Movies about RV trips are usually hilarious comedies. The motorhomes are portrayed either as a run-down house on wheels causing mishaps in the most entertaining way, or as a sleek-looking vehicle used for an incredibly exciting and often unbelievable adventure. What about RVs and road trips in real life? In my circle of friends and relatives, I never hear about anyone taking a road trip in an RV – which is why the people in my life are so shocked, and maybe even a little intrigued, when I tell them …

and just like that . . . Read more »

Going to a funeral is difficult. That deafening silence in the chapel brings back painful memories and stirs up emotions that I work so hard to control. No matter how much time has passed, that aching and longing for my parents and sisters is never buried too deeply, always bubbling in my heart, ever so slightly, like a pot of porridge on the stove.Admittedly and honestly, I’m not big on current events, politics, math or science, but I’m fascinated by people and animals. I have some pretty incredible people (and …

Eulogy for Harold Read more »

‘Thirty something’ years ago, when my kids made comments about their ‘imaginary friends’ – making visits, having conversations, joining us on outings – we accepted them as exactly that; imaginary friends dreamed up in their vivid, child-like imaginations. But our knowledge and experience about so many things has changed since then. Children are now raised with differing and different messages about health and wellness, sexuality, bullying, safety, technology, and . . . thanks to many movies and TV shows, psychic-mediumship; the presence of loved ones in spirit, and the ability …

Are Imaginary Friends Actually Visits From Deceased Loved Ones? Read more »

When I was faced with horrific tragedy as a young teen, and was drowning in a mixture of emotions, my “life jacket” was the belief and faith that somehow, I would survive. I hung on with all my strength to protect myself from being pulled under by the indescribable power of grief and despair. Fortunately, I seemed to have intuitively understood how important it was for me to surround myself with the “right” people — people who were positive, happy and optimistic. For me, the “right” people were pleasant and …

Choose to surround yourself with the “RIGHT” people Read more »

As I reflect on my past experiences, I understand and have internalized the importance of making positive choices. I know that I generalize, but I truly believe that the more choices we make, the more alive we feel, and the more alive we feel, the healthier our choices. I believe that happiness is a choice … a conscious decision. The following are my eight happiness-inducing choices: 1. Choose to be surrounded by positive, optimistic, happy people.They like to solve problems and are pleasant and fun to be around. They like …

Eight Choices That Will Make You Happier Read more »

Growing up in the 60’s in the suburbs of Montreal, life felt safe and secure. And then on July 5, 1970, Air Canada flight 621 crashed, killing all 109 people on board. My mother and two younger sisters were on that flight. I was 13 years old. The loss was beyond devastating. My father fell into a deep depression, numb to life; I was essentially left to fend for myself. On the cusp of my teens, I had to make sense of life, death, loss and the unfairness of it …

Talking About My Mother and Sisters’ Deaths Helped Me More Than Silence Read more »

I am frequently asked why I wrote Repairing Rainbows so many years after the plane crash. The truth is that I did not have the courage and strength to open the wounds that I had kept so carefully covered and protected all these years. While I knew that my story was an important one to share, each time I considered the idea of writing a book, I stopped myself, terrified to relive that horrible time when my whole world had fallen apart. For almost four decades, I did not talk …

Learning To Live With Grief Read more »

In my book Repairing Rainbows: A True Story of Family, Tragedy and Choices, I recount the terrible time when I was thrust into a “tornado” of major loss. One minute I thought that maybe, just maybe, I was going to be okay and the next minute I was overcome with anguish. Paralyzed. Out of nowhere would come a fresh flood of terror. A panic attack. Like a time bomb, ticking away silently and then exploding with a loud boom. Despite, or maybe in spite of, the sorrow, heartbreak and tremendous pain, …

Give Up – Give In – Give It All You’ve Got . . . You Choose Read more »

Two wounded teens meet, fall in live, and live “happily ever after”… fairy-tale, coincidence, or serendipity? My husband Barry and I were each born into families enjoying “fairy-tale” lives. Our parents were young and in love, and their lives were full of hopes and dreams for the future. And then, sadly, those fairy-tale lives came to an abrupt end, with tragic deaths. Barry and I were both 17 when we met. We had just finished high school. I was dealing with my tragedy — the death of my mother and …

How I Ended Up Living Happily Ever After Read more »

When Sam Walton established Walmart in 1962, he made sure that every Walmart store reflected commitment and support for the community. Today, Walmart’s Community Outreach Programs underwrite college scholarships, raise money for children’s hospitals, and provide donations and support for charity events and fund raisers. Along with this ongoing commitment to the community, Walmart lives up to their mission statement which is all about helping people save money so they can live better. The Walmart ‘Mom of the Year’ Contest is yet another example of how Walmart promotes support and …

Walmart Mom of the Year Contest Read more »