The Aging Perspective

    With Thanksgiving around the corner, it’s been four years since my last gratitude luncheon. Oh, how I miss this day, feeling there was much more to be grateful for back then. We made it a tradition. One week before the holiday, clients, families, staff, and friends would all gather to enjoy a meal of gratitude. On our special day, before we ate, we always began with a prayer of appreciation. We were in a place we went to every day where we laughed, ate, and played together. And on this day, the universe seemed flawless, each with our...

It’s five days since IAN the Terrible ravaged our communities. It tore through our homes, schools, stores, and beautiful island beaches. Having been through a few of these natural disasters before, one should never have to witness these things. How does one get these images out of your head? Go ahead and google, -----“Find the words to describe a category 4/5-hurricane.” One will get explosive, fierce, raging, and relentless; adjectives that define the mass destruction Southwest Florida recently experienced. But, I have trouble coming up with words that describe the understated losses.--- The little things we grieve. As I rode...

I wrote this story about a trip I took back in 2001 reflecting on my dad and the twin towers.As they were being built he shared with us the history of those that had the courage to build them.--Jill Modell-Dion. Only three months before 9/11, I made a trip to New York City, where my family gathered for a small reunion at the Embassy Suites in Lower Manhattan. Our Hotel was a few blocks from the World Trade buildings. So many changes were about to happen. Four months after our reunion, my father passed away on October 1, 2001. But during our...

As I write this piece, it’s June 23rd, one of my favorite days of the year. It is the day before my birthday. On this day, there are always those feelings of hope, eagerness, and preparation for that big day where I get to be totally self-centered without judgment from others. For me, once midnight comes around on my birthday, I start to feel like it’s almost over, and I have to wait another whole year.  Silly but true. This year I’ve had to cover my ears and look away while living in these times is exhausting. No matter how hard I try to...

It's 2022, and like every year, the Academy Awards sneak up on my calendar. "Of course, it's March!!"  I enjoy and look forward to them, but not like the millions that tune in five hours before watching the fashion critique. ------Okay, I said it, but that's just me. I have my own thing about the Oscars. One of my most cherished Academy Awards nights was in Chicago in 1986. I was visiting my sister and dear friend John who were both on business. My first trip to the Windy City did not disappoint me. Aside from being in an exciting...