Princeton TV “Managing Your Wealth” interview featuring me,
author of
The Hamptons & Long Island Homegrown Cookbook -- and Bill:
Gardens & Food are True Luxuries
The ivy-covered walls of nearby Princeton University may
have lent an element of gravitas to the television interview I did for The
Hamptons & Long Island Homegrown Cookbook with Princeton TV and
their Management Your Wealth host,
Deborah Frazier.
The day was more than just the interview.
It was a love-filled bouquet, especially because my most
favorite people accompanied me: my mother, Virginia, and a beloved garden
design client, dear friend and muse, Maria.
And my number one fan and supporter, my husband Bill.
So despite the Polar Vortex, me and my Homegrown entourage
drove “over the river and through the woods” -- to Princeton.
I’d met Deborah previously at a book talk and book signing I
did at Judy McClellan’s invitation for her Mercer County United Way group. That was a swanky, teatime event at the
Nassau Inn.
Deborah bought a book at that time and has since made my
homegrown heart flutter when she tells me that she keeps The Hamptons & Long Island
Homegrown Cookbook on the coffee table in her offices at RBS as a
conversation starter with her financial services clients.
Deborah is one smart cookie.
And to that point I continue to be gob smacked by her
definition of wealth.
According to Deborah, “Wealth is an abundance of valuable
resources.”
So you see, it’s not just those greenbacks as money-in-the-bank
that is considered wealth. Rather our
health and well-being and sustainable lifestyle comprise what is the true
measure of wealth.
Amen.
Deborah explores these topics and this pursuit of true
wealth on her Princeton TV show, Managing
Your Wealth.
Digging In
Deborah called me in late December to explore the interview
opportunity.
Here, she explained about her show’s format and how the
content is both informative and entertaining for her audience who are most
interested in managing their money and wealth.
Later she said she was struggling a bit to fit in the
homegrown food and garden topics into the show’s format and focus.
She asked me how I might go about it and just like that, I
was going on about how gardens have always been about “conspicuous consumption”
and showing off wealth – from the Persians to Rockefellers to today’s hedge
fund totems. Especially since the Victorian times when exotic and rare plants
were brought back to the West, plants and gardens came to represent great
wealth and achievement.
Further, I prattled on, good landscape design today
increases the value of one’s home by 15-25% or more.
And not breaking stride, I articulated how taste is today’s
True Luxury.
I shared one of my often-repeated quote, “That food created
for taste and not transport” can be considered a sign of wealth, given the nod
to valuable resources under Deborah’s rubric.
Then there was silence.
“Uh-oh,” read the bubble in head.
I feared I lost her.
“Are you there?” I asked timidly.
“Oh, yes,” I’m taking notes on all this – it’s terrific!”
exclaimed Deborah.
Whew!
So it was settled.
Yes, I can do the interview on her show.
As we proceeded to chat about some other topic details, I
could just make out that Bill was telling me something to share with Deborah.
“Can you hold on a minute?” I ask. “My husband is trying to tell me something.”
It was the Christmas holidays so he home from work.
“Tell her about growing our asparagus and garlic and …”
As I note in my Homegrown book’s Acknowledgements, Bill
surely became a master gardener and chef during the time it took to produce the
book.
He starts our seeds indoors under the lights in the spring,
we compost, and our Garden State farm-ette produces abundant, homegrown food
that enriches our menus and our friends and family’s with the best garlic,
asparagus, tomatoes, potatoes, eggplants, shallots, onions, lettuce, and…
As I dutifully relayed Bill’s brilliant suggestion, Deborah
said, “That’s great background.”
And further, “Bill should join us for the TV interview.”
I smile as I say more loudly so he can hear across the room,
“What’s that you say? Have Bill join me for the interview about gardens and
edible homegrown food?”
As Bill is mouthing “NO WAY!” and gesturing with his hands
like a football ref just to make sure I got the No message, I say to Deborah,
“Why that’s a brilliant suggestion and invitation. Bill says he’d love to!”
And so it was.
From then until the actual interview session, I researched
the background data points for the gardens as wealth and the importance of
eating sustainable, local, food and its importance to creating true food
networks, jobs and a community lifestyle.
(If any of you are interested in those data points, let me
know and I can share with you.)
Otherwise, many of them are included as part of the TV
interview.
Then, in another sign of good karma, Pantone announced the
2014 Color of the Year.
What does this have to do with gardens or the TV interview,
you may be wondering.
See, Deborah’s TV set always features the color purple – as
does Deborah – as she cites purple as a sign of wealth.
Kismet!
And the Radiant Orchid color is inspired by what else,
nature and flowers. http://gardenglamour-duchessdesigns.blogspot.com/2014/01/plant-world-inspiration-radiant-orchid.html
When I shared this color news with Deborah, she thoughtfully
asked, “Why don’t we feature the radiant orchids on our TV set with you?”
I couldn’t think of a single reason why not!
In her pursuit of true wealth and happiness, even on her TV
stage set, Deborah features a floral design arranged by a local artist:
So it all came together.
I even wore a purple blouse and tanzanite jewelry.
But the real star of the show?
Bill.
When Deborah asked him during the interview what he most
liked about gardening, he deliberately and thoughtfully replied, “I never feel
closer to God than when I’m in the garden.”
It was a jaw dropping, tearful moment of bliss and pride.
Maria and Mother were in the green room and later with the
technicians watching and listening and taking pictures – seen here.
Afterwards, we all retreated to -- where else?
A local, Princeton restaurant that serves local, homegrown
ingredients on their menu.
We celebrated in homegrown style.
Thank you, Deborah, Maria, Mother, and Bill.
Enjoy the interview.
Let me know what you think.
Cheers.
And Deborah can be reached at:
Deborah J. Frazier
Financial Advisor
RBC Wealth Management
192 Nassau Street
Princeton, NJ 08542
Phone: 609-688-2341
Fax: 609-683-5088
deborah.frazier@rbc.com
Financial Advisor
RBC Wealth Management
192 Nassau Street
Princeton, NJ 08542
Phone: 609-688-2341
Fax: 609-683-5088
deborah.frazier@rbc.com
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