in Tanzania and South Africa, our river cruise through Holland and Belgium, and our bike tour in Sicily.
Cheers to 2016 everyone – let’s make it shine!
Does having a small, intimate wedding always result in a stress-free day?
From experience, I can say NO!
David and I had a tiny wedding and we had our fair share of anxious moments and hilarious snafus.
Happily, The Piglet and Frenchie … CONTINUE READING >>
Does having a small, intimate wedding always result in a stress-free day?
From experience, I can say NO!
David and I had a tiny wedding and we had our fair share of anxious moments and hilarious snafus.
Happily, The Piglet and Frenchie broke that mold. They hoped for a calm, joyful day of love, a day in contrast to the crazybusy lives that they as NYC dwellers live – and that’s exactly what they received.
There were no rehearsal dinners, no formal invites, no showers or gift registrations – just two people sharing the love they have for each other.
An elopement of sorts – but with parents and siblings in attendance.
Our younger daughter, Decibel, served as a maid of honor and — as a hair and makeup artist — has a vast knowledge of the matrimonial ropes.
But The Piglet and Frenchie didn’t want a long engagement — they’ve been together for four years and felt that was enough of a wait — thereby alleviating Decibel’s duties as a “traditional” maid of honor.
What she could do was what she does best, create a visually stunning wedding for her sister.
Decibel works with some of New York City’s finest photographers, and hired the best to capture the essence of the happy couple.
And because she knows The Piglet better than anyone (okay, except Frenchie), together they came up with a simple, yet chic look for the big day.
The preparations weren’t completely without tradition.
I got to tag along for some of them; the finding of the perfect dress and, my favorite, getting ready in the hours before the tying of the knot.
To be with my girls in those special moments was pure joy.
Watching Decibel work her magic with The Piglet’s look, then affixing my grandmother’s jewelry in her hair, brought happy tears to my eyes. And though it had been many a year since I’d dressed The Piglet, it felt like the most natural thing in the world to me.
It would have been greedy of me to wish for more than those two hours of laughter, love and — because it was us — goofiness in one day, but there was so much more to come.
Photo: Kimberly Coccagnia
Arriving at City Hall by taxi, The Piglet burst out to find Frenchie and his parents waiting with David.
Frenchie’s mother burst as well – into tears.
It took just one of her should-be patented hugs to have me joining in the waterworks (I had held mine back to plain welling-up until that moment) and Piglet wasn’t far behind.
While standing on on the steps of New York City Hall it occurred to me that the site should be a major tourist attraction (and I’ve seen a lot of tourist attractions!).
I could easily see spending a day people watching on those stairs, eye-stalking the hundreds of happy couples preparing for their nuptials.
But on this day I was too preoccupied with my own happy couple to give the others much heed.
There is quite a bit of waiting involved in a City Hall wedding, but the wait was never dull. All of our senses were completely engaged while reveling in the historic, retro setting.
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| David & Frenchie | The Mommys – still hugging! |
Entering the Hall, The Piglet and Frenchie took a ticket similar to those spit out at the DMV or a deli counter. Then, when the big train station-like panel lit up their magic number, they headed to a counter to submit their paperwork.
Photo: Kimberly Coccagnia
With that squared away, we were led to a large round room to await the big moment in a loose queue of other wedding parties.
It was like a bridal fashion show with the many dresses represented and, of course, I deemed The Piglet’s ensemble the most stunning.
In David and my eyes, there has never been a more beautiful bride.
The Piglet is a modern woman who shuns the notion of being “given away” (rightfully so in my book too!) and, since there was no rehearsal, David was tearfully touched when she asked him to escort her through the door and into the officiant’s office.
Together, they made the few small steps to the front of the room.
In that tiny office, while she laughed and cried at the same time, we watched our over-the-moon-beaming daughter marry the man she loves.
And, in that moment, we gained a son – a man we’ve grown to love as our own.
(I can’t convey my feelings through the written word sufficiently here, but let it be known I’m bawling my eyes out as I type this.)
The ceremony was quick (maybe ten minutes) and it was all it needed to be.
It was perfect.
From City Hall, The Piglet and her Frenchie began their walk — as partners in life, as family, as their own Nation of Two — through the city they love.
Veronica, GypsyNester.com
DELVE DEEPER:
Read the Seven Things I Vow to My First Son-in-law (and the One Thing I Ask of Him!)
Check out The GypsyNesters’ snafu-laden wedding
See why I don’t believe in nagging for grandchildren
Nothing says Holland like windmills, and no place is more windmill laden (there are nineteen!) than the little town of Kinderdijk – so, of course, we had to investigate.Join us as we learn how windmills work, listen to some (very) tall tales, and find out that people actually lived… CONTINUE READING >>
Thanks to Viking River Cruises for inviting us along and providing this adventure through the tulips and windmills of Holland and Belgium with stops in Amsterdam, Kinderdijk, Antwerp, Bruges, Veere, Hoorn, and Arnhem.
