Real People, Real Places...

Dorothy Klein

My dear friend Audrey Lampert introduced me to Dorothy Klein last year. In addition to Dorothy’s striking appearance, the first thing I noticed was how well put-together she was, her black leather jacket accented by a colorful silk scarf and a spectacular pair of lime green gloves—a color that requires pizzazz to pull off. As with any artist, for Dorothy it’s all in the details.

When she raised her hand, I noticed her bracelet, peeking out from under the sleeve of her jacket. Originally inspired by a collection of vintage buttons she’d seen in a local antique store, Dorothy’s bracelets truly are works of art. Because they’re designed from vintage buttons, each has its own appearance and unique history—its own story, as Dorothy would say. As you may have noticed in the novel, every bracelet is named.

Dorothy’s Ruby Slipper Button Bracelets, quickly becoming collector’s items for local buyers, are displayed in studios in Newton and Cambridge, Massachusetts. If you’d like to know more about Dorothy’s bracelets, visit her website: www.rubyslippersdesign.com.

Bob Sullivan

I met Bob Sullivan in 1990, when our eldest daughter, Jen, began working at an ice cream shop owned by Bob’s older brother. A kind, generous and good-natured manager, Bob inspires devotion among his employees, many of whom work for him through college and even into their late twenties.

For more than 10 years, Bob has sponsored, organized and directed the annual John Carson 4th of July 2 Mile Road Race, a race that attracts talented runners from across the US. A memorial event for John Carson, a top high school distance runner who in the early 90’s was tragically hit by a train during a practice run, began as a fun race for local runners. Today, this highly competitive event draws 2000 athletes and 60,000 spectators.

Bob and his wife, Mary Ann, opened Sullivan Farms Homemade Ice Cream, set on the bank of the Merrimack River, in 1997. Drawn by their love of Bob as much as the fabulous homemade ice cream, customers flocked to the store. Today, with thirty employees and eight serving windows, Sullivan Farms makes and serves over 100 flavors of ice cream— my favorite, Almond Joy—as well as sherbet, Italian ice and many varieties of yogurt. For info about the John Carson 2 Mile Road Race or directions to Sullivan Farms Homemade Ice Cream, visit their website: www.sullivanfarmsicecream.com

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