About Me
This page is not about me.
It's about Chris; the best daughter and friend a father could hope for - far better than I think I deserved.
She’d patiently ride with me in Central Park on Claremont horses [after dodging the taxis and buses on the city streets that lead to the park] even though she longed to jump fences, while I was content just to meander the bridle paths in her company. When she was not in town I'd go by myself as I'd done before for more than fifty years, but it wasn’t the same.
After riding, depending on the season, we’d go to the outdoor at The Stanhope, or The Plaza’s Oak Bar for lunch. Now they’re all gone: Claremont, The Stanhope, The Plaza, and the greatest loss of all, my darling Chris. So my riding days are over and gone as well.
I’m grateful for the memory of the things she enjoyed, and happy that I was able to provide such small pleasures: She liked dinners at “21" and The Four Seasons; loved her Jag and her horses, Slam and Chyna, and through it all remained unspoiled, generous, and kind.
She was very much into the '50's early '60's era, and in keeping, her brother Scott, whom she adored, located and arranged for a pristine 1962 Cadillac hearse to bear her on her final journey. She would have gotten a huge laugh out of that.
I'll love and think of my darling girl each and every day until the day I die. She rode out of this life and took my heart with her. I miss her so very much.
I've endowed the Christiana Ley Parker '92 Humanitarian Award in her memory at her alma mater; it's an annual financial award in perpetuity "to that student or teacher who went their own, oftimes lonely, way with goodness and grace" as goodness and grace was the essence of her all too brief life.
Also endowed is the Christiana Ley Parker Memorial Equestrian Fund, Inc. to provide grants to injured equestrians in need, and to horse rescue facilities: www.christianaparker.org
There are some pictures posted here on myspace that most have never seen.
What follows below is a Motly Crue lyric from the 80's that Chris chose to include at the top of her page in her Class of '92 Friends Seminary Yearbook.
"You know I'm a dreamer
But my heart's of gold
I had to run away high
So I wouldn't come home low
Just when things went right
It doesn't mean they were always wrong
Just take this song and you'll never feel
Left all alone
Feel me in your bones
Just one more night
And I'm comin' off this
Long & winding road
I'm on my way
Well, I'm on my way
Home sweet home
Tonight tonight
I'm on my way
I'm on my way
Home sweet home
You know that I seem
To make romantic dreams
Up in lights, fallin' off
The silver screen
My heart's like an open book
For the whole world to read
Somtimes nothing--keeps me together
At the seams
I'm on my way
Well, I'm on my way,
Home sweet home
Tonight tonight
I'm on my way
Just set me free
Home sweet home
Home Sweet Home"
