Clicking the Heels of My Ruby Slippers

June 29, 2023

Clicking the Heels of My Ruby Slippers Everyone should take a trip out of the area once and a while to truly appreciate what we have right here. Why is it our tendency to think what we have is subpar? Allow me to explain. Last weekend I took a trip to the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area and Hickory Run State Park. Don’t get me wrong, it was a wonderful experience and if you have never visited this area of the Poconos, I would highly recommend it, but as I looked at the mountains and walked the trails, I was thinking of home. As I have mentioned before, I am a sucker for waterfalls, no matter the width or height. They each have their own allure and beauty and this area did not disappoint. On day one I visited the tallest waterfall in the state of Pennsylvania, which is Raymondskill Falls. An interesting fact about this three-tiered falls, its total length is just a few feet shorter than Niagara Falls! Next stop, which was only a few miles away, was the second tallest, Dingmans Falls, as well as the fifth in the state, Silverthread Falls. One short hike yielded two very different, but both incredible waterfalls. Dingmans was the larger of the two, and quite stunning, but Silverthread, although much narrower, was unique in its perfection. It looked as though someone had carefully chiseled it out of the rock in a perfectly straight line. Learn More

Never Have I Ever

June 29, 2023

I am sure that most of us at one time or another participated in playing the game, Never Have I Ever. The premise of the game is simple. Each player gives a scenario they have never done. Such as, Never Have I Ever been run over by a bicycle or perhaps Never Have I Ever been sent to the principal’s office. Both, unfortunately I cannot truthfully say Never Have I Ever to either one of those things! When I was in second grade, I was indeed run over by a boy coming down the hill on his bicycle when his brakes went out. I ended up with my leg broken in several places. There was also my trip to the principal’s office. It happened while I was a student at East Derry Elementary. Not only did I have to stand before the principal, but I also managed to run a staple through my finger while sitting and waiting to see him. Being the fidgety little girl that I was, I began playing with the stapler on his secretary’s desk when the injury occurred, but I digress. Learn More

The "Maine" Event

May 9, 2023

This is what my daughter-in-law, Katie, and I called our recent impromptu trip to Maine. I casually mentioned to her that I had a pressing desire to see Maine. A friend had planted the seed a few years ago, telling me that Maine was a must-see state, and his contagious enthusiasm for its beauty left an indelible impression on me. My desire to get there was then heightened last summer when it seemed as though every person I spoke with had either just gotten back from Maine or was on their way there. This turned my desire from “I would like to see it someday,” to “I must see it now.” Surprisingly, Katie responded with, “I’ve always wanted to see it too, let’s just go.” She is just as spontaneous as I am, so instantaneously, the planning began. We decided upon the week following Easter since we were both able to work it into our schedules. Our adventure crew grew quickly to include Katie, my son Matthew, their two children Sloan, age 4, Oliver, age 2, and Katie’s mom Sarah. I am sure you are thinking that sounds like a full vehicle and you would be correct. We were in a large SUV, but we had to take turns sitting in the third row with all our gear piled precariously beside us. While navigating one particularly sharp turn, I experienced a children’s potty to the head. Learn More