May 2007

A few minutes ago our daughter Alexandra’s beloved golden retriever, Carter, died a peaceful death of old age. Alexandra was with him. This is a death in our family. Carter and Alexandra were devoted to each other and, in truth, he was her best friend.

I’m reminded of the famous speech George G. Vest gave at the U.S. Senate in 1884: “The one absolutely unselfish friend that man can have in this selfish world, the one that never deserts him, the one that never proves ungrateful or treacherous, is his dog. He will kiss the hand that has no food to offer… When all other friends desert, he remains.”
Apparently dog’s devotion, loyalty and faithfulness being a man’s best friend dates back to Homer, who choked back a sob in his account of old Angus’ wagging his aged tail and then dropping dead.

For all animal lovers, especially dog lovers, you know how sad it is to let go of Carter, who for eight years brought us all great happiness. Life is mysterious. Alexandra called me the morning she adopted Carter, complaining that she was hopelessly behind in her work; thee were stacks of unread newspapers and it was pouring rain. The Internet had indicated there were no new golden retrievers to visit. Alexandra had a hunch she should go anyway, and there was noble, beautiful Carter, who was born in France! It just goes to show you that mothers do not know best. I had encouraged Alexandra to stay home and get caught up on her work.

A few days ago our great artist friend Lady Anne Gordon died in England. I was deeply saddened because for thirty years we had the blessing of her abundant talent and friendship. Peter and I started a company in the 1980’s to bring Anne’s porcelain fruits, flowers and vegetables to America. Her husband, Lord Alastair Gordon, painted botanical watercolors, and we sold his beautiful paintings to clients along with his wife’s work. They met in art school and were inseparable until his own death several years ago.

The day after Anne died, I was in Hartford, Connecticut giving a talk at the Wadsworth Athenaeum for their Annual Fine Art & Flowers event. Flower designers from all over Connecticut were invited to interpret works of art from the vast collection in the museum. My talk entitled, “Living a Beautiful Life with Art and Flowers,” was an ideal opportunity for me to honor and celebrate my favorite artists. I showed slides of Anne and Alastair’s work and added a picture of Anne to show a face to this great artist.

The audience told me later that they felt a strong emotional response from my tears as I told them she died the day before. The sorrowful feelings were occasioned by my gratitude for the gift of knowing living artists, becoming friends, and being in a position to help them to live the art spirit.

I showed lots of Roger Mühl paintings (and a few pictures of Peter and me in Roger’s studio in the South of France). In a few weeks we’re having dinner in Paris with Roger and his wife Line when we’re there celebrating our 33rd wedding anniversary. I am currently working on a book about his life and work and it will be wonderful to be together to discuss this project.

Early April brought us great joy when the “grands” came to New York to visit. Our daughter Brooke had a party at her apartment where we decorated Easter eggs. We had lots of fun, restaurant meals and toy store visits. We went to a local craft shop and colored favorite objects.

Mid-month we were in Washington for the Home & Design Luxury Expo, where I spoke several times on “Creating a Happy Home” and had four book signing events for You Are Your choices We saw friends and enjoyed ourselves enormously. We feel grateful we were able to visit with Carter when we went to be with Anna, Nicholas and Lily.

I wrote every day steadily until I completed my new book, Happiness For Two: 75 Secrets for Finding More Joy Together. Peter wrote the Foreword at the request of my publisher and I concluded with an Afterword. This intense focus on happiness has profoundly affected us. I know this book was the one I needed to write and I’m glad I had so many challenges to work toward this book about love, kindness, caring and sharing happiness.

I’m thrilled You Are Your Choices is in its 5th printing and I learned that is back to press for the 18th printing! Because I’ve been completely focused on completing my book on time, due May first, and I’ve been book touring at the same time, I’ve fallen behind on my written and telephone correspondence. In the weeks ahead I will continue to write a book I was working on before I was invited by my publisher to write Happiness For Two, with its publication date of February 1, ’08.

Thank you for all the outpouring of friendship given Peter and me as we traveled around the country on book tour this winter and Spring. With all the April showers, we have a gloriously pretty Spring. May is our favorite month because of our wedding date and Paris celebration.

Happy May! I hope the beauty of flowers will restore your soul and you deepen your love of life.

Love & Live Happy

Alexandra and Peter at the cottage

Peter and Harriott

Alexandra and friends in Lexington, Kentucky

Alexandra and Peter

I cannot sell my new book to you directly, but I'm happy to send book plates for you and your friends. Please consider using my new book for a Book Club discussion. I would be happy to participate in your meeting by speaker phone!