Nothing says Holland like windmills, and no place is more windmill laden (there are nineteen!) than the little town of Kinderdijk – so, of course, we had to investigate.
The village sits well below sea level in the Alblasserwaard, a large polder in the southern part of the Netherlands.
The reclaimed land is surrounded by dykes to keep the Lek and Noord rivers at bay, but even with the system of dams and barriers, water must constantly be pumped out.
That is the job of the windmills (and we thought they were just there for their good looks!).
The nineteen that remain are the largest group of the old wind-driven pumps left in the country, making the windmills of Kinderdijk quite the attraction and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The name means children dike, and there is a nice legend to go along with it.
The story says that during the flood of 1421 the Alblasserwaard remained dry, so a man climbed the dyke to see if anything could be salvaged from the floodwaters outside.
After making it to the top, he spotted a cradle floating in the distance and noticed an eerily coordinated cat jumping from side to side, balancing it against the waves.
When the cradle came closer, the man found a baby fast asleep — and perfectly dry inside.
The tale became famous as The Cat and the Cradle and the rest, as they say, is fake history (not sure if the legend inspired Harry Chapin’s famous comeuppance song, but we had it stuck in our heads all day, nonetheless).
The real origin of the name is a whole lot less inspiring:
It is thought to relate to the child labor said to have been used in the construction of the dikes.
Yeah, we get why the cat story is more famous.
Whatever the truth behind the name, the fact is that the system holding back the water is an engineering marvel.
Over half of the Netherlands, which means low country, is below sea level, so pumping water is a never ending enterprise. The Dutch have been experts at controlling water for centuries, dating all the way back to the Middle Ages.
About a thousand years ago, people began building earthen dams and dykes to hold back water from low lying marshland.
But, alas, the barriers that created the dry land, known as polders, couldn’t do the entire job; water would still seep in through the ground.
That’s where the windmills came in, they were used to move water from low lying land up into the rivers, and finally out to the sea.
Yes, UP to the river!
Earlier in the day, from our balcony on the Longship Skadi, we felt the strange sensation of cruising on a river while looking down at all of the houses built below the water level.
How Windmills Work
We began our visit by learning about the mechanics of the mills at the little museum on site.
The design is fairly straightforward, but nonetheless ingenious.
Our guide, Kees, showed us how the wind turns the sail blades, which turn a set of large wooden gears that transfer the motion down a huge oak pillar, then, in turn, turns another wheel to scoop the water up and over the dike into a canal.
Through a series of these canals the water is finally lifted up the level of the river.
From the small museum we walked over to the modern pumping station that has replaced the old mills. Nowadays, several giant Archimedes’ screws do the job of removing the water from the lower ground and sending it on its way in a canal.
Armed with our rudimentary knowledge (enough to really cause trouble if we were somehow put in charge!), we headed inside one of the working windmills for a close up look at the inner workings.
Luckily, there was just enough of a breeze to fill the sails and turn the gears — but not enough to muss up our hair — so we got to see the huge shaft that runs down the center turning.
WATCH VIDEO!: Your GypsyNesters show you how windmills are done! People actually live in them!
Cramped Quarters: People actually live in windmills?
The mills also served as a home for the millers, the caretakers and operators that maintained the vital function of these flood-preventing workhorses. We entered and found rooms that circle around the mechanical assemblies like slices of pie.
On the ground floor the kitchen and main living area fill most of the space, but there was quite a bit of room dedicated to storage and the operation of the pump too.
There was also a bed built into one wall, and we quickly came to see that sleeping space was definitely at a premium.
We climbed up a tiny staircase, actually more of a ladder, to the next level and found that the conical shape of the mill made for even smaller rooms up there.
The children had to pile into one tiny room together, no matter how many there were.
The one we went through was once home to a family with thirteen kids.
Ohhhh, maybe that‘s why this is called Kinderdijk.
David & Veronica, GypsyNester.com
See all of our adventures in Holland!
Thanks to Viking River Cruises for inviting us along and providing this adventure through the tulips and windmills of Holland and Belgium with stops in Amsterdam, Kinderdijk, Antwerp, Bruges, Veere, Hoorn, and Arnhem.
YOUR TURN:
Ever wonder what one looks like inside? People actually live in them!.. See more about Holland’s most windmill-laden town!
Ever wonder what one looks like inside? People actually live in them!.. See more about Holland’s most windmill-laden town!
