Reconnecting With The Armed Forces Home, Washington D.C.

This summer, I reconnected with some of the staff members and the residents of The Armed Forces Home located in our nation's capital. The Armed Forces Home is one of America's oldest veteran's retirement homes. The Soldier's Home was established in 1851 as an "asylum for old and disabled veterans. Four of the original buildings still stand and are listed as national historic landmarks. Two of the buildings, Quarters 1 and the Lincoln Retreat served as the summer White House for U.S. Presidents-Chester Arthur, Rutherford B. Hayes, James Buchanan, and most notably, Abraham Lincoln. Lincoln lived at the Soldier's Home, in what is now called Lincoln Cottage during our nation's most turbulent history, the Civil War. Lincoln spent one-fourth of his presidency at the Soldier's Home, and it is believed that Lincoln wrote the last draft of the Emancipation Proclamation there.

Remembering Marjorie Ginsburg

On August 2, 2015, I attended a ceremony, "Celebrating A Long Life" for Marjorie Ginsburg.  Marjorie's family asked if I would join her family and friends in honoring her legacy, and speak about our friendship.  As I reflected on the years that Marjorie and myself worked together, volunteered together, and simply enjoyed spending time together, it was both a joyful and endearing experience to remember all that I had learned from Marjorie Ginsburg.

Writing My Fifth Book

It's always a challenging, yet rewarding initiative to write a book.  And, it's absolutely imperative to have a wonderful and talented team on board to illustrate the story that you gleam worthy of a read, and to lay out and pull all of the pieces together.  Jared Oriel, Designer/Illustrator, presently a student at Pratt Institute, Michele C. Barnes, Graphic Design Artist, and Yaroslav Bogatov, my web designer for my non for profit organization www.thekindkids.org are all instrumental in helping me to put forth another book. 

Annual Reading is Fundamental of Northern Virginia Luncheon

Being a Board member of Reading Is Fundamental of Northern Virginia(www.rifnova.org) is an honor, a dedication to service, and a whole lot of fun.  Every year our Board hosts an annual luncheon-it is a coming together of both colleagues and friends-we celebrate what our year of service has been all about.  Our Board members have much to celebrate, for we continue to support and celebrate literacy for The Northern Virginia Area while helping to place books into schools for students.  

Remember the Love, Celebrate the Life, and Share the Journey

Since the first national seminar in 1995, TAPS has welcomed all those who are grieving the loss of a loved one who died while serving in the Armed Forces, providing a full weekend of events for adults and children.  Those that have attended had the opportunity to make connections with other survivors, learn new coping skills, participate in healing activities, and honor their loved one.  As well, there was time for reflecting, relaxing, and visiting with newfound friends.

A Second Visit To Newtown, Connecticut

During the week of February 16, 2015, I had the distinct privilege of spending time with many people in the beloved town of Newtown, Connecticut.   This was my second visit to this picturesque place and I was grateful to have been invited once again.  My first journey to Newtown, took place in September of 2013.