Happy New Year!
As joyfully as December succeeds at bringing together friends and family, exhaustion may be a common condition after weeks of festivity.
The post-holiday funk can be downright depressing. Between carols and sweet indulgences, a migraine of merriment can linger, even if only until Valentine’s Day, when we once again scramble in the service of holiday heroics.
I valued seeing this season through the eyes of my youthful niece and nephew, who with their parents escaped the brutal Boston chill. We attended as honored guests the Red Shoes for Oakley inaugural Brunch with Santa at the Colony Hotel. I hope this event becomes a regular feature in the Palm Beach holiday calendar. It was a lovely event, which encapsulated the spirit of the season.
For many families, the holidays bespeak happiness, not tragedy. One year ago, Robert and Merrill Debbs, and their twin children were visiting family in Maine. Their son, 11-year-old Oakley, ate a piece of cake that contained walnut extract. He suffered an anaphylactic reaction that caused his death a few days later. Robert and Merrill subsequently founded Red
Sneakers for Oakley, a non-profit organization to raise awareness about the dangers of food allergies. “No parent should ever have to suffer the pain of losing a child,” said Merrill Debbs. “With proper awareness and consideration, you might be able to prevent a fatal reaction.”
The event took place in the Royal Room of
The Colony Hotel and also featured a visit by
Santa Claus. The spirit of Oakley was evident in the unbridled joy on the faces of dozens of youngsters. My munchkins paid it the ultimate compliment when asked by their mother if they enjoyed the brunch. “It was awesome.” I agree.
As we batten down for 2018, I may follow Darcy Fogg’s recipe for a brighter and, ahem, lighter, New Year that she
shares in this week’s Fogg of Fashion.