Congrats to our wonderful daughter, The Piglet, and her fiancé – they’re engaged and David and I are thrilled! Of course – me being me – I’m also a bit freaked out about being the perfect mother-in-law to this wonderful man.
What? Me? A mother-in-law? That’s some heady, for-the-rest-of-my-life stuff!
I asked our wise GypsyNester community for advice and… CONTINUE READING >>
Congrats to our wonderful daughter, The Piglet, and her fiancé – they’re engaged and we’re thrilled!
We were awoken from a dead sleep in the late afternoon while on our bike tour of Sicily (days of 20 miles of cycling + too much Sicilian food and wine = major Italian siesta action) to an exciting Mom, Dad-we’re-engaged! phone call.
The Piglet’s happiness bounced from cell tower to satellite and back to another cell tower all the way from Mexico, where she and her beau were vacationing with friends. Her laughter combined with tears of joy as she shared their happy news.
There is no better sound in the world.
My mind reeled with the crazy amount of questions going through my head: When are you getting married? Where? What can I do to help? Let’s start making plans!
But I was good; I stuck to the proper questions of the moment: How did he ask? What did he say? Text me a photo of your ring.
After hanging up, I immediately started to freak out. Did I handle the call as properly as I should have? Did I, in fact, ask the right questions? Did I sound the right amount of excited?
It dawned on me that, once again, parenting doesn’t come with a handbook.
Here’s – yet another – event that I’ve been totally blindsided by.
It’s not that the news came completely out of the blue; after all, they’ve been dating for almost four years.
Our daughter, Decibel, had been telling us for at least six months that the moment was eminent.
So why the heck was I so caught off guard?
The Piglet has always been the trailblazing Spawn.
She’s the oldest of our three, she’s got an extremely strong personality, and she works hard to achieve her goals. As a child she was as charming as she was stubborn, playful as she was mischievous, loving as she was independent.
She’s usually the first to lead me into a new chapter of motherhood.
It was the first-ness of it all that freaked me out in the aftermath of the Mom, Dad-we’re-engaged! phone call.
My first Spawn wedding – and I don’t even know what to do! Then – OMG, I’M GOING TO BE A MOTHER-IN-LAW!
That’s when all reasonable thought left my head.
I’m clueless about being mother-of-the-bride, but that’s easy enough to learn. The lovebirds are having an extremely small, city hall ceremony – so as long as I don’t show up drunk, don a clown suit, or smear lipstick on The Piglet’s dress, I’m golden (cross your fingers for me!).
But being a mother-in-law? That’s some heady, for-the-rest-of-my-life stuff!
Happily, we adore the man our daughter is going to marry. He’s an incredible person who makes her deliriously happy – what else can a mommy ask for?
I want to be the best mother-in-law – ever – to my new son (and not only because he’s allowing us to call him “Frenchie” on our site!).
To alleviate my fear, I turned to our insightful GypsyNester community and pleaded for mother-in-law tips on our Facebook Page. I’ve taken the most poignant from the wise women who have taken this journey before me, and have added my vows to my future son-in-law (you’ve got it in writing, Frenchie!):
My Vows to my Future Son-in-law
“NEVER offer your opinion unless and until you are asked. Much more difficult than it sounds!”
Frenchie, I will do my best. I don’t always have the best filter regulating the space between my thoughts and my mouth but, if I ever overstep my bounds, please don’t hesitate to let me know.
“I think the problem with many mother-in-laws is that they frequently outstay their welcome.”
Duly noted. If it looks like I’m moving in, feel free to pack my bag. I hate packing, so look at it as if you are doing me a favor!
“Stay out of their marriage. Remember they are the family unit now…not that they don’t love you but it is their marriage to build.”
Beautiful advice… it is your marriage to build. And it is my sincere prayer that it flourishes from your foundation of love – the most important gift that life gives us – to soaring heights based on the mutual respect you have of one another, the joy you give to each other, and the peace you find in your Nation of Two.
“I would just ask them what they’d like…”
I will. I can’t read your mind (I bet you’re saying WHEW! right about now), and I will strive to not make assumptions. Assumptions suck.
“Never speak bad of him. Treat him like your own. Say I love you. Hug. I have a fantastic son in law, but we have very different culture. So I try to not push my ways on him, but worry being not invasive, can be seen as too uninterested.”
I won’t. And I will, I will, I will! As for the last part, let’s navigate these waters together. Lead me to understand how to strike the proper balance.
“Trust your daughter’s judgement if you ever don’t agree on something. Love him even when he isn’t having a great day. It’s just a day.”
The Piglet has excellent judgement, obviously, she chose you. I promise to love you when you’re grumpy.
I also promise you this, my darling Frenchie: I will never nag you to produce grandchildren. BUT, just in case a few happen to show up, all I ask of you is that I get a cool French nickname.
