family – stephenlirakis.com

LIKE MOTHER, LIKE GRANDFATHER

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HORSESHOE CRAB DRAWN BY MY GRANDFATHER 1913

HORSESHOE CRAB DRAWN BY STEPHEN LIRAKIS 1967

I am not in line at Best Buy or any other store. I have a little trouble with the logic of shopping in crowds and traffic. I am instead doing chores at home and working and shopping by computer; eating leftover turkey. I have had for many years the drawings from my grandfather and my mother and myself. I have not looked at them in years; having had the intention of scanning them for the future. It was one of those daunting tasks that is easily put off.

My grandfather’s drawings were done when he was working summers at Wood’s Hole, while at Harvard Medical School. My mother’s from Biology lab while at BU and mine while at URI.

It is clear that I did not share the same delicate hand as those who came before, even if in my mind I thought I did.

FELIX TURNS ONE ON FRIDAY

The main reason for our travel to California is to see our grandchildren and children. Luc will be 1 1/2 years our on the day of Felix’s first birthday. Like any grandparent our hearts go soft at the thought of these young boys. It is made easier by the fact that they are so good natured and happy. We will celebrate Felix’s first birthday on Friday along with a group of his friends.

THREE GENERATIONS

pitcher rd 8 12 11 60510 — three generations

This was my first opportunity to have almost everyone missing my daughter, Isabelle) united for a photograph and a meal. We are grandparents twice in a year, to Luc And Felix.

The next photo is for my wife,

COUSINS

My posts are usually not so personal; but if we put life in perspective, what touches my life most profoundly? Is it the America’s Cup? The Six Meter World Championship? Or is it friends and family? I am hoping the questions begs the answer. Florence, niece to my wife, is finishing a year at Harvard before returning to Paris, came for the day with her parents, children, and uncle.

After a whirlwind tour of “Chateau-sur-mer”, “Marble House”, “Rosecliff “, “The Breakers”, and “The Elms” ( all properties of the Preservation Society of Newport County) marvels of American interpretations of European architecture. We returned home for a late lunch of cold lobster and red wine and of course conversation. Florence’s children were very patient with all of us, given that our topics of talk might not have been their first choice.

35th wedding anniversary

Tomorrow is my thirty-fifth wedding anniversary, this is a sailing blog, but life is made up of everyday, not just a series of unconnected events. Naturally they are easier to write about, they are anecdotal.

My wife does not like sailing or boats. Consequently it has developed parts of me that could or would never have seen the light of day. I am a more complete person as a result.

Make no mistake, I love sailing, but the love of my life is my wife.