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Feeling Blessed

April 27, 2021 2 Comments

After the weekend I had I am feeling more and more blessed. Jeff left a couple of weeks ago for a really long work trip. Before he left, he was sweet enough to ask if I was going to be ok. He knew I would be lonely without him, and he knew I would be thinking about Gram. He checked in on me all the time and encouraged me to ask my best friend to come down for the weekend. I feel so blessed to be married to this amazing man. He thinks of everything I need before I even realize that I need it.

My best friend came to visit, and we had the most amazing time. It took my mind off of Gram. We relaxed and enjoyed each other’s company. We talked about everything from our families, to our love lives to other friends. We laughed and celebrated Gram’s memory as well. We enjoyed our time at the pool and went downtown for dinner. After some drinks, we usually face-timed with my husband and had more laughs. I am not sure how he puts up with me but I am blessed that he does. He doesn’t get upset with me for being a fool and it makes me feel like the luckiest girl in the world. I hope someday you find your Prince, too.

I saw this Bob Marley quote on Facebook a few weeks ago. I loved it and wanted to share it with you. I believe it rings true for both intimate relationships and friendships. Support each other, lift each other up, don’t try to change each other. Love them for who they are. Be blessed to know that person. It also made me think of my favorite Bob Marley song, Three Little Birds because everything is going to be alright.

“You may not be her first, her last, or her only.

She loved before she may love again.

But if she loves you now, what else matters?

She’s not perfect—you aren’t either,

and the two of you may never be perfect together

but if she can make you laugh, cause you to think twice,

and admit to being human and making mistakes,

hold onto her and give her the most you can.

She may not be thinking about you every second of the day,

but she will give you a part of her

that she knows you can break—her heart.

So don’t hurt her, don’t change her,

don’t analyze and don’t expect more than she can give.

Smile when she makes you happy, let her know when she makes you mad,

and miss her when she’s not there.

Love with your whole being when you receive love.

Because there are no perfect girls, but there will always be a girl who is perfect for you..”

In Family

Church

April 20, 2021 2 Comments

I was raised Catholic. I went to Sunday School and CCD until I was confirmed in the 11^th grade. I continued going to church with my family on Saturday nights and even on weekends through most of my college days.

Being Catholic was part of me. My grandparents were in the choir and very involved in the church. They sang for many weddings, holidays, and funerals. My parents were of the belief system that if we missed church and something “bad” happened it was because we missed church. I believed that for a while as well.

The most significant thing I learned about being Catholic was the Golden Rule, “Do Unto Others as You Would Have them Do Unto You.” I feel this is a very important rule to remember throughout life. Putting yourself in other people’s shoes is one way to feel compassion for others. Treat a situation like you would want to be treated if that person was you.

Once I moved to Richmond I didn’t go as often as I should. When I was in church, I was thinking of 100 different things I had to do or places I wanted to be. Church didn’t hold my attention. Plus, it was the same thing over and over. I could pretty much repeat it in my sleep 🙂

There was one small Catholic church in Richmond that I did enjoy. It seemed to be more like a Southern Baptist church because people were loud and happy and cheerful. The choir was amazing and the songs were upbeat. It was very different than the traditional Catholic Churches I had been to. Because there was a shortage of priests, Sister Cora did the service, which I thought was amazing as well. I actually enjoyed going to church and felt fulfilled.

A few years later, I was kind of lost. I wasn’t going to church. I had been through a divorce. I was a 31-year-old woman but acting like a 21-year-old with no cares in the world. A few people mentioned a church to me that they really enjoyed, but I never went. It was non-denominational, and I just wasn’t really sure. Until one morning, I woke up, late, hungover, and discovered my wallet was missing.

I decided it was time for a change. I decided to try this new church that everyone was raving about. I went to Commonwealth Chapel the next week and fell in love. Everyone was so nice. I felt welcomed, the music was incredible, and they served coffee! I left church feeling really good. I listened to Pastor Brandon’s message and the words of the music without thinking of where I needed to be the rest of the day. It ended up being really emotional for me, which again, was very different than the traditional Catholic Church.

