Mitch and I drove to Florida the last week of February 2021; our destination was Key Largo. No camper this time, just the truck, us, and our Italian Greyhound, Daniel. This visit would be our third year in Key Largo. We rent the same beautiful house each year. But, 2021 would be slightly different, and I am ready to publicly reveal the changes when Buffalo Vickie (germaphobe) turned into Florida Vickie after getting vaccinated.
Please, I want to hear good news. I want to know that this year was not a series of Covid-Horror and despair. I want to hear the Really Good Stuff. And so I asked. And guess what? People responded. Unbeknownst to me, the year had an intriguing twist. There were valuable insights from the era of Covid.
My husband and I had positive Covid tests in December. That is just one of the positives that we discovered. And yes, we were the careful ones. The annoying friends that wouldn’t see anybody no matter what! Our arrogance convinced us that we would beat the awful virus at its game if we abided by OUR rules. Result: Virus 2 points – Vickie and Mitch – 0 points.
I had an unbelievable experience today, and I attribute my luck to good timing and an overturned glass. Let me explain.
I don’t know the origins of the overturned glass but will give you the quick superstition. If something goes missing, you must immediately find a glass, turn it upside down, and your item will reappear. I don’t know if I have enough glasses for all the items that go missing! Anyway, it’s a simple strategy so why not?
The original article about the late Dr. Linda Brodsky was published in 2014; the blog below is the 2021 update. This story illuminates the strength of friendship found in our monthly book club meetings.
About 15 years ago, I met with a respected, locally, nationally, and internationally physician, and we started talking about books. She said to me, “One day I’m going to start a book club and I hope you will join.”
Thank you Buffalo News OP-ED for publishing my newest article 
Counting the Days of Covid Captivity.
I purchased a RoboVac in 2019. Our grandson, Griffin, was three years old and terrified of her. The dogs were dubious whenever the Vac was searching for dirt. I have a love/hate relationship with our RoboVac, and I am not afraid to admit it!
Our RoboVac and I met in August 2019, I was so thrilled that I wrote an online review:
Portions of Review:
I hesitated to purchase a RoboVac, but I saw the price, ratings, and awards and decided to take a leap of faith! I am on day 2 of OCD vacuuming and loving every minute. My 3-year old grandson named her “Cleany,” as was recommended by another customer to help alleviate toddler fear. My Hungarian Vizsla dog is still questioning Cleany’s existence and purpose in our home. My Italian Greyhound dog has less interest in Cleany but is a bit weary – Hey, if it wasn’t for their shedding, I may not have needed her! I am thoroughly satisfied with this product. Again, I am only on day 2!
Can you say Hypogeusia? This new vocabulary word is my Covid-19, Long-Haul symptom. On day 84 since the Covid-19 Diagnosis, I still have a lingering souvenir.
I cannot spell it without looking it up again and again. I couldn’t ask Siri because I couldn’t pronounce it, either. The correct pronunciation is HYPO-GOO- SIA.
The definition is a reduced ability to taste things, and I fall into this long-haul category.
Continue reading “84 Days After Covid-19- My Long-Haul Symptom”
Has your texting increased during the Pandemic? The husband complains, I mean notices that I am in text mode most of the day. The Pandemic offers numerous opportunities to find stay-at-home leisure activities, and recreational texting is high on my list.
Texting is a skill, and not everyone is a good texter. I don’t only mean typos, although that is a huge problem with some folks—especially those of a particular age group. Ok, typos are a huge problem for me – I am that lady in the hilarious commercial who uses a speakerphone. Except I am regularly using it to text. My second text typically is: “dictation sucks- this is what I meant to say.”
Continue reading “Recreational Texting and My First Text Epiphany”
Grandma was an Air-Raid Warden sounds like a great country song or perhaps a song from the ’70s. In fact, this is the story of our Grandma Sayde, my dad’s mother. My tale is not a story of war; I will leave that to historical blog writers. Instead, read on for two cute anecdotes from the 1940s that will give you a smile.
Continue reading “My Grandma Was an Air-Raid Warden!”
Jessica does not speak in words; her communication is through gestures, facial expressions, body language, and music. Jessica brings the joy of music wherever she goes.
Last week, I was asked to create a presentation about Jessica and the upcoming book Raising Jess: A Story of Hope. I started searching through my stack of presentations created when I was working.
Continue reading “Finding the Joy of Communication through Music”
It was 3:00 PM on January 16th, and all was a buzz in our house. Was it about the virus? No! Politics? No! The weather? No! The Bills!!! YES! and not the kind you pay! The Beloved Buffalo Bills!
My husband Mitch, daughter Carly, son Alex, and brother-in-law Scott had the opportunity that few others experience; they were attending the Buffalo Bills game during the Pandemic!
Continue reading “Attending Buffalo Bills Game During the Pandemic”
Grab a cup of Coffee and your tablet, phone or computer and enjoy a Heartwarming, Inspiring and Funny Blog each week. For those who have already signed-up, THANK YOU!
I thought I would be writing about my Covid-19 Vaccine this week. As a local hospital volunteer I received notification that I was eligible for the Vaccine. The shot was scheduled for Wednesday, January 13th. I was nervous (of course!) because I still have antibodies from the virus. Were the virus antibodies and the Vaccine antibodies going to duel it out while I relived Covid symptoms? It turns out that they ran out of Vaccines, and so my antibody war was delayed. The good news is that our daughter Jess and my Dad (age 90 – hope you don’t mind me revealing your age Dad.) have one Covid-19 Vaccine down and one to go!
