I Hope You Dance

May 9, 2023

The week of April 14 through April 23 has been designated as National Dance Week. This is a week set aside to celebrate the joy of dancing. Dancing is something that I love doing but am not necessarily very good at. Just picture Elaine from Seinfeld if you will or perhaps Wednesday Adams at the prom in the new Netflix series (Wednesday from the Adams Family). I am sure my children would concur. I have no doubt they were mortified at each of their weddings as they watched their mother on the dance floor moving about with reckless abandon. During the mother and son dances, however, (there have been 3 since I have 3 sons) my feet barely moved while the tears came pouring out as I held each son and remembered all the special moments we had experienced throughout their lives. I cannot begin to describe the intense pride I felt for the men they had become. To this day I still get teary eyed when I hear the words to the song that played in the background, “Then They Do” sung by Trace Adkins. Learn More

Thinking of Others This Easter Season

May 9, 2023

When thinking of sweet Easter traditions that have been enjoyed and passed down from generation to generation, my first thought is of chocolate. There are chocolate bunnies, chocolate crosses, chocolate eggs filled with peanut butter or coconut, and a myriad of other shapes from dinosaurs to ballerinas. All bringing smiles and joy to those on the receiving end of these confections. Heartbreakingly, chocolate has been in the news a lot over the last week, and not because Easter is quickly approaching, but because of the terrible, deadly explosion which occurred at the R.M. Palmer Company Chocolate Factory in West Reading. My heart goes out to the those who lost loved ones, and to those who were injured. I cannot fathom how that community must be reeling from the emotional and economic impact. Learn More

Don't Go Chasing Waterfalls

March 22, 2023

I recently spent a weekend in Pittsburgh. I have been there several times before, but never tire of turning the corner and seeing the city majestically standing there before me. I love this city of hills and bridges. It doesn’t take you long to feel the sense of pride these self-proclaimed “Yinzers” have in their city. What is a “Yinzer” you might ask. The best description, this is the way Pittsburghers identify themselves. It has derived from the way they refer to “you all”, or “you guys”. Such as, “Are Yinz going to the game”? As I shopped my way through the Strip District, there were piles and piles of T-shirts with “Yinz” emblazoned on them. The other thing I noticed as I continued my shopping journey was the wide variety of St. Patrick’s Day items for sale. Once again, the Pittsburghers’ pride was showing, especially from those of Irish heritage. Some of the T-shirt’s messages were not exactly G-rated, but I did find two that I purchased and can comfortably wear in public without embarrassing my children. Learn More