The Glory Days of Summer by Celeste Palermo

In 1985, summer meant biting into half-moon watermelon slices so big that juice trickled down my cheeks. It meant running through the sprinklers, getting double scoops of ice cream and slathering Bain de Soleil, with a whopping SPF 4, on my belly, then baking in the sun. A typical June day for my best friend,…

Read More

Mental Health and Haagen-Dazs by Celeste Palermo

“A manicure does not constitute self-care,” I once told a friend. “That is just maintenance.” Upon further reflection, however, I must qualify my remark: When that manicure is spent nurturing a relationship, it becomes more than a touch-up for my nails. It morphs from maintenance into intentional self-care. Monthly manicures with my daughter, Morgan, have…

Read More

“Looking Forward…and Laundry” by Celeste Palermo

Laundry day.  While I used to dread this chore, with piles of different garments to sort, wash, air-dry, iron or dry clean, it now consists of one load of leggings. My office clothes are my workout clothes, so this once onerous job is like few things during COVID: Easy. The problem is, as the US…

Read More