When there are people in our lives that have made huge impacts on humanity, we’ve got to shout them out, or at least, I do. Dr. Aziza Shad is one of those people. Recently, she received a prestigious award from SIOP (International Society of Pediatric Oncology) in Lagos, Nigeria. She gratefully, and choked up when her name was called, received the Friend of SIOP Africa Award, a new award started a year ago! This is like winning the Oscar for Pediatric Oncologists worldwide. D

Do you like to read about strong, industrious, soul-seeking women? I do! Have you ever wondered where the women are through time in stoicism, art, literature, medicine, and even education? Yep, you read that right, men led the way in education for centuries. So, where are all the women in history? It’s a question that has lingered in my mind since I was a little girl, reading about so many accomplished men and their works or gifts to mankind. Looking back at the philosophers,

Except for one day a couple of weeks ago in Charleston, SC, when I wore short sleeves because it was finally warm enough, I've been repping the wool socks, a turtleneck, a wool sweater, and a fleece jacket since last fall. That is my indoor wardrobe, plus either jeans or leggings - with side pockets. There were also a couple of days in Richmond when it was warm enough to wear springier clothing, but I still wore long sleeves and pants. Today, in the Mid-Atlantic, it got to 93

Maybe it's a good thing to have many irons in the fire of life. Sometimes it can be overwhelming on what I "need" to do, but more importantly, what I want to do and can't get to it, whatever it may be. It could be something as important (to me) as a blog post. They have been skimpy lately because I am playing a lot of pickleball, visiting family in Virginia, working on my book, Joy Ride Journeys, and creating T-shirt Quilts for my wonderful clients. I am one lucky gal that

My hope is that you, my reader, had a wonderful Easter Day and weekend! Our holiday started Thursday, when Hubby Bill and I were needed in Richmond, Virginia, for Bodie Babysitting duties, aka, Playground Playmates and more. Since Bodie’s parents had to work all day on Friday, we were actually the daycare coordinators for our 2-year-old tyke grandbaby. After getting him ready for the day, feeding him breakfast, and packing a bag (his mother helped), we headed to the most am

It’s finally come to the end of its life as we know it, a red stick shift 2001 Corolla Sport model. The car has less than 200,000 miles, though my initial hope when we bought it almost 14 years ago, was to take it to at least 250,000 to 300,000 city miles. Yesterday, we took it into the mechanic (doctor), for its last check up. We learned that to keep it running safely would cost way more than the car is worth. The decision that if the auto repair shop can take it off our ha

As much as I try to do other things, sometimes the pull of my son’s experience being a 5X cancer survivor pulls me back in like an errant rip tide. I’m thankful that the book I wrote, The Focused Fight - A Childhood Cancer Journey: From Mayhem to Miracles, is celebrating its 5th anniversary this week . What I’ve realized is that when I sat at my dining room table for eight months, while the world was in lockdown due to COVID-19, I was giddy with words on the page, paragraphs

What is the Degree of Separation?? My trip with my high school friends is coming to a swift conclusion as we head to the airport, and our lives, first thing tomorrow morning. The weather finally broke. It warmed up enough to go to the beach for a long stroll, and eat delicious food for lunch by dining al fresco looking towards the ocean and sunshine ☀️! There is also a wild story about meeting a couple from Long Island, New York, on a rooftop bar (Satellite) on King Street in

March 23, 2026 - BWI Airport. 6:11 am Last night’s sleep was restless. Before I laid my head to rest, I glanced at my phone to make sure I set 5:00 am as my wake up call. Due to all the fury of travel with TSA agents not getting paid, calling in sick and more ways not to show up to the job, both domestic and international, there was no doubt I had to be super early, as in three hours early for a stinking 2-hour flight to Charleston, S.C. While I was setting the new wake up ho

It’s about time we reached the equinox. I love the longer days filled with sunshine until the last vestiges of light when the sun finally sets. The longer days fill my soul with joy and happiness, too. I feel lighter. I’ve got more pep in my step. I want to clean the garage! Yes, you read that correctly. Who is with me on straightening up the doggone garage? Here’s wishing everyone a happy spring (whether you clean up your garage or anything else), sunshine all day long, wit