Seeing My Global Future at The Fontainebleau Hotel

Growing up in a Multicultural City I was blessed to grow up in a culturally diverse city. Miami in the 1970s opened a window onto a much wider world. My classmates represented countries from Costa Rica to France, Korea to Venezuela, Spain to Jamaica. Our elementary school classrooms were like the United Nations. I lovedContinueContinue reading “Seeing My Global Future at The Fontainebleau Hotel”

Big Screens and Bigger Memories: My 1970s Movie Adventures

When I was young, my grownup cousin, Sandra, tried to describe what a movie theater was like. She said a bunch of people could sit in rows, all facing the same direction, and somehow everyone could watch a movie on a giant screen.  How could they see over each other’s heads? I couldn’t picture it.ContinueContinue reading “Big Screens and Bigger Memories: My 1970s Movie Adventures”

Frozen Pillows and Porch Ice Cream: Summer Evenings with Mom, Dad, and Taffy Cat

Summer evenings in Miami were hot and muggy throughout my childhood in the 1970s. The hotels along the beach blocked the ocean breeze. The inland neighborhoods wilted in a steamer. But we had a beautiful evening rhythm in our home, buoyed by the sweet scent of the jasmine hedges that wandered through our neighborhood ofContinueContinue reading “Frozen Pillows and Porch Ice Cream: Summer Evenings with Mom, Dad, and Taffy Cat”

When Rain Came through Miami

Growing up in Miami, I got used to storms. Fast ones. I could smell the rain coming. It was a distinct scent that clung to the screen door. A storm was on the way and would arrive within minutes. In the summer, we could count on a daily afternoon storm. It blew in quickly fromContinueContinue reading “When Rain Came through Miami”