GlamMa

Beach Time

A week ago I was feeling sorry for myself that our trip to Naples had ended with 60 degree days and 40 degree nights.  The first three days of our week long post Christmas vacation had been beach perfect.  Meg, my Glambaby and her Mommy Lauren and Dad Patrick had reveled in the sunny weather and warm breezes off the Gulf of Mexico.   
 It's  amazing what a 2 and a half year old can do with a shovel and pail!   

 So much to think about too. 

Maybe just too taxing a process and relaxing is the best approach

  
 

  

Meanwhile GlamMa Gigi could take only so much beach time before hitting the shopping area of Old Naples.  Fifth Avenue South and Third Street South proved to have some wonderful browsing in art, homewears, and clothing.   

  

  

Meanwhile while I shopped Meg, her Mom and Dad reveled in the magnificent sunset on the beach

 

Turks and Caicos Cool

 

Imagine a breeze blowing at 75 degrees, sand soft as silk, endless blue skies and calm, warm water lapping at your feet.  Your rum punch is getting low so you stroll back to the beach chaise and retrieve your handy “service” flag.  Before you have time to stick it in the sand, a waiter appears.   How did life get so good?  That’s what I thought on the first day we arrived at the Grace Bay Club on Providenciales (

Provo) in the Turks and Caicos Islands of the British West Indies . Little did I know it would get better.

Located between the Bahamas and the Dominican Republic, Provo is one of only eight inhabited islands and cays in the 40 island Turks and Caicos chain.  Tourists come to dive on the world’s third largest coral reef, fish, sail, eat conch ten ways and just hang out on the islands’ magnificent beaches.   

The official capital of Turks and Caicos (TCI) is Grand Turk Island , but the hub of tourism is Provo.  Steve and I discovered Provo in the late eighties when we brought our young family for a vacation at Club Med Turkoise. I remember being awed by Grace Bay’s fine white sand and warm water so clear you could snorkel for miles with schools of fish that seemed as curious about us as we were about them.  At that time, not much else was happening on the island. 

Fast forward to 1993, when Grace Bay Club opened on 11 acres of undisturbed beachfront as the only all-suite hotel. Additions in the last few years include the 5,000 square foot Anani Spa and Fitness Center, on-the-beach pool, 38 all-suite Villas, the worlds longest infinity edge bar, a kids eco- friendly program and The Estate, a collection of twenty-two custom designed owner/rental suites.

Our journey to Provo began in a snowstorm and ended with blue skies and sun. Like a bunch of shipwrecked sailors, we all but kissed the ground when we arrived.

Grace Bay’s reception staff greeted us with rum punch and radiant smiles. From that day forward, we were treated as if our every need was theirs. From dining under the stars to beach massages to luxurious suites stocked with fruit, champagne and coffee, we were pampered. Every evening housekeepers surprised us with a treat. One night it was chocolate covered strawberries, another night a bougainvillea filled bubble bath.  

The days rushed by. We rented open air jeeps to tour the island and had a near death experience getting used to British driving rules. At the island’s famous Da Conch Shack, we helped clean freshly caught conchs which then became our lunch.

 

 On another day we went with Caicos Dream Tours to snorkel on the reef.  Each evening we watched the sun set and wandered to the Infinity Bar to chat with other guests. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 One couple from New York told us they had been coming to Provo

for ten years and had tried all of the hotels at least once.  This was their second time staying at Grace Bay Club and would be the only place they would come in the future. Their reason?  The staff made them feel at home. We couldn’t agree more.      

By the time we left, we were on a first name basis with everyone. In all my travels I never came away from a trip with more business cards and promises to “keep in touch.” These are people, and a very special place, that I am truly looking forward to seeing again.

The Basics:

 

Turks & Caicos Tourist Board: www.turksandcaicostourism.com. 800-241-0824

Providenciales:

Stubbs

Diamond

Plaza

: 649-946-4970

Grand Turk:

Front Street

: 649-946-2321

www.provo.net: travel planning.

www.turksandcaisos.tc: Great information for lesser known islands.

www.timespub.tc:  A monthly magazine filled with interesting facts.

www.wherewhenhow.com: What is happening on the island and a restaurant guide.

www.gracebayclub.com:  My pick for the best of the best.

Currency:  U.S. Dollar

Passport Required

Electricity: 120 volts, 60 cycles AC

Language: English

Departure Tax: $39.00

Not To Miss:

Conch Diving, Snorkeling, Fishing, Island tours:  www.caicosdreamtours.com. 649-231-7272.

