30th Wedding Anniversary

Thirty years ago today Susan Zirinsky and I were married at San Francisco's City Hall.  We eloped on a Friday, the day after the Democratic National Convention ended.  Susan and I had been living together in Washington DC for nearly five years, so the fact we got married was no surprise.  The surprise was where we married.  Nonetheless, a round of calls to Walter Cronkite, Dan Rather, our mothers and fathers were met with joy and great happiness.  

For the next decade we each continued in our roles at CBS News.  I left CBS News in 1995 to take a position as President Fox News.  I had been hired by Rupert Murdoch to begin a "proper news."  But one year later Murdoch decided to bring in Roger Ailes as Chairman of Cable and News.  Since my contract had been breached, I decided to resign rather than be part of an "alternative" news organization.  I informed Ailes of my decision in his office, and then immediately headed to the Spence Chapin adoption agency.  Susan and I decided to use the time I would be sitting out my expiring contract to adopt a Chinese girl.  China's one child policy saddened us. 

Several months later we were informed our adoption had been approved.  We were shown a picture, the size of a passport photo, and given little information.  By January of 1997 we were off to China to pick up our adoptive child.  We decided to name her "Zoe" because that means life in Greek.  We also combined "Z" from Zirinsky, and "oe" from Joe.  Zoe's middle name would be the name she was given by her Tong Ling orphanage, Tong Cao.  We were told that translates to "spring grass," which is where Zoe was found. 

We loved Zoe from the first second we set eyes on her.  Susan and I both had demanding schedules, I commuted to Miami for seven years, but weekends and nights were devoted to Zoe.  It is hard to understand how an adoptive child will adjust in life, or how a Chinese girl will adapt to a world filled with blue-eyed, blond hair girls.  The social pressures are enormous on most children in this age of social media.  Adolescence can be a difficult time emotionally for any child as the are still developing and maturing.  Of course, academics and college tests and acceptances are overly competitive.  Then, for girls, there are boys.  Having been a boy, I know they are predators.  What stress on even the most stable kids.

Throughout Zoe's sophomore and junior year all of the stress factors began to take their toll.  Zoe had to leave school weeks before the end of her junior year in order to receive proper treatment.  For the past year she as been under the care of the wonderful doctors at McLean Hospital, just outside Boston.  She has shown enormous progress, and she graduated from high school from an affiliated school. 

So it is with this brief explanation that I share with you our most wonderful 30th anniversary gift, via Facebook, the words of our only child, the love of our life, Zoe Tong Cao Peyronnin (aka Luna Feline Capello).

"alright here we go. happy thirty years you guys, as much as you piss me the fuck off, and as much as I feel like I hate you sometimes... well that's life, and you wouldn't do half the shit you do to me if you didn't love me. I know sometimes you blame yourselves for where I am now, but when it comes down to it, you've saved my life, in more ways than one and I think you guys need to realize that. I wouldn't be who I am or where I am if you hadn't adopted me and well, even though life can be a nasty son of a bitch, I'm thankful you've supported me through it all. so thank you both, you shit heads, for loving me regardless of who I am and my mistakes, I really wouldn't be alive without you and that's a fact, so give yourselves credit for once because I love you. thank you."

 

 

Zoe is 18!

This has been a particularly special time in our household.  Our daughter, Zoe, turned 18 years-old on Monday, St. Patrick's Day.  Though she is not Irish, in fact, she is Chinese, there is no doubt she was born on a very special day for us.

Zoe was 10 months old when Susan and I traveled to Hefei, China, to adopt her.  We journeyed with four other families, all from New York state.  The families have kept close, and we hold a reunion every year at our home to celebrate the day.  We have watched our toddlers become little girls, then teens.  Each has pursued their own interests and passions, including ice skating, singing and swimming.  They are now a group of fine young ladies.

Zoe has grown to be a bit taller than 5 feet tall.  She is fashion oriented, and also is a terrific writer.   But Zoe has faced some challenges that are not uncommon among adopted children.  Being a young girl in the age of social media, competitive private schools and life in a big city, life can be a bit confusing.  Adolescence is a time of personal discovery, and the search for identity can be daunting.  

Parents don't have answers to all the questions that arise in a blooming young lady.  We provide Zoe guidance, maybe too much at times, and total support.  We love her and are extraordinarily devoted to her.  We are grateful for every minute of our life with her, and we are exceedingly proud of her. 

So here's to a very special girl, now 18, and on the way to adulthood.  Happy birthday. 

                                     
                                                                  We Love You!

Zoe Art

Zoe Peyronnin just finished a fashion design course at Parsons The News School for Design.  One of the pictures she displayed in the class's final show was this self portrait.  While Zoe is a junior at the Spence School, on New York City's upper east side, she has taken three courses at Parsons over the past 18 months.

Zoe Peyronnin

HBZ!

So it is St. Patrick's Day, and there is a lot of green popping up in New York City.  But this is a very special day in our household because it is daughter Zoe's birthday.  She is now 17 years-old!  As I look at her with dogs Cassie and Cleo,  I wonder where all the years have gone?  In another year she will be off to college. 

This got me thinking about how time flies by, and how my sense of humor has changed.  Now old people jokes take on a more personal meaning. 

For instance, an OLD friend sent this list of texting codes along (anonymously)  and I could not resist sharing it with you:

Texting Codes for Seniors

• ATD - at the Doctor
• BFF - best friend’s funeral
• BTW – bring the wheelchair
• CBM – covered by medicare
• CUATSC – see you at the senior center
• DWI – driving while incontinent
• FWIW – forgot where I was
• GHA – got heartburn again
• HGBM – had good bowel movement
• LMDO – laughing my dentures out
• OMSG – Oh, my! Sorry, gas
• WAITT – who am I talking to?
• TOT –texting on toilet (my favorite!)

And some friends have updated the list:

OOV-Out of Viagara
OMT-Old Man Texting
LOL-Left out Lipitor  

But today, let me conclude with HBZ-happy birthday Zoe! 

Zoe's Fashion Show

There is nothing more rewarding for a parent than watching your child create something meaningful.  Earlier this month, Zoe Peyronnin participated in a design and fashion exhibit at Parsons The New School of Design, here in New York City.  And Zoe's dress was a big hit.

Parsons offers summer school courses in a variety of design disciplines.  And this year hundreds of students traveled from around the globe to take classes.  Zoe's passion is fashion design.  She has been interested since a very young age, and has consistently shown a creative flair.

But this class was the first chance she had to conceive, design and create a piece of clothing.  The display would also include some sort of compatible visual display.  In preparation, her mother, Susan Zirinsky, bought Zoe a sewing machine, which she brought to school several times.  But Zoe did everything on her own. 

Zoe sensed that leather would make a very timely and elegant look.  She traveled to New York's Garment District and selected the specific leather she would use.  As you can see, the top of the dress is a solid black leather, while the bottom piece of leather has a python like design.  The two pieces complement themselves and together are a most stylish look.  One admirer was heard to say, "Where can I buy it?"

Zoe had a very fulfilling and rewarding experience at Parsons, and she has made many new friends that share her passion for fashion design.  This was the first step in what may become a wonderful career.

Zoe's 16th!

Zoe Peyronnin 3/17/12

The beautiful young lady is my daughter celebrating her 16th birthday at our favorite restaurant with her mom and me.  It seems like just yesterday she was a helpless bundle of joy.  Time has flown by and she has grown older, wiser and more independent.  No matter her age, I am so proud of her and I love her so much!  Thank you Zoe for all the wonderful memories and for all the love!  Dad