We have 2 granddaughters (ages 5 & 7) that live 1/2 mile from us.  We go there every school/camp  morning to prepare them for their day.   We've been doing this since Covid settled down enough for the kids to go back to school.  I say "we" because He ALWAYS accompanies me, has never missed a day.   The mornings always run smoothly (on our end) as we each have our tasks to complete.  I make sure they eat enough, dress them and do their hair in an "acceptable" style.  He brushes their teeth, walks the dog and carries their schoolbags.  ..read more

It has been a long time since I've written a heartfelt blog post.  Life has given me more than my share of blessings and heartbreak.   I met a wonderful man... He was a friend of a mutual friend.   Our first meeting was quite casual, at a small gathering at that friend's house.   At the end of the evening, he walked me to my car, hugged me and said "I'll call you".   Five days later, he arrived at my home, dressed to kill with flowers in his hand.  Upon greeting me, he put his hand around my waist and kissed me saying, "I've been waiting for ..read more

 You can't make old friends It was at my 40th High School Reunion that I saw some old friends again. Our paths had not crossed in those subsequent 40 years. It felt good to open those doors once again. Life got in the way of me reaching out to those wonderful women, until I ran into one of the girls at the beach. I've been going to that same beach, in the same spot for years. I am sure there was some divine intervention that day! We sat and talked for a long time and I suggested we reach out to the other girls and do a simple "get together" at my home in the near future. That first gather ..read more

 I was raised Catholic.  My family went to Church on Sundays.  I went to 12 years of Catholic School.  I know the Catechism inside and out.  I am pretty sure I could say an entire Mass without any prompting.  I can recite all the Catholic Holidays and their meanings.  I actually understand what the Holy Trinity is.  I raised my kids Catholic and we went to Church pretty regularly until the last kid made his Confirmation.  It was at that point I figured I did all I could to give them a good foundation and the rest was up to them. My faith was tested ..read more

 I see my granddaughters enjoying every Disney movie - watching them over and over again.  They have all the princess dresses and sing every soundtrack.  I imagine taking them on vacation to Disney in the future. We did not 'go on vacation' when I was growing up.  We went to our summer house at "The Lake" in New Jersey.  We left the day after school ended and returned to Long Island the day before school started in September.  My cousins had the house next door.  My other cousins were about a mile away.  Our weekdays were filled with swimming ..read more

I am so blessed to live less than a mile from my little granddaughters. They are on the verge of turning 3 and 5. I am so lucky to have such an active role in their lives. Each morning, we eagerly head there to get them dressed, feed them breakfast and get them off to “school”. I am not just a “grandma”, I am helping to raise them. I am not someone they “visit” once in a while… I get to comb their hair and watch them brush their teeth. I sing songs with them every morning , always with an ulterior motive… The Alphabet, Days of the week, Months of the year, Please and Thank you…. I applaud thei ..read more

My grandparents played a huge role in my upbringing.  One set of grandparents lived with us for years.  My Grandfather tended to the garden in the back yard and raised the most beautiful flowers in the front yard.  His day was complete when he washed down the driveway each evening with the hose.  I don't recall him saying much, but I do remember watching TV and playing cards with him most evenings before bed.  I first saw the Beatles on the Ed Sullivan show beside my grandparents..... I don't think he was too impressed! My Grandmother was my best friend thos ..read more

 A Message to my kids as I turn 65.... I met your dad when I was 19 years old.  I was so sure he was "the one", so making a lifetime commitment was not hard at all.   I always said that he was the dreamer and I was the realist.   In reality, I think I was a bit of a dreamer too. We had our ups and downs, trials and tribulations  - but there was never a doubt about the love we shared.  In my mind, we were going to grow old together and enjoy our "senior years" spoiling grandchildren. Then life threw me a curveball... In order to stay in the game, I had to ..read more

 My mother has been gone a year.  Hardly seems real since there was no funeral.  Covid robbed her of the send off she deserved... she was the last of her generation.  All  her siblings had their fond farewell.  It saddens me that she did not get her final good-bye. Funerals are not for the dead, they are for the living.  They help families grieve.  They remind us how precious life is.  My mom was the youngest of her family.  It was fitting that she was the last to go.  She would have been 90 just 6 weeks after her passing.  I'd like ..read more

It has been months since I've posted something.  The pandemic has been so prevalent this past year, and I just did not want to write about it - YET, it effected every aspect of my life. The arrival of Spring (and my Covid vaccine) has given me hope of a "normal" lifestyle, once again.  Lord knows, I've had to define "normal" several times these past years.... I'm good at it now! Whereas I have always been cognizant and grateful for my blessings, this past year has taught me a lot: EVERYDAY is precious.   I am working hard to disregard 'the small stuff'.   I hav ..read more