Conch Farm Visit:  http://www.caicosconchfarm.com.649-946-5643. Learn how the Caribbean Queen Conch is raised. 

Parasailing over

Grace

Bay

: www.captainmarvinsparasail.com.  649-231-0643

Sailing charters: www.sailprovo.com. 649-946-4783. Design your own day trip adventure to the outlying islands.

Eco Touring: www.bigblue.tc. 649-946-5034.  Kayak, snorkel and tour the

Caicos Islands

without leaving a footprint behind.

Where To Eat:

Anacaona: www.gracebayclub.com. 649-946-5050. Executive Chef Martin Davies has worked at some of the finest restaurants on both sides of the pond. From The Dorchester to The Savoy and then Asia de Cuba in

London

he honed his skills only to be wooed to

Paris

to open Il Cotile with Alain Ducasse. Then across the Pond to

New York

’s China Grill and SoHo House and back again to

London

before he discovered Providenciales and its top quality resorts. A must is his Pan-Seared Foie Gras with a Diver Scallop on Banana Bread French Toast.

Grill Rouge and the Infinity Bar: www.gracebayclub.com. Beachfront bistro with spectacular views of

Grace

Bay

.

Nantucket for Glam Gals and Ma's

Nantucket Island is located about thirty miles off the coast of Massachusetts and unless you are a very, very strong swimmer the only way to get there is by boat or plane.  That's a good thing because it limits the number of un-glam folks who visit.   Of course being a close to Boston destination it's counter-intuitive to imagine that you will know who the Glam or unglam folks are.   Like much of NONY (North of New York) it is more chic to look un-chic than chic.  In my latest trip, I saw only one Monolo pair of sandals.  However, that doesn't mean that the shops don't carry some gorgeous goods. Insider chic is carrying a generations old Nantucket Lightship Basket that has your Great-Great Grandmother's name engraved on the inside.  I don't have that but I did invest in a baby lightship basket for Meg so she can hand it down to her children. 

Shopping on the island takes place mostly in the town of Nantucket.  The streets are choc-a-bloc with the 1840's homes that have been lovingly renovated.  Some have added storefronts, some not.  This is my list of favorites: 

Entertaining, Gifts and Linens

Best of the Beach: 2 Straight Wharf,www.botbeach.com. Table linens from Home James in the Hamptons, Mother of Pearl lined serving dishes from Julia Knight, bed linens, clothing and all kinds of entertaining accessories.

Brown Basket Gallery: 9 Old South Wharf.  Original Nantucket Lightship Baskets made by hand by G.L. Brown who has been doing it for over thirty years.

Cold Noses: The Courtyard at Straight Wharf, www.coldnoses.net.  If you are like me you have to take home a gift for Fido.  I bought mine a Nantucket sweater. 

Sandy Paws of Nantucket: 4 South Water Street.  This is an alternative that also carries animal themed items for the home.

Trillium: 17 Center Street. www.trilliumnantucket.com.  Magnificent table top items including placemats and napkin ring holders by Kim Seibert and a line of designer melamite dishes for serving dinner on the deck.

L'lle de France: 8 India Street. www.frenchgeneralstore.com.  I have long collected French santons and low and behold, Michel and Joyce Berruet carry them here.  The store will be closing in 2009 so if you want any kind of specialized French serving container, shop now.

Claire Murray Lifestyles: 11 South Water Street. www.clairemurray.com.  Hand-hooked rugs and home accessories you won't be able to live without once you see them.

Beach Glass of Nantucket : 47 Straight Wharf. www.beach-glass.com.  Beautiful glass jewelry and home accessories perfect for gifting.

It's a Shore Thing: The Courtyard at Straight Wharf.  Beachy jewelry, pottery and other fun stuff to cram into your suitcase.

Expressions of Don Freedman: 14 Centre Street.  Old nautical clocks, new clocks, candlesticks and more clocks.  You've got to visit to understand how timely this store is.

The Lion's Paw: 0 Main Street. Handpainted furniture (yes they ship), linens, glassware and other home necessities.

   Clothing:  Nantucket  shopping is a tad bit schitzophrenic.  First there are the  "classic" Nantucket shops where you can buy your Nantucket Reds....shirts, shorts and even underwear that  looks like it has been washed a million times and faded to just the right  red/orange hue. Murray's Toggery Shop is the home of the Nantucket Reds because the owner Philip Murray began the Reds line in the 1940's.   Check out the story and video interview at Plum TV Nantucket .