After a few weeks, I was asked to join a Bible study group. I had never been to one, and even though I had gone to church my whole life, I didn’t know much about the Bible. But because I am a Yes, Woman, I said yes. The group was great. It was a wonderful mix of young adults. We talked about the sermon that week or a chapter in the Bible. Then we would just chat about life, socialize, and pray for each other. Throughout the week, we would check up on each other and sometimes do things after church or on another day of the week. I felt really happy and excited to be a part of such a wonderful, kind group of people. At that time, my Dad was fighting cancer and was nearing the end. We prayed for him as a group, and I thought for sure a miracle would happen because of the strong beliefs of this group of people, but in the end, we lost him.

After a few years, people started leaving the church. All of my friends were going in different directions. I tried a few other churches but nothing felt right. Then it was 2015, and I was off to Thailand.

Once I returned and started living with Gram in my hometown, we went to church for a while but then they changed the time, and it was too early for Gram. I went with friends to a few more churches around my hometown but again nothing felt right. My husband and I have tried a few different churches over the years as well but we haven’t found one that we have loved. We don’t believe in going to church just to go. We want to feel fulfilled, blessed, and happy after attending a service. And we know it can be that way so we will keep searching.

As you know, I have been feeling Lost Without Gram. I don’t know what my purpose is. I don’t know what is next. I am not sure who I am anymore or why I am here. I have turned to traveling and being comfortably numb. I have tried to not think about anything.

Until this past weekend, when I was home. Alone. It was the first time since Gram passed. As soon as I dropped my husband off at the airport, I was in tears. I don’t know why. I guess I just needed a good cry. I had such a mix of feelings. I felt guilty for putting Gram in the home. I felt sad for not taking her out when she broke her hip. I felt joy that she lived such a long, wonderful life. I felt happy that so many people got to meet and know her. I felt envious that she lived such a long and beautiful life. I felt relief that she was no longer in pain. I felt blessed that I was able to spend five wonderful years with her. And I felt lost because I wanted her here. I want to see her sweet face and hear her cute laugh.

The next day, I was home alone and listening to music. Two songs came on that reminded me of church, “Watch Over You” and “One Thing Remains.” You may not be into Christian music but please take a quick listen to these two songs. I feel they are really powerful, no matter what you believe, and I think you can relate to it as a parent or a child as well.

I thought maybe I should go back to church. It seemed to help before. I turned to Ecosia (similar to Google but they plant trees for each search!). I found the First Assembly of God Church. Something different from my Catholic upbringing but after perusing the website I was intrigued. I went to the Women’s Ministries page and listened to a video called “Help for Hurting Women: Identity Crisis”. It really hit home. These two prayers really helped me. Again, I apologize if the church thing isn’t for you, but I feel like they are pretty powerful words. I intend to repeat them when I am feeling down. I hope they help you, too.

Dear Heavenly Father,

I need you. I need you to guide my life. I need you to save me. Please forgive me for every way that I have not honored you with my life. Jesus, come into my heart and make me to be the woman that you designed for me to be. Jesus, change in me whatever needs to be changed. And I will trust you all the days of my life with all of my heart. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

-Linda Dorcey

I am an awesome spirit being of magnificent worth as a person. I am deeply loved by God. I am fully pleasing to God. I am totally accepted by God. I am absolutely complete in Christ. And when my person is expressed through my performance, the reflection is dynamically unique. There has never been another like me in the history of mankind nor will there ever be. I am an original. One of a kind. Really somebody. And so are you.

-Linda Dorcey’s Pastor friend

So in the end, I believe there is something greater than us, and I need to believe that one day I will get to see all of my lost loved ones again. I honestly can’t wait for the reunion. I don’t know what my purpose on Earth is, at this time, but I have faith that God needs me here for some reason and a plan will be revealed eventually. For some reason Gram’s purpose on this Earth was complete, and she was needed in Heaven. One day we will know. Until then, don’t be afraid to take chances. Don’t be afraid to go to a new church or try a new activity. Life is too short. Get out there, be brave, be strong, and LIVE!

In Travel Junkie

The Netherlands

April 13, 2021 No Comments

If you have been following me since the beginning of the blog (August 2020), then you know I left for an amazing adventure in the fall of 2015. I have written about Germany, Finland, and Sweden. Now on to the next leg of my trip. The Netherlands.

I hugged Marja goodbye and boarded the plane in Helsinki and was off to my next stop. I was now headed to the Netherlands to visit my friend Susana, with whom I graduated and who was a foreign exchange student from Spain. Susana, her husband, and her two adorable children were right there waiting for me in Amsterdam.

