The keepsakes, celebrations and family stories behind Margaret's book. Real ideas from a real home, for designing a life, and a legacy, worth celebrating.
Gratitude display in Margaret's office. It reminds me to not just have gratitude but BE gratitude!Paul's mom at 16 years old when she was crowned the Queen of the Holy Ghost celebration in Walnut Creek, CA. This is an annual custom for the Azorean people.
Chapter Two · Begins on page 15
How Do You Celebrate a Life?
Margaret's mom at age 16Margaret with her siblings in the 1960s--guess which one Margaret is?Nashville celebration for Pete Huttlinger fund, 2026 10 year anniversary of Pete's passing.Photo of card game “The Death Deck”. A fun game to help break the ice when you need to have those tough conversations
Chapter Three · Begins on page 33
Why Rest Here?
Paul's “Why marry at Murphy's” part of the wedding invitation. This was to help people understand why we choose to marry in MurphysMargaret's family in Murphy's, California on her wedding day. All siblings are in birth order starting with our parents.Some of Margaret and Paul's family in Murphy's, California on her wedding day
Chapter Five · Begins on page 57
Who’s Cleaning Out the Garage?
Paul's grandfather's uniform framed in a shadow box hanging in our living roomPaul's grandfather's World War 1 memorabilia on display. The helmet is handprinted with the theaters where his grandfather fought in WWIManolete's suit of lightsManolete's Suit of Lights hanging in the entrywayExample of how to label items for discovery after you are dead--this says ok to throw awayMy mother in the 1950s, learning to scuba dive in HawaiiOctavius book that we self published after my mom passed away. We used the photos and manuscript we had in the banker box in the garageArt created from found items in a box: Margaret's mom in San Francisco on a date in 1945 in San Francisco the same night --The St. Francis and the Sir Francis Drake.Margaret's mom and dad on a date in the 1940s in New York City at the Waldorf Astoria: art created through found items in a box in the garageBar setting with Margaret's mom's date frame in the background
Chapter Six · Begins on page 69
What Is an Asset?
Daughter Madeline's handprint when she was 6Reflection Journal for Margaret's grandmother's wedding ring
Chapter Seven · Begins on page 83
Who Gets the Diamonds?
Daughter Madeline's poem to MargaretDaughter Madeline's poem to MargaretLetters to Margaret from her daughters on mothers day.The poem Paul wrote for Margaret to celebrate their 25th wedding anniversary--"Summer Sun"on display in living room. It reminds us to celebrate the gift of Love
Chapter Eight · Begins on page 101
Who Will Write Your Story?
Chapter Nine · Begins on page 115
Wouldn’t It Be Cool If …?
Paul and Margaret at the Machame gate at the base of Kilimanjaro before their summit climb in 2012Margaret and Paul en route to start Kilimanjaro Climb in 2012Everest climb to base camp 2009Trek to Everest base camp 2009. Standing on the top of Kala Pathar, 18,519 feet. View of the Himalaya mountain range, looking down on Base camp 17,598 feetCenter large photo is Paul's uncle in Gubbio, Italy in 1956 for the famous Ceri race in GubbioPaul's uncle Alfiero Chiavini in Gubbio, Italy in 1956. A group shot of the San Umbaldo team for the famous Ceri race.
Chapter Ten · Begins on page 133
What Now?
Menus for parties--a little touch to make the event special and have a momento of the eveningDining room table chalkboard--filled with either themes of the or the name of someone visitingDining table welcome chalkboard. Molly came to take these pictures. I wanted her to feel welcomed and appreciated
Around the house
More from Margaret’s home
Bene Bufano drawing, given to my grandfather by Bene after my grandmother diedBene Bufano drawing, setting in houseDriscoll (family name) art repurposed into a tray. My auntie cross stitched this piece, and instead of keeping it in a box in the garage, I made it into a tray we use to remember her and the love she had.El Camino pilgrimage in Spain with sister Beth. It reminds me of the fun I had and the lessons that "The Camino" teaches usMargaret's family in circa 1972 with all children and the first grandchild. This was the picture my mother took for her 25th wedding anniversary photo
It's Your Party
Don't wait. It's your party.
Design a celebration of life, and a life worth celebrating.