Actually any tee tee-shirt store you find will be stocked with the reds. I especially like Annie and the Tees at 46 Main Street and Three Girls and A Dog at 15 Centre Street.

Aside from beach attire you can also find fashionable seasonal clothing ranging from a casual to fashionista. Some well know brands include:

Vineyard Vines, 2 Harbor Square or Murray's                                                                                    

J McLaughlin, 1 Salem Street

Ralph Lauren at 16 Main Street

A hugh Lilly Pulitzer Store called In the Pink at 5 South Water Street. 

My favorite store in the Hamptons and NYC has a branch on Nantucket.  Leggiadro at 20 Center Street carries the best stretchy but still tailored and chic pants.

A new store to me, but now a fav is David Chase at 60 Main Street. He and his wife and darling daughter Samantha carry the Bogner line of upscale cottons for summer along with other great looks.   

Designer clothing can be found at CERI at 25 Centre Street and also an upstairs outlet on Main Street.  If you find that you haven't packed a wrap to keep you warm at night stop in at either Island Cashmere at 32 Centre or Johnstons Cashmere at 4 Federal Street.

Children: Need clothing for the little ones...run do not walk to  Pinwheels at 32 Center Street then hunt down Kidding Around at 2 Broad Street.  If you have a car also try The Children's Shop at Bayberry at 6 Bayberry Court.  If you want a real touch of old Nantucket head to The Toy Boat at 41 Straight Wharf where you will find island made toys, local children's books and folk toys from Europe.  For a keepsake start collecting the Nantucket Dolls sold at Pinwheels.  There is a new one every season.

Other shopping favorites for various reasons include:

Eye of the Needle at 14 Federal Street, Vis A Vis at 34 Main Street, Island Pursuit at 42 Main Street, Mister at 18 Federal Street, Nalu at 12 Candle Street and Peter Beaton Wharf Store at 39 Straight Wharf.

There are soooooo many more to choose from.  A complete listing can be found on The Nantucket Chamber of Commerce web site.

Restaurants: ..Just a few of my favorites.  Get the Nantucket Restaurant Guide published by The Inquirer and Mirror Newspaper.  It lists menus as well as giving a flavor of what each restaurant offers.

Casual Dining

Nantucket Pharmacy:  45 Main Street serves an eclectic array of meals from PB&J to Lobster Rolls

Black Eyed Susan's: 10 India Street serves the best breakfasts.  I love their huevos rancheros.  Meg loves their from scratch panckakes.

The Juice Bar: 12 Broad Street carries the best home made ice cream and waffle cones.

Even Keel Cafe: 40 Main Street is good for any time of day as is Arno's at 41 Main Street.

The Nantucket Lobster Trap is right on the wharf and very casual. They don't take reservations for tables less than 6 so the wait is sometimes long in season.

Upscale Dining

Nantucket looks so laid back from the outside that you never would imagine the dining could be as good as it is.   Think fine dining.  Of course given that many of Nantucket's regulars are from Boston and New York which both have the best of the best, I guess it's no surprise.   Again these are a FEW that just happen to appeal to me.   

21 Federal at 21 Federal Street :  This is a long story so until I can post ALL the details just trust me.  Go there for the food...yummmy  and for the bar.  Ask for Johnny and tell him to make you a Cosmo.  You won't be disappointed.

Company of the Cauldron:    7 India Street., Intimite dining with wonderful food

Toppers at the Wauwinet:  Oh My.  Dine on the terrace or more formal dining room. Just dine.

Other wonderful island choices include: Languedoc Bistro at 24 Broad Street,

Where did the time go

Baby Margaret is here and not only did it almost kill my daughter, it almost killed me.  Birth is beautiful and dramatic and violent.  Imagine pushing a prize winning large pumkin through a hole the size of an avocado.  You get the picture.  Yes, things stretch and all, but at a certain point either nothing happens (usually after 18 hours of labor and pushing) and the doctor, slipping in and out of the labor room to check on whether he can make his dinner date or will have to move it to a breakfast date says.   Nope...not going to bring that particular pumpkin out of the patch so let's go in and till the soil and dig it out manually.   I.E. Caesarian Section.   Luckily Lauren didn't have that problem.

Then there is the option of the epidural or not.   Moe often than not these days, young women will choose an epidural.  Trick question is ...will the anesthesiologist be available?    On the night my daugther delivered, the three women before her went so fast, the anesthesiologist couldn't get there on time. 

