This One's From the Heart
A real-life trauma scene from The Pitt drops me into caregiver role and rewards me with the perfect Miami evening at Books & Books in Coral Gables.
I am sitting among royalty at the best bookstore in the world, and I have never felt more at home in my hometown. Mitchell Kaplan, the beloved founder of Books & Books, has grabbed the microphone. “You are allowed to laugh until you fall onto the floor,” he says, and you can feel the whiff of relief as the sold-out crowd drops their shoulders in unison.
Dave Barry is in the house, and our faces beam with giddy anticipation of the conversation he’s about to have with his former Miami Herald colleague and “Queen of Travel” Jane Wooldridge. We are grateful for the reprieve and settle into a perfect Miami evening.
I was not supposed to be here, but my mother’s routine cardiac surgery was anything but. Although her doctor declared the procedure “espectacular”, complications arose that night in the recovery area. I have never been more afraid. Think scary trauma scene from The Pitt, but without my pretend boyfriend Noah Wylie’s pithy comments. “Code Rescue” was announced through the PA system and paddles were grabbed. I craned my head to the ceiling, imagined a one-on-one with Heaven and begged my sister Caroline to give me more time. “You can’t take her yet,” I thought. Whatever pull you have with that Higher Power, please use it now. We’re not ready.
I would like to believe that she heard my prayers, and after a few days in the ICU followed by more complications in the cardiac wing of the hospital, Mom is finally home. She’s learning to rely on people, like the brusk and burly physical therapist who echoed my sentiments. “There are no gold stars here, and you don’t get extra credit for jumping to the next level.” Tough words for my Type A+/over achiever/people-pleasing mother. And you wonder where I get it?
But tonight I get to indulge in my happy place to celebrate the release of Comfort in the Wild, a divine romp into the world of adventure travel without the “ick factor”. These are the places that even Mom would approve of, glamping with an emphasis on glam. Jane is an award-winning journalist, a true icon, and the force behind so much, including Miami’s Art Basel. She’s traveled to more than 100 countries, and now she’s coming to Asheville on March 4th. Want to join? Click HERE and let me know. I found out she has a thing for treehouses, so let’s make sure she visits our favorites in Western North Carolina.
In the meantime, I thought I would share a few things that have helped us during this crazy start to 2026.
Spoonful of Comfort: Forget the silver spoon and grab this fancy ladle. This is care packaging I dream of — chicken soup, dreamy rolls, sourdough croutons, fuzzy socks, lavender sachés, and more. My sweet cousins sent this to Mom, and I grabbed the tea and cookies.
Restore Ultra Wide Leg Sweatpants: Gifting my mother is always stressful because she is the duchess of delayed gratification. I will wear something new the minute I get it, while she “saves it for the hospital”. Even though she wasn’t scheduled to be in the hospital (back then). This Christmas, I gave her a matching set from Vuori, and when I ventured to their Merrick Park store for another one in a different color, my niece Cynthia found these sweatpants in red and couldn’t stop talking about them. A few days later, I bought them in chocolate brown, and my mother’s face lit up. So I had to get her a pair, too. Three generations can’t be wrong.
Three of My Favorite Things: Spoonful of Comfort, Vuori sweatpants, Pillbox for the Organizational Set
Although the hospital inundates you with paperwork and pill bottles, this colorful pillbox made my organizational heart soar. And this from a mother-daughter duo who considers a Container Store road trip an ideal dress-up destination.
Agatha Christie’s Seven Dials on Netflix is the perfect short episodic feature we didn’t know we needed until Helena Bonham Carter channeled her inner Dame Maggie Smith. I am now obsessed with British star Mia Mckenna-Bruce, especially her perfect bob. Also, I can’t say no to a fancy house party/murder mystery in the country.
The only bright spot in a week filled with hospital food was the return of The Pitt, especially now that I understand a few more of those stats they throw out in the ER. And while waiting for the next episode, we binged Task with Mark Ruffalo on my niece’s suggestion. So well done, and one that pleases even our pickiest viewer. Have you met my Dad?
Speaking of my father, I gifted him Buckeye by Patrick Ryan for Christmas, and when my stay lasted longer than anticipated, I took it back to my bedside where it has comforted me since. And if there is an upside to all of this, it’s that my mother finally has time to indulge in my other Christmas gift to her. “I can’t put it down,” she confessed. Two words — The Correspondent. And yes, I am still stalking Virginia Evans for an Asheville visit. Feel free to join me! Here’s her Instagram and her conversation with Katie Couric. I know we can do this.
I know we are all hoping for a brighter February, even though that damn Groundhog didn’t swing in our direction. I hope to be back in Asheville next week (fingers crossed) and hope to see you soon.
Until then, forever yours in love and lit,
Elizabeth xx