I don’t want to be called Granny. Ewww.
Veronica, GypsyNester.com
P.S. Reason number bazillion I’m going to love having a French son-in-law (Frenchie emailed me today with this news): In French, mother-in-law is “Belle-mère” which literally translates to “beautiful mother.”
Seriously, can it get better than that?
YOUR TURN: What are your thoughts about being a mother-in-law? What are the ups and downs you’ve had with your own mother-in-law? What have you learned? Still wanting all the advice I can get! What do your grandkids call you?
I’ve beaten the crap outta these pants!I’ve worn them all over the world – while speaking at conventions and book events, touring cities, rambling on ruins, having cocktails and dinners at a fancy resorts, on trains, planes, and buses, volunteering in Africa, eating my way through Italy, taking in theater in NYC…
Now that’s putting them through the true GypsyNester paces and, at the end of it all… CONTINUE READING >>
Bluff Works sent me a couple of pairs of their pants to put them through the GypsyNester travel ringer (I beat the crap outta these pants!). What follows is how it turned out. As always, all opinions are our own.
Use the promo code TFC10 for a 10% discount on your entire purchase at Bluff Works.
Taking in the Ancient Greek Theater in Syracuse, Sicily, Italy
I’m a blue jeans kind of guy. When we go gallivanting around the world, the old dungarees always make the trip with me. Seriously, what other pants can you wear for five days straight without washing?
Volunteer teaching in Tanzania, Africa
Great as that is, sometimes jeans aren’t the best fit.
There are plenty of situations where the denim doesn’t cut it.
For me, since comfort is high on my list of importance for any item of clothing that makes it into my suitcase, heat is a big factor.
Let’s face it, blue jeans are hot!
Shorts can be the answer, but not always appropriate, both for looks and leg protection.
That’s where my Bluffworks Travel Pants
I have had them for over a year and they have proven to be outstanding in almost any situation.
Digging the history of Chichen Itza
Whether rambling through Mayan ruins in the Yucatan, or on safari in Africa, these lightweight yet durable duds have served me well.
No scrapes or sunburn on the legs, and good looking enough to saunter into a decent establishment for drinks or dinner at the end of the day.
In one three-day span in Mexico, I beat the crap outta these pants!
I wore them while speaking at a convention in Cancun, to cocktails and dinner at a fancy resort, on a hike through the ruins and heat of Chichen Itza, dinner at a funky little joint in Piste, and finished up in colonial Valladolid. All while taking buses to each destination.
Now that’s putting them through the true GypsyNester paces and, at the end of it all, they still looked like I had just put them on.
I always carry lots of stuff on me when we’re traveling, so I love plenty of pockets. These trousers fit everything I need, passport, wallet, phone, and even camera easily.
And I don’t need to worry about the important items, because zippers keep them from falling out while we’re traipsing through the wild and thwart pickpockets when exploring crowded cities.
Relaxing in Valladolid
Rockin’ it in Woodstock!
Recently, Bluffworks asked if I‘d like to try their new Chinos and of course I jumped at the chance.
I haven’t had the opportunity to put them to the test in the far corners of the globe yet, but they were the right combination of comfort and style, with just enough cool factor, for a recent visit to Woodstock, and a night on the town in the Big Apple.
With all of that in their favor, I think that the best thing about both styles is their uncanny ability to come out of the suitcase in great shape.
Believe me, I am not the most precise packer and these babies answer the call wrinkle-free every time I pull them out, even after days of being shoved under shoes, wadded around wine bottles, crammed in amongst crap shop collectables – or whatever else ends up in my bag.
Night out in New York City
Another huge plus – they dry fast. Why do I care?
Because we pack the same for a week as we do for a month. For a week I can get by fine, but over a month everything is going to end up getting washed in the sink at some point.
Try that with blue jeans and either you’re packin’, or worse yet, wearin’ wet denim.
I realize that I have been gushing and bragging about my Bluff Works pants, and this sounds like one big commercial, but I really do mean it. There has not been a single time that I have packed my suitcase since I got them that they were not inside.
That puts them right up there with my toothbrush in the must-have department!
David, GypsyNester.com
Bluff Works sent me a couple of pairs of their pants to put them through the GypsyNester travel ringer (I beat the crap outta these pants!). What you just read is how it turned out. As always, all opinions are our own.
Weigh in and find out how the GypsyNester Community answered this:
Quick question: Do recent world events make you less likely to travel?
Posted by GypsyNester-Celebrating Life After Kids on Thursday, December 3, 2015
Weigh in and find out how the GypsyNester Community answered this:
Quick question: Do recent world events make you less likely to travel?
Posted by GypsyNester-Celebrating Life After Kids on Thursday, December 3, 2015
