Hi There, I’m Vickie- I work on this blog every day. Many days, I say to myself, “ I am retired, what am I doing waking up at 5:30 AM to write another blog?” But then I get your feedback, and I set my alarm for the next day!
18 Facts in Random Order
Married to my husband for 40 years! Even though in college, we were destined
least likely to end up married. Guess we fooled them!
Graduate of the University of Miami (1979) received
my undergraduate degree in Elementary Education and Early Childhood.
We have three children who are now way older than we were when we had them!
A professor told me to consider becoming a special education teacher in undergraduate school. I replied, “I won’t have the patience for that!” My daughter was born with severe special needs, and I finally took that professor’s advice. I received my Master’s In Exceptional Education (Special Education) in 2001
It took ten years, to receive my Master’s at Buffalo State College. I was awarded the President’s Medal for Outstanding Student.
But I never taught school (unless we are counting substitute teaching).
MORE
I love to ski! I love the cold weather! I do not want to live in the tropics and miss winter!
We have three grandchildren, and I relish being called Nana.
I was the Manager of Early Childhood Direction Center (ECDC) for Oishei
Children’s Hospital, Kaleida Health, and Project Director of the New York State
Education Department ECDC program for 18 years – So, I did get to use that degree after all!
Our oldest daughter, Jessica, has multiple disabilities, which has provided me with numerous life experiences. Jessica is a frequent inspiration for my blogs.
Our retirement inspired us to buy a camper. Little did we know, post Covid-19, that camping would become “a thing!” This experience has also fostered a lot of blogs
We have two dogs – a Hungarian Vizsla named Gus and an Italian Greyhound named Daniel.
And There is More
After my Mom nagged me for twenty years to write a book, I finally listened. My book, Raising Jess: A Story of Hope, planned publication date is early 2021.
The book covers our experience of raising Jessica and is a beautiful memoir of
essays describing life with a child with special needs and providing information, optimism , and hope for families in similar circumstances.
I started writing this blog in March 2020, about the same time we were told,
DON’T LEAVE THE HOUSE!
I haven’t eaten meat in 36 years. I am considered a pescatarian. I found that out after telling a waiter, “I’m vegetarian and will have the salmon.” He looked at me with disdain and informed me I was not a vegetarian, I was pescatarian because I ate fish. oops!
I eat a small bowl of chocolate ice cream every single night.
This has been an extraordinary time for everyone, and for me, writing, reading your comments, and hearing your stories have been a constant reminder that even though we are apart, we are not alone.
Thank you for reading!