12Oct 2017 by CJ

A real-life superhero saves the day

Love & Relationships
When I was a little kid growing up in the early 1980’s, I remember being fascinated with the fictional superheroes on television and in comic books who possessed extraordinary magical powers. For me there was Batman, whom I first discovered while watching re-runs of Adam West prancing around in tights in the 1960’s action/adventure show. As cheesy as the program might have seemed, there was something alluring about “The Bat Cave” and “The Bat Mobile” – not to mention the neat tricks he had hiding up his sleeves.  I even remember one Halloween, excitedly dressing up as my favorite caped crusader - one of the few Halloweens when I actually wanted to keep my costume on! But my allegiance to the superhero community didn’t stop with Batman. Other favorites included…
Read More
03Oct 2017 by CJ

A memory of the past is found in the photographs we keep

Love & Relationships
“A strange thing is a memory, and hope; one looks backward, and the other forward; one is of today, the other of tomorrow. Memory is history recorded in our brain, memory is a painter, it paints pictures of the past and of the day.”  - Grandma Moses Nowhere is a memory better captured than in a photograph. For some families, their legacy in pictures is chronicled in hard-covered, highly organized photo albums, haphazardly tossed in shoe boxes and old dresser draws, or arranged in clearly defined folders on local hard drives. Regardless of how you choose to store and ultimately retrieve these photographs, they provide you with a memory, trigger an emotion and remind you of those who’ve sacrificed so much so that the next generation could prosper. My father-in-law…
Read More
28Sep 2017 by CJ

Ordinary day – who would you choose to spend it with?

Love & Relationships
“It has taken awhile, but I certainly do know it now ­­– the most wonderful gift I had, the gift I finally learned to cherish above all else, was the gift of all those perfectly ordinary days.” - Katrina Kenison If you had the opportunity to spend one ordinary day with someone from your past or your present, who would it be? For me, it’s a person I’ve never had the privilege to meet – a man whose lineage I carry around with me each and every day. His name was Louis Melillo – my grandfather. He was only 55 when he passed away from cancer, just a few days after my 1st birthday. My grandmother used to always tell me that he refused to let my birthday be forever overshadowed…
Read More
08Sep 2017 by CJ

Grandparents Day is Sunday, September 10

Love & Relationships
Grandparents Day is Sunday, September 10. Since 1978, Grandparents Day has been a secular holiday commemorating the important contributions seniors have contributed throughout history. And no contribution is more important than the enduring relationships many have shared with their grandchildren. I enjoy looking at old pictures - especially black and white images of family members I’ve never had the opportunity to know beyond stories passed down through the generations. Unfortunately, sometimes all we’re left with are dozens of family photographs, which are missing the narrative that makes them come alive. And while history books have aptly captured prominent times in our nation’s illustrious past, once the elders in our own families are gone, so are the stories and the glories of our own legacy. My last living grandparent, my grandmother…
Read More
29Aug 2017 by CJ
Connections are hard to come by, but worth holding on to

Connections are hard to come by, but worth holding on to

Love & Relationships
“I define connection as the energy that exists between people when they feel seen, heard, and valued; when they can give and receive without judgment; and when they derive sustenance and strength from the relationship.” ― Brené Brown As an awkward, insecure teenager, it wasn’t uncommon for me to spend a Friday or Saturday night alone – driving around listening to music as a means to busy myself from the loneliness. Inevitably, my car always managed to find its way to my grandparent’s house. The draperies covering a large picture window in their living room seemed to almost glow – no doubt caused by the television set, which was obviously on. This was a clear sign they were home before pulling into the driveway and ringing the doorbell. The hour was irrelevant;…
Read More