Memory Lane: Summer Shifts, French Loveland, Gay Talese & Lilly Pulitzer

Hello! This writing is a stream of consciousness...I have a few Lilly Pulitzer (check out article in NYTimes) items, a cute pink sweater and a summer dress but I did not know there were so many Lilly Fans until I began blogging...starting at Beth Dunn's "Social Climber"...and on from there...Hopsy's Monograms & Manicures...Jess @ The Entertaining House...

I remember seeing a Lilly store in Key West...and maybe
even on Worth Ave years ago in West Palm?...

Now I see that there is a store in Stone Harbor, NJ...
will be going there soon! I love color so Lilly is for me!

I came across the above photo when I got some old slides
made into photos. This
was my fam in the late 60s at the home of French Loveland,
who was the
famous attorney from Ocean City.
(Don't you just love the Mom & Daughter matching shifts?)
French's wife was a distant relative on my Dad's side.
My Dad, Joel Mott, Jr. started his law career working for
Uncle French and then started his own law business.
Congressman Bill Hughes also worked for French.
French was a very sophisticated gentleman who had traveled
to Hawaii & Africa in  the 60s...unheard of back then.
(At least in my little circle)

Well, Uncle French would have a BBQ every summer
& all the attorneys & their families were invited.
Oh how I loved going...He had a personal chef
doing the BBQing & a fountain waterfall in his back yard.
His home was arrayed with all his findings while
traveling. He had an antique chest that
he filled with brand new sparklingpennies and
he allowed the kids to reach in & grab as many pennies as we
could! It was so exciting for us to play that game.
All I remember from
Uncle French was that he had a wonderful laugh...
His grand daughter Debbie
was in my class & dated my hubby before he went out w me!


This is a pic of Uncle French w a family friend Mary Kassab
(after his wife's passing)& my brother Joel.
We got a Christmas gift every yr from Uncle French.
I still have a few things-
a replica of a Hawaiian outrigger canoe,(can't find)
a hand painted silk screening of cherry blossoms,
a real Ivory elephant, an African letter opener, salad servers
& porcelain flowers. below








French Loveland's house still stands down in the Gardens
 in Ocean City. I must go by & take a pic of it.
It looked like a Swiss Chalet...The Gardens was also the
home of author Gay Talese, & his parents.
My parents were friendly with Gay's parents
& often went out to dinner with them. 
My Dad played cards w Joe (Gay's father)
& my Mom helped Mrs. Talese throw a party every summer.
Gay still has a house on Atlantic Blvd near
my good friend's house, The Janssons, which was sold.
I remember playing tennis once when Gay was
there. I read Gay's last book & found it interesting how different his
parents were...
a lot of the book talks about restaurants as well, A Writer's Life...
I have his other books & must read them someday...
Unto the Sons is about his Italian heritage &
growing up in Ocean City, NJ. My hubby is Italian
(Palermo, his grandfather was a tailor as well)
& shares a similar heritage.

Well enough going down memory lane. Have a lovely weekend...

Since I was a hippie in High School ...
I don't know if you can be a Preppie Hippie now?

xoxox Jennifer aka Gigi