So...that leads me to wonder why they aren't training pregnant women in breathing techniques ( i.e. the good ole lamaze technique).  Remember the classes ?  Bring a pillow, blanket, husband or other coach, objects to focus on, suckers, lip moisturizer and your favorite stuffed animal from childhood. Sessions went on for weeks and weeks.  We learned to take cleansing breaths, focus on a spot as if we were prima ballerinas in the NYC Ballet doing turns, and bond with our mates.  I tried unsuccesfully to find those classes for my daughter and son-in-law.  How would they cope?  My daughter touted the epidural.  "It won't hurt."  Ha.  I knew it wasn't that easy but did I argue with her?  No.  One thing I had learned the hard way was to say.  Oh...Good Idea.  Then try to find another way.   

We're in labor...Margaret Evans South arrives

This post describes the events of June 15, 2007.   It is one year later and I remember it so vivedly I thought I should share.

I was camped out at my daughter's house..there for the long haul.  The doctor had said any day, but we were in week three, having done all the known techniques for bringing on labor.  I was exhausted already just with my daughter's anxiety about "when" and "is the baby okay?"  I couldn't answer either of those questions and that made me feel incompetent at helping my darling very pregnant daughter. Steve finally decided to go home and wait for the call.   Driving would only take five hours and we knew that labor certainly would take longer than that.   Mine had been 19 hours and ended in a C-section.   I didn't want to predict, but I guessed that Lauren's would be similarly difficult.   Big head ran in our family, she was only five foot four and her hubby was six foot five.   Do the math.  So we kissed and hugged each night when she and Patrick went to bed and hoped tonight would be the night.  And of course it wasn't....until June 14th around midnight.  Lauren knocked on my door and said, "Mom, I think I'm in labor."  I understand what adrenalyn can do because I was up and dressed in less than a minute and pretending to be calm.  Lauren looked dazed and her husband stood by her side waiting to help do whatever was needed.  Her labor pains were slight but coming every five minutes.  The doctor said to come in right away.  Lauren asked me if she had time to take a shower and wash her hair.  I breezily said....sure.  Labor takes a while, might as well be comfortable.  Of course she had had the manicure and pedicure. Patrick packed the overnight bag...well, they had packed it and repacked it so I think Patrick was just looking for something to do. 

By the time Lauren got out of the shower and dried her hair the contractions had become more serious.  We rushed her into the car and Patrick drove the fifteen minutes to the hospital.   Lauren was breathing heavily...they don't do LaMaze anymore.  When the nurse checked her into the birthing room, all the bells went off.  Lauren was ....centimeters and the baby was expected at any time.  Lauren asked for the epidural as she was in considerable pain at this point.  God love her, she didn't scream, she clutched Pat's hand and held her breath.  We were only into three hours since she went into labor.   A wonderful nurse who had birthed more babies than she could even remember took Patrick and me through the part we would be playing helping Lauren to deliver the baby.  Where was the doctor?   I called Steve and told him to get in the car...whatever he was wearing.   I knew he wouldn't make it but at least he'd get there shortly after.  Patrick called his folks who would come the next day. 

Then the doctor arrived.  As embarrassing as this is, I have to admit that the doctor looked like a television model more than a doctor. Of course I didn't say this to Lauren, nor would she have cared.  She kept asking for the epidural and the nurse said there might not be time.  Yikes. 

Then  like the good fairy arriving from the North, a very tiny Indian woman strolled into the room and assured Lauren that her pain would be over shortly.  And it was.  The doctor, whose name I wish I knew was so skilled she made the proceedure look easy.  I know from my own experience that getting the epidural needle into the right position takes lots of skill.   My experience many years earlier had been very different and I'm told the resident who botched my epidural several times could have done much harm.  Why is giving birth so hard? 

Glamma Anxiety

No matter how excited I am about becoming a Glamma, the nagging reality exists that parenting anxiety not only remains but has doubled. During the last 28 weeks my daughter has raised concerns, often minor...tweaks, rumblings, discomfort, infection fears all of which, luckily have turned out to be nothing of import.  But, with every one of her concerns, my reaction has been "INDIGESTION".    Not only am I worried about her, but I'm now worried about my granddaughter - to - be.   Things go wrong at any stage of pregnancy  and until the little darling is out of the womb, I need to worry about them together. 

I'm not sure how Glam those double wrinkles will be. 

