I used AI to create a one-pager for five Childhood Cancer Statistics, and this is what it came up with! The stats are correct, and I love the line: Behind every statistic is a child with dreams! More awareness of those kids and families gives more kids a chance at life after following their treatment regimens. None of this is for the faint of heart, but a diagnosis is a sort of trap of so many things! All the information below is sobering, of course, but in 2026, there are b

Act as if what you do makes a difference. It does. —William James For today’s Childhood Cancer Awareness Month post, I’m reaching back a couple of years to one of my favorite interviews. And who better to help us GO GOLD than someone who actually knows a thing or two about GOLD? Olympic gold medalist Dave Wottle won the 800-meter race at the 1972 Olympic Games in Munich—wearing that famous golf cap! I had the wonderful opportunity to interview Dave on the cross-country course

Being a sibling to a cancer patient is quite difficult. They miss out on having their sibling and parents at home more than they ever should have to endure—and probably endure way more things than I will ever fully know. Treatments have changed, and the COVID pandemic put the kibosh on many long hospitalizations, even when a sick child has low blood counts. That was never the case for our family, though I’m happy that kids can stay home way more in today’s childhood cancer wo

As our outdoor umbrella got whisked away from its back porch umbrella stand to our rooftop, pole facing up to the sky, and broken now, that's what Childhood Cancer felt like in the fall of 1996 for our family. However, we never let it stop us from moving forward every single day. Photo journaling was a way for me to cope with all the chaos swirling around sweet two-year-old Ryan once he was diagnosed and "firmly" planted at Georgetown University Hospital for weeks and months.

September has been designated as Childhood Cancer Awareness Month since 2012. It was officially created and federally proclaimed by President Barack Obama. Even though Childhood Cancer doesn't get much federal funding for research and more, the foundations, hospitals, doctors, and nurses who care about these kids and their families make it work as best they can. As my video mentions, this is my sixth year in creating awareness of CCAM. When my son, Ryan, my hero, a 5X surviv

A former neighbor, Ed, a pickleball player and friend, asked me a couple of years ago that maybe someday we could play in a tournament. Today was that day. We started out playing at the Crofton Swim and Tennis Club, graduating to play indoors year round, and got two other players we know and play with regularly, to create our team for today’s tournament at The Putaway in Millersville, Maryland. The play was terrific. We all played our best in open play (no age restrictions),

Writing a book is not for the faint of heart. After it’s published, the marketing/selling/giving it away can go on for years. I’m happy to be in that boat; my first book will “always” be on the shelf, and perhaps a book signing every now and again - even after five years. A pickleballer friend of ours, Jim W. (Wereszczynski), has created the Yinzers Group on Thursday afternoons. Yes, Jim is from Pittsburgh and proud of his Polish heritage. When he moved to this area around tw

The French Provinçial Dining room set we’ve had in our homes since we married in 1987 was purchased from my Aunt Mary a few months before saying “I do.” Many meals, Cookie Exchanges, Thanksgivings for 18 family members, and wild games of Yahtzee, Quiddler, Life, Sorry, Sequence, Code Names, Boggle, and more, plus my sewing machines and quilting bees, have all gathered around the top of the pecan table (though covered with protector pads and tablecloths through the decades). T

I think I boarded the Crazy Train last week. Destination: Kelleys Island, Ohio. The itinerary looked fabulous on paper: several days on one of my favorite Lake Erie islands, first with high school girlfriends and then with family, followed by my great-niece’s first birthday celebration in Cleveland before eventually heading home to Maryland. What could possibly go wrong? Apparently, I should never ask that question. Before I get to the mayhem, though, I need to say this: I lo

Ryan, 32 looks good on you! You are my hero in every way possible! Love your dry sense of humor, your delicious cooking, and the way you handle life. Woohooo! Birthday wishes! I’m coming for you the next mini golf family tournament. Sto Lat!