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Proust Questionnaire. Guest Blogger Christy


Christy and Grace in the Bahamas
2011
 
Well, it looks like all of you love Stephen as much as I do! On what occasion do I lie? Never. I am incapable of lying. This trait can be both rewarding and debilitating.

Okay, on to today’s guest blogger… Christy. Christy is super private but I can tell you that she is the best person I know. Her moral compass is pointed due North in the direction of all that is good and pure. She spends her day, time and energy helping others in need… And on top of that she is pretty, a Stanford graduate, a Texan, makes a mean guacamole and is the best mother a kid could ask for.

Proust Question for Christy: What do you consider to be your greatest achievement?

Christy’s Answer: Ellie, if your friends and fans cannot hear directly FROM you as you temporarily rest your voice, I think they would like to hear ABOUT you!

The meaning behind the popularity of, and devotion to this space is being connected to you. 

Since you will not brag, I would like to do that for you.  

Your greatest achievement and gift in my view is your daughter Grace!  You have shared many of the relatable rewarding and distressing interactions between moms, kids, and teens.  Grace is AMAZING!!!!

Grace is honest, very smart, funny, kind, discerning, resourceful, and has her own sense of style.  As her mother, you have kept her very close, even exposing her (as we all have done with our own kids) to some situations that are beyond her years in content.  Through your diverse friendships and experiences in art, music, travel, work, design, cuisine, and writing, you show Gracie-literally- the world.  You always bring Grace with you.  I have not ever known of a trip or dinner party in which you have not included her. In listening to you, your friends and family, some sane and some colorful (I consider myself both), she has learned to THINK and emulate qualities she admires, and avoid those that she does not.  By the Grace of God.  You encourage her to be close to her father and you married someone who has been very kind to her.  You dress with “decorum", and in spite of a lovely figure which you could show off more obviously, you instead show Grace your grace in appearance and apparel.  

You encourage her sense of humor by demonstrating yours, in fun times, in extremely stressful times, and during embarrassing times.  One of my favorite stories when Grace was younger is when you took her on the Ferris wheel in Paris, and your skirt flew up revealing your Spanx.  Grace was so embarrassed and you laughed and laughed, with yourself and later with your friends.  What a gift, and what a wonderful mom that would get ON a Ferris wheel in a dress for her daughter!  Your bravery in recent years has been remarkable to say the least.  When you and Grace and I drove to the hospital as you faced intense surgery and risk, we laughed, you saw a rainbow over the Pacific, and we all ate cheeseburgers.  The next day in ICU as you woke up after your surgery, Grace and David and Jenny within your arm’s reach, you looked at me and said, “I’m alive, you can change your shirt now.”    (Apparently my burger had dripped.) You show your daughter- and MANY of us- that you can be brave, go for life, and sometimes what we think is a huge deal, is not, or even when it is, we can get through it.

What greater gift in our lives than children!? Biological, adopted, our friends’ children, pets that are our children--I have 6 four-legged children and have rescued others as well—MOST WOMEN have MOTHERED with or without their own natural children.  The other women you have asked to guest write for your blog also have great children, and are kind to other children as you are, probably that is the deepest part of your bond.

Ellie, toast yourself on Mother’s Day!!!  You will see Grace continue to have outstanding opportunities and demonstrate excellence and decorum!!!  

My sincere wish is for more people to be kind to children, ALL children, and animals.  Yours, mine, and others.  Children are born innocent and can grow into lovely people, either because of us, or in spite of our challenges and mistakes, by the Grace of God.  

Thank you, Christy. I would normally never toot my own horn but since you did it for me out of pure love… I accept and I thank you.

P.S. Do you want to hear something funny?

Today is Mother’s day and my lovely little Gracie showed up to my apartment late and empty handed. So, of course, I read her the Riot Act and then forced her back on to the streets of Paris on a Sunday to search for flowers and a card for her dear mother knowing full well that every shop is closed on Sunday and I depleted her bank account so she has no cash to pay even if she finds crappy flowers at an overpriced Arabic bodega. That is called “Parenting 101”, my friends.