Alpha Moms

On the April 27th Today Show, I saw a segment titled "Alpha Moms" and had to laugh.  The idea of multitasking mothers didn't seem all that strange to me.  As usual, we boomers were the second generation to do it, but the first to say "There's nothing wrong with multitasking."

With two small children at home, I traveled the world (sometimes with and sometimes without them) researching and co-authering a series of books (published by Bantam Book) called "Born To Shop".  The book's market was women who loved the finer things in life and the adventure that came with finding  a unique item, wholesale factory outlet, or great museum in a part of the world never visited before.   At that time we didn't think anything about merging our home and professional worlds.  My mother had done it and was my role model.  She held down a job at The New York Post (Dorothy Schiff days) and raised a group of children who loved and admired her. I could have chosen not to have a career and lots of my friends did just that.  But what I realize, looking back,is that their "alpha mom" traits made them the home room mothers, charity leaders and school board members.  Many of them are now in Congress.  How much do we love Nancy Pelosi and all her Grandchildren?  What I am saying is that the "Alpha-Mom" is nothing new.   

But as each generation attempts to redefine itself, the not-so-new, takes on a new twist. 

I did a Google search to learn that marketing to "Alpha Moms" has becoming a phenomenon.  The Today Show segment featured an on-demand television web venture founded by Isabelle Zuckerman, a self described member of the alpha breed.  Alpha Mom television is "an all-day, all-night, on-demand cable channel where “mothers seeking excellence,” according to press releases, would be able to find “the latest, best-of-breed information” on everything from preconception and child development to how women can “maintain their style, sophistication and sense-of-self upon entering mommyhood.”  You can read a full story of how Isabelle and her empire got started in New York Magazine's feature by Randall Paterson: Empire of the Alpha Mom.  According to a USA Today story by Bruce Horovitz, the originator of the term Alpha Mom was Constance Van Flandern a mother and graphic artist who was working with Zuckerman on her television concept. 

As it turns out many major advertisers have risen to the challenge of this new, tech savvy group of women.  According to Horovitz, "A good chunk of Cadillac's online ad campaign — at mycadillacstory.com— features Alpha Moms."  Kimberly-Clark has launched the Huggies Baby Network, Proctor and Gamble has been testing its Swiffer WetJets with readers of The Nest. Unilever's Suave brand, in partnership with Sprint, has created an "In the Motherhood " website that airs mom-scripted web videos. You'll have to be an alpha mom to keep up with all the competition!   

I call it reinventing the wheel.  What do you think?

Glam-Ma Gear- Mom's Top Picks

With my curiousity awakened as to the "new" parenting mode I asked her what I should be buying for the Glam-Ma come-to-visit nursery.   

My daughter and her friends (all in various stages of motherhood and pre-motherhood) shared their likes and dislikes.  She suggested that I start first of all with The Consumer Reports Best Baby Products book written by Sandra Gordon and the Editors of Consumer Reports. 

This very comprehensive guide takes the mother (grandmother) through the entire litany of baby products from Autos (kid friendly vehicles) to Zebras & Other Stuffed Animals.  Best yet, within the Introduction section, the authors have a two page list of "Baby Basics," a virtual shopping list for the home and nursery.  This made it easy for me to figure out what the glam-ma would and wouldn't need.   

I figured that when Meg (my grandaughter) came to visit, her mom would bring the clothing, stroller and car seat.  What I would need at my home, however would be a crib, mattress, crib sheets, waterproof liners and mattress pads along with bathroom essentials for bathing.  The rest of the gear was optional but I felt a high chair and pack and play would make the visit easier on my daughter and Meg. 

If this is your first grandchild you will be saying...what is a pack 'n play... where is the playpen?   In essence, the playpen has been redesigned for safety and style and morphed into a combo bassinette and play yard and like calling all copiers Xerox Machines, the play yard is often called by the Graco Company's name: Pack'n Play. In the interest of correct journalism both product names should have the registration symbol after them, but I don't know how to do that ...so just imagine it is there.  Other companies making good play yards (recommended by Consumer Reports Best Baby Products) are Baby Trend, Evenflo, Fisher-Price and J. Mason.

On to the list of favs from my daughter's friends:

Graco Swing - You can move it around the house or apartment and is good for dinnertime when they are too young to be in the high chair

Graco Pack'n Play - This is the one I bought 

Bebe Pod Infant Seat The baby can sit up in this seat as soon as she can support her head.

Baby Bjorn Active Carrier Great for walks after the baby is 8 lbs.