We had dinner at the airport and then headed back to their house. They lived about an hour from the airport in a cute little townhouse. Although it had been 21 years since we had seen each other, Susana and I stayed up talking for hours just like no time had passed! The next day we went to pick up a friend of mine from Richmond who was meeting us there. Susana showed us all around Amsterdam. The three of us had an amazing day. We tried not to get run over by all the passing bicycles (which is extremely difficult) because the bikers are everywhere!! The bicycle parking by the train stations is just insane and was something I couldn’t even believe. It also made me realize what a wonderful place Amsterdam was that people enjoyed being outside and riding their bikes everywhere.

We ate some wonderful food at open-air restaurants, saw the Amsterdam sign, the oldest wooden house in Amsterdam, and some infamous “coffee shops”. (For more pictures, click here.) It was such a fun day. We had many laughs and just relaxed as we toured around the city. We weren’t on a time schedule, and we all enjoyed each other’s company. Susana was a great tour guide! It was nice to have someone show us around. We took the train home, and I remember just feeling happy and content. I was so blessed to be on this adventure. I was so blessed for my new friend and my old friend to hit it off so well. I was so blessed to have such wonderful people in my life.

The next day, Susana and her family showed us around Utrecht. It was about halfway to the airport, and she helped us get on the train after our exploring. Utrecht was also an amazing little city. I loved all the canals of the Netherlands. I believe Americans first think of the Red Light District or the coffee shops in Amsterdam, but I am not sure we truly understand the beauty of Amsterdam unless we go there. The canals are amazing. The bridges are fantastic. It is so much more.

Although we only had three days in the Netherlands, it was enough to get a little taste of it, but I also knew there was so much more to explore, and I couldn’t wait to return one day. Little did I know then that I would get to be the tour guide for my husband three years later.

After we hugged Susana and her family goodbye, my friend, Erin and I were off on our next adventure. Italy!

In Inspiration

Involve Me

April 12, 2021 No Comments

“Tell me and I forget. Teach me and I remember. Involve me and I learn.”

–Benjamin Franklin

In Inspiration

Unique

April 1, 2021 No Comments

“Always remember that you are absolutely unique. Just like everyone else.”

–Margaret Mead

In Travel Junkie

Ski Weeks

March 30, 2021 1 Comment

Skiing. You would think growing up in northwestern Pennsylvania, I would be a skier. But I played basketball and didn’t want to get hurt. Plus, I didn’t really care to be out in the cold for hours. Therefore, I skied a handful of times. Four years ago, my husband introduced me to his ski and snowboard club. Skiing is his passion. He’s been skiing since he was four years old, and he loves it. He also loves going to the snow and going back to warm, sunny Florida. (And now I do, too.)

Every month December through March there is an airline ski week. Most of the airlines race and earn points. I am not sure what the points get them because our ski and snowboard club does not race:) Many resorts give the airlines discounts on lodging and lift tickets. My husband started taking me three years ago. I wasn’t very good or comfortable on the mountain, but I wanted to learn. I wanted to see the beautiful views from mountaintops, and I wanted to be a part of the ski club.

Steamboat Springs

The first ski trip I went on was in Steamboat Springs, Colorado in December 2018. I didn’t have any confidence and really no ski skills. My husband’s friends insisted that he NOT teach me how to ski. So, one of the girls we were with took me to the bunny hill and started with the basics… how to stop, how to get on the lift, how to get out of my skies. She was an amazing instructor. We did some greens (beginner runs) and accidentally a blue (intermediate runs) or two, where I proceeded to yardsale down the mountain. For those of you who don’t ski, yardsale means my poles and skies went flying as I tumbled down the mountain. I enjoyed it though because I was warm, it was fun, and I didn’t get hurt. I especially liked apres ski (happy hour) and the theme party on Wednesday night.

Copper Mountain

The next year, the first airline ski week was at Copper Mountain in Colorado. My husband, against my will, persuaded me to take three ski lessons. This turned out to be very helpful and the instructor took us on greens and blues that we could handle. I started feeling a little better and more confident about skiing. On this trip, we couldn’t find anyone to stay with Gram so we could get a break from Gram therefore we took her with us. My husband and the two guys we stayed with would take turns checking on her while I was in my lesson. They would sit with her for a few minutes, hand her a banana or some Hershey Kisses, and then be back on the slopes. She was relatively steady and comfortable for a few hours on her own and the TV was on for her. She had a wonderful time. We took her into the village and to apres ski. She just laughed and smiled. I didn’t know that Copper was one of the highest mountains in Colorado and that many people get altitude sickness. Not Gram though, she hung right in there doing shot skis and all!