Happy Mother’s Day!

34 comments:

  1. Happy Mother's Day, Ellie! Reading your book gave me a deeper appreciation for you and your life as a mother. This answer is fabulous and thank god you taught her the most important thing: to laugh.
    I'm sure she found something for you that's beautiful and one of a kind. Or being free, at least one of a kind.

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  2. Well, Happy Mother's Day and thank you to both of you fine ladies!

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  3. What a fantastic Mother's Day tribute. Grace is indeed a treasure and an accomplishment!

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  4. Happy Mothers Day Ellie! Can't wait to hear what Gracie got you xxxx

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  5. Happy Mother's Day to YOU! Hilarious again.....and I must say, did Grace party all night & simply forgot ~ only to come home and recoup with some hangover food at Mom's ! LOL...oh boy.....I think of you & my Mom passed on to a higher realm ~ today I am helping a Mom & her grown child move his hair salon to a new location...yes his mom is moving him on Mother's Day ~ HAIL to all Mom's "unconditional Love" ~ XO

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  6. Ellie you are so blessed! Maybe not with your health, but by the beautiful relationships you have with others. Happy Mother's Day!

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  7. What a gracious tribute.... Ellie dear, fate surrounds you with class.Happy Mothers' Day








    What a gracious tribute - Ellie dear, fate surrounds you with class in the person of
    literary co-conspirators. Happy Mothers' Day and may it be glorious. Gracie is her finest gift to you, but I had to laugh at your riot act and its consequences. 101,indeed.




























































    `
    Gracie is her gift to you, but I had to laugh at the riot act and its consequences.

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  8. You are hilarious, inspirational and have a fabulous friend! Be well my friend Xxxooo

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  9. Love the life lesson!!! Hope she gave you tons of "non eye roll" coupons and plenty of hugs

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  10. Ha! My kids are out shopping now - after noon, on Mother's Day - so you are in good company. What a beautiful testament to you as a mother - honestly, nothing we haven't already figured out for ourselves. You are a wonderful mother Ellie and I am celebrating all of us today.

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  11. Every new blog from you is a present! Now about my own son (he is 35). He called me yesterday (he lives two blogs away from me) but he just called! "Mum", he said, "I think today is Mothers Day, so have a nice Mothers Day!" All these yesterday! I laughed, thanked him and blew him kisses, what else could I do? Ha!ha!

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  12. Happy Mother's Day Ellie! What can I say? At least Grace came to your apartment! And the day's not over yet...she has time surprise you.

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  13. joke's on you darling ellie...
    lest you forget... there's a park nearby!
    and i'm sure you taught her diligence and stealth! LOL!
    happy mother's day ellie. xo

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  14. A lovely guest! What a friend to blog about YOU and your daughter. She had some wise words for us. Gracie is very young still. Sometimes we forget how it was when we were young. She is a beauty and from what your friend says, also, a lovely person. Happy Mother's Day and love and peace and comfort to you.

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  15. Ellie -- Happy Mother's Day to a woman who has so much to feel good about: YOU as a mother who continues to love albeit with 'lessons'; and GRACE who will continue sharing a legacy of love you have gifted her. I think of you often and love feeling closer to you after reading your book ! 💐❤️

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  16. YOU have WONDERFUL FRIENDS.
    AT least your daughter showed up!!!!!
    I received phone calls................
    ONE SON will be here in an HOUR for dinner which the ITALIAN is making.Want to bet NO FLOWERS,NO CARD, NO GIFT?!!!I will come back tomorrow and let YOU know!
    XOXO

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    1. I GOT TWO GIFTS and MOTHER YOU LOOK NICE TONIGHT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
      28 years............all my HARD work is paying OFF!!!!!!!
      XO

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  17. Happy, happy Mother's Day, Ellie! Loved Christy's tribute to your mothering and to your finest accomplishment, Gracie. You attract the most wonderful people into your life and I have loved hearing about them all. They are your blessing as you are to them. You HAVE to share your 'better late than never' gift from Gracie....we will be on the edge of our seats!