Do you make New Year Resolutions? I usually make one or two, and they focus on organization, re-organization, and new-organization techniques. Again, my 2021 resolutions included a wish-hope-strive-resolute for organization. Consequently, since I re-commit to this skill each year, organization is probably unattainable. I probably should just move on! New Year, New Me- Nah….
January 6, 2021
I had a cute blog scheduled for this week. But I am not feeling cute or funny.
Wednesday, January 6, 2021, is a day of infamy. A sad date etched into our memories—another, “Where were you when…” date. The headline: Americans storm the Capitol Building.
I was not political before 2016. Embarrassingly, I barely paid attention. I remember when I first had dinner at Mitch’s family’s home in 1976. The theme of the conversation was Politics and I had NOTHING to add. Zilch, Void, NADA! I was inwardly disappointed in myself but not enough to become more knowledgeable in world events.
Continue reading “January 6, 2021”
Our encounter with Covid-19 was unique. I say that because it seems like nobody has the same experience with Covid-19. At least from my non-scientific query of the folks who had symptoms. So, in no hierarchical order, here are some observations:
Continue reading “11 Things I Learned from Our Experience with Covid-19”
This is the story of my friend Chris and her family. It is the story of opening up to inspirational messages from above.
I met Chris through work. We were in the human service field, providing information and support for individuals with disabilities and their families. Our children inspired both of us to pursue this work.
Chris is not only beautiful on the outside, but she is also gorgeous on the inside. She is the first to lend a hand, say a meaningful word, give a gift of kindness. Chris and her husband, Rick, do not understand the word “NO.”
When their son, Ben, was diagnosed with Duchene Muscular Dystrophy, Chris and her family did everything humanly possible for Ben to experience all he could. When Ben was in his 20’s and wanted to live independently, Chris and Rick went to work.
Continue reading “3 Inspirational Messages from Above: Thanks, Ben!”
Well, it was bound to happen. When my husband Mitch received his positive Covid-19 result (detailed in last week’s blog), he moved into the basement. I did not know that an hour after that blog was released, I would find out that I have Covid-19.
Friday, a friend mentioned that I sounded like I had a cold. I brushed her off by saying that I sound like I have a cold every morning. But do I? Was I in denial? My mind raced that day with thoughts ranging from, “Am I clearing my throat too much?” Am I losing a sense of taste, or is my meal tasteless from lack of spice or poor cooking skills?” “Uh oh, was that a cough?”
The Positive Covid-19 test result story started before Thanksgiving and ended on our 41st Anniversary.
As my Dad jokingly said, “Even a hypochondriac can be right sometimes!”
Yes, he was referring to me and my constant worrying. But this time, unfortunately, I was correct. The answers didn’t appear immediately; there were some twists and turns.
Continue reading “A Positive Covid-19 Test Result on Our 41st Wedding Anniversary”
It was October 2020, and 225 days since we saw my Dad and in-laws. We are in Western New York, and they live in Florida. It was time to visit our parents, time to reunite.
The news continued to report virus upticks and suggestions to hunker down at home as we prepared for our trip. My Mom passed on February 6, 2020, right before we KNEW about the virus. Less than a month later, my Dad would not only be learning to live alone without my Mom but now he would lose face-to-face contact with his friends.
Continue reading “How a Unique Toast to Mom Helped Us Continue a Family Tradition”
Have you thought about Covid-19 testers? Are they volunteering for this? Was it part of their pre-Covid-19 job description? I have massive respect for the people stepping up to perform this unpleasant task. I also have a weird suspicion that my Covid-19 tester was a bit Brutal! But I still say to him and his fellow testers: thank you for your service.
Continue reading “Covid-19 Test, Yikes and Thanks!”
Size A, B, or C, and I am not talking bras! Who would have guessed? Mitch and I traveled to Florida in our Truck Camper. You know the one I wrote about without the bathroom and indoor shower. We love our camper, but for me, this RV is missing a critical facility! We started looking at alternatives, and cutely, unlike bras, they are classified as A, B, B+, or C and there is also the fifth wheel.
Continue reading “Size A B or C, and I am Not Talking Bras (RV search)”
Tomorrow is Election Day, 2020. Although it feels like election day started weeks ago with early voting. I have never been so politically involved or motivated to Vote!
My first voting experience was on November 2, 1976. My boyfriend, and now my husband, Mitch, encouraged all my apolitical girlfriends and me to register and vote. We were students at the University of Miami (the sunny one, not the Ohio School). My priorities at the time were fun, food, festivities, and friends.
Continue reading “Tomorrow is Election Day 2020-Let’s Unite”
Today is about travel and dogs; set as a Poem,
We are on the road again, far from our home.
Back in the camper, our new mobile pad,
Trekking to Boca to visit my Dad.
Continue reading “Guess Who we Met? A Poem about Travel and Dogs”
We are on day 271 since the first reported case of Covid-19 in the US. Two hundred seventy-one days, and we are still working to contain this beast. Becky, a Registered Nurse, shares her story about Contracting Covid-19 and Lessons Learned.
Continue reading “RN Shares HERSTORY about Getting Covid-19 and Lessons Learned”