Park City

The next month, we did two days in Park City, Utah before heading to Steamboat Springs again. I love Park City. It is one of my favorite mountains. We skied Park City, the Canyons, and Deer Valley. I loved that the ski resorts were so close together. I absolutely loved Deer Valley. I felt pretty confident on the greens and blues there. After two days there, we went back to Steamboat. It was great to be back on the mountain where I originally learned. It was fun to do the blues and not yard sale down the mountain. I was starting to get the hang of it and really enjoy it.

Then Covid hit and I didn’t get to ski again that season.

In 2020, the ski weeks have been different. As you read in Missing Gram, we put her into senior living in November. Therefore, I was able to go to the first ski week. Usually, it is at Copper Mountain, but because of Covid, it got changed to Steamboat Springs. Since we were going there in January, our ski and snowboard team decided to do our own ski week and go to Park City, Utah. There were about 10 of us, and we have a friend that lives there so she hosted many of us. I was excited to go back to Deer Valley. I was also excited because my husband bought me the Ikon Pass. This is the only way to go if you are going to ski more than four or five times a year. We skied Snowbird, Solitude, and Deer Valley. Deer Valley is my all-time favorite thus far. The greens and blues are absolutely perfect for me. They even have double blues, which I love. Double blue means it’s a little more difficult than the blue but not as difficult as a Black Diamond. It was early in the season so a lot of the more difficult trails were closed so it was nice for all of us to ski together, and I didn’t feel like I was holding anyone back.

First Black Diamond

In January 2021, we decided to head out to Denver early before the airline ski week. We stayed with friends in Silverthorne, Colorado, and we were able to ski for a couple of hours at Copper Mountain. We parked the car at the bottom of a chair lift and got right on the mountain with our Ikon Passes. The hill to get back to the car was a Black Diamond (advanced runs). Our friend was confident I could make it down to the car but I was too nervous and didn’t chance it the first day. But on the second they sneakily took me down. I saw the sign but I told myself to relax and just go slow. I remember looking up at what I had just skied and couldn’t believe it. But once I was down, I was so excited to have skied a black diamond!! I really had no desire to do it, but it was fun and I didn’t fall! Thank you, friends, for pushing me.

Steamboat Springs Take II

We spent the next week in Steamboat Springs. I did a few more black diamonds, but by the end of the week, my legs were so tired. Therefore, I decided to play it safe and stay on the blues. It was a great week but very different. Usually, during ski weeks we have a meet and greet party on Mondays, team dinner on Tuesdays, a theme party on Wednesdays, and an awards dinner on Thursdays for anyone who races. This year, many teams stayed in their condos with the people they were comfortable with or did apres ski outside. There were no parties and only our team went to dinner. It was definitely a different experience, but fun all the same.

Deer Valley Take III

In March, the airlines usually hold an international ski and snowboard week. It bounces between North America and Europe. This year it got canceled because of Covid. Our team decided to have our own ski week in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. Other airlines decided to join us so we had a group of about 24 people. My husband and I were going to meet in Denver and ride up with friends from Silverthorne. Well, we had to go to Plan B which entailed me flying to Denver, my girlfriend, Kelly, picking me up at the airport, and us driving eight hours to Park City, Utah. A huge snowstorm was coming and we didn’t want to take the chance of getting caught in it and not making our ski week. Plus, we didn’t really want to try driving in a snowstorm.

Kelly and I had the best time driving. We drove her husband’s truck which is a stick shift. I love driving sticks so I was super excited. We had great weather and Taylor Swift on the radio! It was a long day but we made it and stayed at a friend’s house, which was beautiful. It was extremely generous of them to let us stay, and we really appreciated it. The next day we did a little Workout and then went to Deer Valley to ski. She had never been there, and I had never skied without my husband so it was just the two of us and we had to pay extra attention to where we were and how to get back down the mountain. We had a great time!

The next day my husband flew into Salt Lake City and he and another pilot Ubered up to the house. We all got ready and met other friends on the mountain. We had another beautiful bluebird day at Deer Valley. One of our friends, Lisa, used to be a ski instructor so she gave me a few pointers on how to become a better, more confident skier, which I really appreciate.

