I am Blessed

I’ve always enjoyed volunteering. I don’t recall all of the opportunities, but some will stay with me forever. As a young teenager, I volunteered with an organization called ANCHOR (Answer the Needs of Children with Handicaps through Organized Recreation). During the summer there was a camp on the beach for ten weeks. It was a…

Thanksgiving is by far my favorite holiday. I love that it’s about family and friends being together. Over the years we have had some amazing ones as I had a tendency to invite everybody and their brother. This year was especially wonderful as all except one of my siblings were able to gather at my…

Originally, I had planned to write more about Christmas traditions this week as the house now looks like Christmas threw up on it, as my kids used to like to say. But since decorating, I’ve returned to Long Island to help my sister pack for her big move. This is the sister that lost her…

I am still experiencing issues related to the earlier brain surgeries. Nothing that seems all that problematic to me but things that needed to be addressed. Incredibly we are coming up on four years since the original brain tumor was identified. That tumor was treated through two surgeries. We are not done with that one…

Growing up we had many holiday traditions that I continued through many years. One particular favorite was buying sparkly wrapping paper and cutting it into snowflakes. These would then adorn the windows throughout the house. It was always a great thrill when one of us learned the magic way to fold the paper to create…

Today the shacks are classified as historic and thus are safe (for now). When Pa built the place it was just him. Then he had four children who each had a bunch of kids. Then each of those kids had kids, and so on. Now reservations are needed to get time at the shack. I…