Life in the A-Zone

Author: Peggy Sweeney McDonald

Peggy Sweeney-McDonald, actress, producer and author of Meanwhile, Back at Cafe Du Monde... Life Stories About Food shares her journey of moving back to Baton Rouge, Louisiana after 36 years when her mother was diagnosed with Alzheimer's. These are her heartfelt stories of love, laughter, loss and life in the A-Zone.
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Language: en

Genres: Personal Journals, Relationships, Society & Culture

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Episode 31 - Friendship, Aging Parents & Finding Joy in the Meanwhile with Lisa Annitti
Episode 31
Thursday, 9 July, 2026

How do we continue to embrace life while caring for the people we love? In this heartfelt episode of Life in the A-Zone, Peggy Sweeney-McDonald welcomes longtime friend, film industry professional, and creative inspiration Lisa Annitti for a conversation about friendship, caregiving, creativity, and choosing joy. Lisa shares her funny food story, A Coconut Pie and a Bottle of Wine" that inspired Peggy's show and book, Meanwhile, Back at Café du Monde...Life Stories About Food. Together, Peggy and Lisa discuss caring for aging parents, the importance of caregiving advocates, and Lisa's experience supporting her 94-year-old mother from across the country. They also explore why caregivers shouldn't put their own dreams on hold, including Lisa's decision to take a solo long weekend to Paris—a beautiful reminder that we all deserve moments of adventure, renewal, and joy. Lisa's message is simple but powerful: "Go. Don't stop yourself from doing the things that bring you joy." In this episode, you'll discover: The true story behind Meanwhile, Back at Café du Monde... How Lisa's coconut pie and a bottle of wine story inspired Peggy's live show and book The power of lifelong friendship Navigating long-distance caregiving for aging parents Why caregiving advocates can make all the difference Finding the courage to keep traveling, dreaming, and living while caregiving How to find joy—even in life's "meanwhile" moments #friendship #foodstories #solotravel #paris #caregiving #agingparents #roadtrips #findingjoy #family #assistedliving #creativity #author #caregiversupport #podcast #beignets #lifeintheazone #meanwhilebackatcafedumonde #cafedumonde #pinkcloudmoments