Jackson Hole

The next day we drove 5 hours to Jackson Hole, Wyoming. I was so excited to see a new state and another beautiful mountain resort. The views you see on top of the mountain are breathtaking. Not everyone is willing to dress in cold gear, put on snow pants and skies, and go up the hill to see them. I, for one, am glad my husband pushed me to learn a new skill that enabled me to see such beautiful sights. I am beyond blessed.

Jackson Hole was a great little town. The four of us had lunch at the Million Dollar Cowboy Restaurant and then headed to the resort. We stayed on the mountain at the Alpenhof. Jackson Hole is a steeper mountain and up at the top, there are no greens. The first day our friend had us traversing across Black Diamonds. We were trying to find a blue but I was not ready for this and my whole body was shaking. I was deathly afraid I was going to slip and tumble all the way down the mountain. We eventually got to a spot where I took off my skies and turned around. I could not go any further. My beautiful husband turned around with me as well as another couple. We eventually found a blue and decided to ski there.

The week was wonderful. Great people, great skiers, great times. On St. Patrick’s Day, my husband and two friends, Sean and Lisa, surprised me with t-shirts that said “St. Gram’s Day”. Everyone in our group had the shirt on and unzipped to show bright green and Gram’s beautiful smiling face. It was the most amazing, thoughtful gift. Thank you wonderful friends for thinking of it and participating in it. Some of the skiers didn’t even know Gram but they heard such wonderful things about her that they were blessed to be a part of it. That night in town, several people asked who Gram was, and I shared my blog with them. I am hoping I now have followers in Wyoming!

So here I am on day 28 of skiing. I am learning to love the sport. I love the friends I have made and the people I have met by being a part of the ski club. I love being a woman in my 40’s and learning a new sport and being healthy and athletic enough to participate. So stay young, stay strong, be inspired, and just go for it!

In Pilot's Wife

Dreams

March 16, 2021 No Comments

My husband is a huge Sammy Hagar fan. He’s seen him several times in concert over the years and has taken me a few times. The first time I saw Sammy was in California on the beach. We met up with Jeff’s cousins and had a blast! The weather was perfect. We also found our way into the VIP area for some free drinks and food, which was a great treat.

The next time I saw Sammy was in Cabo San Lucas at his annual birthday bash. We went to meet up with one of Jeff’s buddies there. We enjoyed some time by the pool and the all-inclusive resort. Jeff and I did some dancing in the evenings and saw Sammy play at Cabo Wabo. It was a small intimate venue.

Once I realized Sammy used to be the lead singer for Van Halen I found several songs I knew and loved. Therefore, before the concert, I downloaded some Van Halen songs and started listening. My favorite song became “Dreams.” I don’t know why, but I love that song. I love the words, the meaning, and especially the ending which goes like this…. “So baby dry your eyes, save all the tears you’ve cried, ohh, that’s what dreams are made of, Ohh, baby we belong in a world that must be strong, ohh, that’s what dreams are made of, and in the end on dreams we will depend, cause that’s what love is made of”

Even though I am the worst singer in the world, I LOVE singing. When we first installed the Sonos system in our house, I turned the music on from my bed and turned it up soooo loud and sang along. Yep, you guessed it, the very first song ever played on our system was “Dreams.” I was so happy to have it playing throughout the house. When I have a few adult beverages, the tunes become louder and higher as does my voice!

It really is quite awful but for some reason, I go into my own little world when this song comes on, and I pretend I am a Rockstar. I feel bad for my poor husband and friends who have to endure this performance over and over. But I am extremely grateful for some of my girlfriends who come into my world and rock out with me! One friend, we can call her “Fun Amy”, and I dance our faces off giggling, laughing, and singing at the top of our lungs. Fun Amy is my karaoke partner, my dance on the bar partner, my dance in the middle of the Key West Express partner, and my dance on the kitchen island then jump into the pool partner.

My other girlfriend, Kelly, also enjoys singing Dreams with me. We have sung on a barstool together, in her husband’s truck, and at ski week. This song and these friendships mean the world to me. Yes, when I truly think about it, I know I should be embarrassed and should never open my mouth to sing (or dance for that matter) again, but every once in a while you need to realize life is too short, be wild, be happy, and have some fun!

In Adventures with Gram

Losing Gram

March 2, 2021 No Comments

Last Wednesday we got the call that we had been anticipating, but never wanted to answer. Gram was unresponsive at 4:40 that morning. We had just made arrangements to bring her back to our home. She hadn’t been eating, drinking, or really talking for about a week. On Tuesday, we had decided to bring her home in Hospice care to live out her final days by the pool, her favorite spot. As you read in Missing Gram, we put her into Senior Living in November 2020.