Graco Travel Lite Bouncer : It even vibrates.

Graco Baby Einstein Entertainer or Evenflo Ultrasaucer

Peg Perego Prima Papa Highchair

Kick and Play Gimini:  Mat for playing on the floor

Baby Monitor:  Different ones work in different houses

Baby Stroller:  So many models.  Check out Consumer Reports and try them out.

Car Seat:  Depends on your car but most like the Graco Snugrideand the Britax  Marathon for when they get bigger.  One tip.  Don't buy more than one car seat, just buy extra car seat bases that the car seat can snap into.

Other bestselling products

What a Glam-Ma needs to know- Part I- The expert - Your daughter/daugher-in-law

Part of being a Glam-Ma is keeping up with the times.  It goes along with how we've lived our lives, stayed current with fashion, the news, our communities and jobs.  So to dig out the old Dr. Spock or Dr. T. Berry Brazelton books and think nothing has changed in parenting is well - old. 

The real Dr. Benjamin Spock died in 1998, but his legacy lives on in www.drspock.com an updated site for today's parents and grandparents. Brazelton's research has spawned the Brazelton Institute which does research on all aspects of childhood development, and the Brazelton Foundation. His last three of thirty books include "Calming Your Fussy Baby:The Brazelton Way", "Sleep: The Brazelton Way", and  "Discipline: The Brazelton Way".

A quick google search on "parenting" will return a mind boggling assortment of sites ranging from magazines to product-turned-advice-maven companies.  Amazon lists over 1,500 magazines in it's parenting and family section. 

Shortly after my daughter announced she was pregnant I bought her the following books:  A Child is Born, The Mother of All Pregnancy Books: The Ultimate Guide to Conception, Birth and Everything in Between, From Conception to Birth, and The Expectant Father: Facts, Tips and Advice for Dads-to-Be. Whew.  Those books contained a lot of information I hadn't had when she was in utero. And then I laid back and went on with my life. 

Week by week, she would feed me snippets of what she could eat, couldn't eat, could drink, couldn't drink, could do as exercise, and couldn't do as exercise until I finally realized that to be an effective Mom to my own daughter I had to do a catch up course in pregnancy and birth. 

Lauren says:   When Mom started asking why I couldn't eat deli meat, sushi and many kinds of fish I sent her to .......www.whattoexpectwhenyou'reexpecting.com, www.webmd.com/baby,  www.womenshealthmatters.ca/centres/pregnancy, www.americanpregnancy.org/pregnancyhealth,  www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/pregnancy.html

I told her she was obviousle lucky to be alive!!!  I ate raw oysters in Mexico and went parasailing when I was six months pregnant with her . Who knew? 

Glam-Ma

I've been vindicated. On The Today Show, Meredith Vierra confirmed what I have been saying....we boomers are becoming Grandmothers with style and pizzaz.  http://video.msn.com/v/us/msnbc.htm?g=e63803c4-f577-43a1-bd55-d00dc7a94fce

Copy this link into your browser to see the video

http://video.msn.com/v/us/msnbc.htm?g=e63803c4-f577-43a1-bd55-d00dc7a94fce&

Six months ago my daughter announced that she and her hubby were expecting .... Standing in her kitchen, with baby booties in hand, I shrieked with joy and then cringed. I was going to be a Grandmother????

My Grandmother baked apple pies, wore flowered housecoats and roll down hose. Her corset left crinkles in her otherwise baby soft skin and she waxed the whiskers from her chin with a concotion that smelled like a tar and vasoline martini. Grandma smoked unfiltered and drank in private. Her life was totally devoted to me, and I wouldn't be the woman I am today without her unfailing love and support.

I wear designer jeans, burn most everything I cook, am a health junkie, and have traveled the world in the course of my career. My children were raised with the assumption that they would come along for the ride. I am a boomer.

Although I had always fantasized about being a Grandmother, this seemed too soon. I had trips planned, workouts to do, projects to finish. I didn't own a house dress or corset and would need to take cooking classes to learn the art of baking apple pies.

And then my daughter presented me with a 4D image of my granddaughter. Meg Evans South, in utero, was a beauty. Her lips were full and luscious, her nose squished and adorable and she was smiling. Be still my heart.

Many of us in the boomer generation will be making this journey. As we have redefined women in the workplace and marriage equality, so we will redefine being grandparents. Goldie Hawn said it first and the Today Show confirmed it in their special report on April 23rd, the Boomer's have a new vision of Grandparenting. We are Glam.


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