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  18. Poor Gracie, how would she know ... Mother’s Day is on May 29 in France ! Now, I think you are entitled to double Mother’s Day !!

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    1. I didn't even know France celebrated Mother's Day! But you're right, without an American calendar, Gracie wouldn't know what day it was.

      I'm in the U.S. and somehow Mother's Day even snuck up on me this year!

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  19. The arrival with no gift and card on mother's day has to be a result of stress, sadness... What a hoot that you sent her out to find said gift and card.

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  20. This post was "on point"! I love Gracie to pieces and know that she is Ellie's sun, moon, and stars. The mother/daughter relationship is complex. Gracie always reminded me of a china doll. This last year she has transformed into a grown up breathtaking beauty. Life has not always been easy for Ellie but regardless of what she endured, Gracie always came first.
    Not all mother's love their children like that. To both Fabulous Ellie and stunning Gracie!!! You are deeply loved by Kels and I!
    Great Post Christy!

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  21. Thank you, Christy, for enlightening us even further on Ellie and Gracie's love for each other. Ellie, thinking of you all of the time. I hope you had a lovely Mother's Day with your beautiful girl. ❤️

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  22. Beautiful. ..you, Christy & Grace..bless her heart, maybe she'll find some flowers along the road to pick for you :) ....happy mothers day......xoxo

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  23. Happy Mother's Day Ellie! Mother's Day is on a different day in France, let that be her excuse. Gracie did at least come, ok empty handed and perhaps not the best company but she was there and she does love you although sometimes not showing it in the conventional way. Enjoyed your tribute Christy. You are a good friend.

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  24. Yesterday, I was in line at the grocery store and told the story about Gracie to my friend. There was a guy standing right in front of us with a bouquet of grocery store flowers. Though in his defense, the flowers were not half bad.

    The story seems to be universal.

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  25. Oh if we could all be Trump who so easily blows his own horn. Even better, to have friends who are happy to do it for you. Belated Happy Mother's Day and notwithstanding the occasional slip up by your beloved child, you are obviously an outstanding one.

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  26. I have always believed the old saying that it takes a village to raise a child. Our sense of interconnectivity is what will change the world. Great post. xo

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  27. Happy Mother's Day. Yes, you have raised a wonderful daughter. And now you are raising all of us withyour sense of humor in all situations and gifts of wisdom and love. Sending love and flowers and gratitude for you. xoxo Mary

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  28. Ha! Keeping it real Ellie – Always keeping it real! Every mother knows that on “any given Sunday” our children will surprise, good or bad. I had quite the shock yesterday (afternoon) when my son walked in (head modestly bent) and handed me a Mother’s Day card. "OMG thank you so much...I’m just happy getting a card from you...this envelope is beautiful". "No Mom, you have to open it". Well let’s just say it’s a keeper. To put things in context, he gave me a card at 11:58 last year, and the year before that? Ugh! I won’t even go there.

    Ellie, I just finished your book - The gift that keeps on giving ;). Your words (p.135) really stayed with me because when my son gave me that card...I hugged him with everything I had and kissed him “right on the lips”. Thank you my Dear XOX

    Christy, that was a wonderful tribute and I second the emotion...kindness to ALL children and animals!

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  29. Happy Mothers Day for you yesterday. Just forgive Grace and move on to the next beautiful Day when she does everything right. Keep on giving and we will keep sending our love and thoughts to you❤️🌹

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  30. Happy Mother's Day, Ellie. And Christy, you are a delight.

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  31. What a fun surprise! I went to high school with Christy! You are both lovely women and great writers! Leigh Fischer

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