The hospital bed was in place waiting for her, but I guess she didn’t want to be a burden. She always said that to us, which of course we never thought she was. I guess she didn’t want to put us through having to watch her go. When we left Tuesday, I hugged her so tight. I told her we were bringing her home. I told her she could come to sit by the pool and sleep with Kuma, her favorite feline. But I guess she wanted it another way.

It hurts my heart so much that she is gone. I knew the day would come, but over the past few years, she has defied death so many times that we thought she would live forever! This woman…so strong, so mighty, so inspiring. She is in heaven now dancing the polka with her hubby (and possibly giving him a piece of her mind ) It won’t be the same. We are sad about our loss, but we are excited for her reunion with her husband, son, son-in-law, and granddaughter. Gram, please tell them we love and miss them.

I am grateful that the road I took led me to caregiving for Gram. It led me to my husband, wonderful friends, and amazing adventures. I will never regret one moment with her. She told me once I was like the sister she never had, and she was my best friend, always there to listen (whether she wanted to or not).

Although she is gone and I won’t have any new adventures with her, I plan on continuing to write about our past outings. Even though she isn’t on this earth anymore she will forever be in my heart inspiring me and pushing me to do the right thing and live life to the fullest.

Viewing and the funeral will be in Pennsylvania on March 5 and 6. Click here for details. We will also do a celebration of life in Fort Myers, Florida in April.

In Family

Friends

February 23, 2021 2 Comments

I can’t express to you how amazing my friends are. Family is one thing, and I am blessed with a small, close immediate family and a huge, wonderful extended family. But my friends’ network is beyond words. They always say quality over quantity, but I believe that somehow I got both. I have friends that I have had since birth (literally our moms were in the same hospital room), since elementary school, since high school, since college, since California, since Virginia, since Thailand, since back to Pennsylvania when I started caring for Gram, and now since Florida. It seems that the older I get and different life circumstances occur, it seems the more wonderful people I meet.

From elementary school, I have a core group of friends. Although our paths took different turns, we managed to stay in touch. It didn’t matter if we saw each other every month or once a year, we would get together and it was as if no time had passed. We support each other through beautiful weddings and some heartbreaks. Some of us had children and some were lucky enough to inherit stepchildren. Some of us stayed in the small town where we grew up and others decided to leave. But these women and men have been there for me through good and bad times. And I can’t say enough about their support of gram and me over the past five years. I also have a boxful of notes from some of them from fifth grade forward. I can’t wait for us to get together to read through some of these over some wine one of these days.

Then I was off to college. There I met another group of fantastic ladies. We were from all different states and even though we are now spread all over the globe, and we don’t keep in touch as often as we should, we have a bond that remains. When we do get together or do a Zoom call, it brings my heart so much joy to see their beautiful faces and talk about their children and careers. Again, some decided to have children, some didn’t, some have been married, some have suffered the loss of a husband, some have been divorced and some have long-time partners. Although the differences in paths mean some loss of communication and closeness, we continue to cheer each other on from afar. And when we can meet up, it’s like we go back to those days sitting outside our apartment in college having coffee talk about the night before.

I have another group of friends that I met in Virginia through my education career and by participating in social sports. Richmond has some great adult league social sports you can play such as kickball, football, and wiffleball. We had so much fun playing these sports especially when we won a few championships! Although we don’t stay in touch as often as we should, these folks are always willing to help each other out. Receiving a text out of the blue from one of these special people always makes my heart happy. We may not talk or see each other often, but they all pass through my mind and my heart more often than they probably know.

When I went to Thailand, I met two very special ladies in Richmond before we left. We bonded right away because of our sense of adventure and the fear of the unknown. Once we got to Thailand, we met 30 more people who all had similar interests in traveling and teaching children. I am Facebook friends with many of these people, and recently I reconnected with one wonderful woman who can bring a smile to anyone’s face with her cuteness.

When I moved back to my hometown to provide care and companionship to Gram, I was excited to see my hometown girlfriends and their families. Whenever I would go to our small town sporting events, it was like a high school reunion. It was so much fun! We all had many things going on, but we got together as often as we could. Then I joined CrossFit Meadville and made another group of fantastic friends. I love that there are so many badass women in this gym. Most of these women are married, but in the beginning, they took me on as the odd wheel, and I loved it. When I introduced them to Jeff, they embraced him just as well. This crew enjoys Sunday Fun Days and brewery tours. They also love coming to Florida in the winter to visit. And we love spending our summers in Pennsylvania near them.

