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There’s something about the quiet before the storm. And my quiet begins at 6:30 in the morning, well before the house begins to stir, well before I am in demand. No need for an alarm as my body clock keeps perfect time. I reach for my glasses just to confirm what I already know that it is in fact morning and that my spouse and sixty-two-pound Labradoodle, Baxter, are still beside me in their own silent unconsciousness. Over the years, my extraction from bed has proved more challenging, and today is no exception. Where it was once a quick fluid motion has become systemically calculated movements. Where I once could tiptoe silently through the room its now with murmurs of stiffness and instability. And just as I find balance, Baxter’s head pops up, as if his own internal alarm has signaled that I’m on the move. He’s my shadow into the bathroom so as not to lose sight of me and yet he doesn’t demand anything except my company. I’m quiet in the bathroom, a quick gargle of mouthwash an...

I worked for Judge L. Leonard Ruben in the Montgomery County Circuit Court when I first came across the expression, ' This Too shall Pass '. The quote was framed and hung in the Judge's chambers, purposely situated on the wall just before the door that led us from the chambers to the courtroom. It stood alone so as to deny any conflicting focal point. It was the first and last thing you saw before the start of court. Those four simple words, its origins dating back to King Soloman, and more recently to Abraham Lincoln during his inaugural address, were just enough to remind me that nothing is permanent. Somewhat subconsiously, it became my mantra. I found myself reciting this expression with frequency to my kids whenever they would complain about their current stuations, whether it be a teacher who grades assignments 'unfairly' or having to suffer through their baseball team's losing season, or more recently, being afflicted with COVID. ' This Too Sh...

Next Chapter continued.....          Just when we were settling into "empty-nesting" observance, all hell broke loose. The month of March, 2020, was scheduled to be consumed with travel plans. The first week was to Cabo, Mexico, with three couples, followed by a supposedly surprise trip to St. Barth's with three other couples to celebrate by 60th. And of course, then there was my 60th on March 31st, to be celebrated with friends on the home turf. March was to be a month on hiatus, or so I thought.              The weekend leading up to our Cabo trip was the first indication of things to come. Our hosts in St. Barth's called to say that they were cancelling, not because the coronavirus had arrived in St. Barth's, but rather in the event it did while we were there, we would be confronted with travel and healthcare predicaments. My initial reaction was, " so what? It's St. Barth's. " I was so willing to risk it, but I had no...

Everything changed for me on October 7. Surprisingly even more so than when we experienced the horrific terrorist attack on September 11, 2001. As with most people, I remember exactly where I was when I first heard news of the mid-air strike of the World Trade Center, and watched with utter disbelief as news outlets showed real-time footage of the second strike as well as the complete collapse of both buildings. The entire nation was alarmed by the images of people running for their lives and of people running to protect lives. Never in my lifetime had I ever witnessed such brutality and disregard for human life, and as I watched, I prayed to god that we would never expect too again. On September 12th, 2001, the citizens of this country became one. We were horrified by the atrocities and yet we were unified because of them. We were bonded by the collective loss of innocent lives as well as by our collective sense of patriotism. It was an attack, with unprecedented consequences, against...

When did my cardiologist become younger than me? For that matter, how is it I even need a cardiologist? I now take these little pale, yellow pills for cholesterol. I have parents who take pills for cholesterol. I shouldn't be taking pills for cholesterol. And these so-called answers to my cholesterol are no larger than the size of a pinhead. What can that honestly do for me? My heart is much larger than that. Just this past week while watching the NCAA's March Madness with my husband, the announcer, who no doubt was much younger than me, was providing historical data about a college basketball team who had just upset a number one seed. Apparently this team hadn't been to the NCAA tournament in over forty years. Wow, that's like a lifetime ago, at least for the players and, it hurts me to admit, most of the broadcasters. That statistic was soon followed with, "and that was in the 80's". Wait, what? That's not a lifetime ago. That's like, ye...

     ' The days are long and the years are short' best explains how, at the cusp of turning sixty-two, that I have a story to share, or at least a significant part of one. Two-thirds to be exact. My wish is that there will be a sequel. But for now, this is the story of who I am .     Who I am today reflects how I was raised and the opportunities that were provided me as well as to those of my parents. I am a reflection of them just as my children are of me and my husband. Who I am today reflects the experiences that I have borne and the people I have encountered. It is the result of turning " right " instead of going " left ". It's as simple as choosing to learn the game of tennis rather than sitting at the pool. And as hard as debating to play for fun rather than for the win. Who I am today is a result of saying " no " years before I said " yes ".     Who I am is the product of my parents before me. From my mother's machine-gu...