When I was a kid, I grew up thinking everyone must have a favorite cousin like me! Someone who they connected with off the bat, didn’t have to explain themselves too, and spent at least part of their summer with them when school let out each year. I had...
As New Yorkers it was family tradition to watch on our TV screen as everyone in Times Square and from living rooms around the world, counted down together, while the lighted ball slowly dropped – 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 – “Happy New Year!!” Sitting on the couch...
As Christmas approaches, I think of my mom who really shined this time of year. The holidays were her gig! Each year she turned our home into a magical place of wonderment, filling our senses with beauty and magic of the season! What I remember most about my mom is...
I grew up in the era of what is known as being a “latch-key” kid. This wasn’t uncommon for Generation X and many of my little friends were in the same boat. My dad worked until dinner time and although my mom was home, she would be taking her daily nap when I got home...
I was fortunate to grow up with a lot of support in school when I was young. Being dyslexic made traditional schooling challenging, even with the special support, school was always a struggle for me. As kids go back to school after a year and a half of home schooling...
When I was five my brother, sister, and I were riding home on the school bus together. Unbeknownst to me, an older kid was acting like he was going to hurt or pick on my big brother. I stood up in my bus seat to look over to the seat behind me where my brother and the...
Growing up in the Finger Lakes region of Upstate New York I learned from a young age to enjoy the beauty of nature, especially the Autumn time of year. My mom was a lover of all things holiday as many moms are. As soon as there was the slightest bit of crisp in the...
On September 10th, 2020, my dad died from COVID-19. He was alone in the Durham County, North Carolina ICU when he died, isolated from his family and loved ones. Four days before my dad died, I tried calling his room number in the hospital, hoping that by luck a member...
When I was growing up, there were periodic times in our family history when my parents would announce that we were going to have a “family meeting.” This was a que for us kids, my older brother, older sister and I, that something was happening. Some news was going to...