Once Gram and I started spending winters in Florida, we met more married couples that Jeff has been friends with for years. Friends he has met through his work or through his sons’ school or sporting events. I love these couples, and although I am still working on developing woman relationships in this area, I enjoy hanging out with them and going to dinner.

Another group of friends I adore is our ski club friends. Jeff started taking me skiing in 2018, and I met some very amazing people while skiing. Most of these friends are in the airline industry which is very intriguing to me. These friends come to ski weeks from all over the United States, and now I have friends to visit all over the country. It is amazing to me to keep meeting such generous and fun-loving people. It truly makes me so happy and makes me believe in the good of this world.

Lastly, I have a group of friends that I have met because of my grandparents. Many of my grandfather’s past basketball players send cards, messages, letters and through these, I have tried to keep the relationship going with Gram. Every time we meet up with someone from the old college, she has the biggest smile on her face. She always knows where they live and usually what they are doing. It amazes me. My husband and I love hearing the stories about my grandpa and how much he meant to them as a coach as well as the life lessons they learned through him. We miss him so much, and I love that he had such an impact on these gentlemen and their families.

This post is for you, my friends. You all know who you are and please know that I love and cherish each one of you. You made my transitions in each area of my life bearable and enjoyable. I am so blessed to be able to count on so many of you for anything, and I hope you feel the same about us. It makes my heart so warm to know that you are all out there. And it makes my heart happy to know how much you love and care about sweet Gram.

In Pilot's Wife

How We Met- Part 1

February 8, 2021 No Comments

As you read in, The Broken Hip, Gram broke her hip in December 2016 but by February she was making great strides. We left the snow for the sun and ended up at her condo in Fort Myers.

Since I had just started CrossFit, I googled CrossFit gyms near the condo. I found a few and decided on CrossFit Thoroughbreds. I took a few CrossFit classes and met some great people and instructors. It was my first time dropping into other boxes, and I fell in love with the CrossFit community. On Saturday, February 11, 2017, I decided to try Boot Camp. After class, I met two amazing people who would significantly impact my life. One would later become my husband and the other one gave me the tools and the support to start this blog. (Their stories of “how we met” will be published this week. Stay Tuned!)

I arrived at Boot Camp a little early and was stretching and warming up. I observed a man and woman having a conversation about what seemed to be some kitchen renovations and possibly an ex. They both talked fairly loud so it was easy to eavesdrop 🙂 They seemed to be very good friends who had a history of being there for each other. I was intrigued by their conversation and wanted to know more about both of them. The guy was good looking, and he seemed like he was about my age, but I can never tell. Plus, he had on a hat and you never know what’s underneath that! They both had great figures and looked like they were dedicated athletes.

During the workout, they were partners while I was in another group. I remember it being a pretty tough workout with push-ups and running. I also remember looking out of the corner of my eye to see how good of an athlete this guy was. I found they both worked hard and were impressive in their moves.

After class, the woman, who was sitting next to the man, said hi to me and asked if I was new to town. I explained I was only there for about two weeks and was taking care of my grandmother. I told them I had friends coming to town that night so they gave me some suggestions on where to take them. The guy mentioned he had some time off from work and wanted to know if I wanted to meet him the next day and go to the beach. Because I am a Yes Woman I didn’t hesitate to say it sounded like a fabulous idea. We chatted a few more minutes and before we parted ways, Eleina, the amazing wing woman, said how can he contact you without your number. I laughed and probably rolled my eyes. In the end, we exchanged numbers and the rest is history 🙂

I still find it hard to believe that quitting my job in 2015 led me back to my hometown which led me to caregiving for Gram which led me to CrossFit which in turn led me to my prince. I would not have met my husband if I hadn’t taken that leap of faith. And I wouldn’t have found him if God hadn’t placed me right where I needed to be at that moment.

This week is dedicated to our story of how we met four years ago this week. No, it wasn’t love at first sight and no, we didn’t start dating right away because we were in two different states. But we met and that was just the beginning.

Jeff, my husband, and Eleina, the wing woman will be writing posts Tuesday and Thursday of how our first meeting went from their perspectives. Check them out!