One of the oldest pieces on this site (around ten years, I think) is A State of Being, which concerns the prominent and gracious Palm Beach socialite Helene Tuchbreiter (right.)  She and my mother were friends, and they worked together to found Palm Beach’s first (I think) resale shop: the Church Mouse.  Helene’s charitable work extended far beyond that: in the four decades she lived in Palm Beach, she raised money for no fewer than eighteen causes.

Shortly after her death in April 1996, my mother received an engraved invitation to her “Celebration of Life” at Bethesda-by-the-Sea Episcopal Church, R.S.V.P. and all.  After the service at Bethesda, the following was included:

Cocktail Dansant Reception
five until seven o’clock
The Pavilion at The Colony

The Colony, one of Palm Beach’s most prominent hotels, was the place where my parents had entertained Prince Alexander of Belgium thirty-one years prior.

It was only fitting.