Driving into our childhood neighborhood yesterday to visit a neighbor, I told myself over and over, "Remember the good times, remember the good times - don't be sad, don't focus on what's gone."

It didn't work.

I knocked on the door of our neighbor, Miss Helen, across the street, and before the door opened, I was already crying as I stared at my parents' house. That happens when I venture onto Fox Hill Road in Perry Hall - our childhood neighborhood from 1968 to 2014. The house is difficult to stare at, because I expect Papà Louie to be tinkering around in his garage and Mamma Gina to be standing at her stove in her beloved kitchen, whipping up some scrumptious Italian dish. I want to march over, walk in the front door, and see them. I want to hug them and love on them.

But I cannot have that any longer.

And now my sister, Paula, has gone with them - and that's still quite unbelievable. She was the first person to whom I wanted to text these photos.

But I cannot have that either.

Fox Hill Road was a super fun neighborhood with LOTS of kids to hang with, including my Dragonfly Debbie, also in heaven. We all played together - inside, outside, in the woods, at the Perry Hall Pool, in our forts, on our bikes, in our yards, in our basements. We grew up together, attended high school together, rode the bus together, played spin-the-bottle together.

My brother Danny and I were in the neighborhood to visit Miss Helen - age 96 and sharp as a puppy's teeth. We paid our respects to her on the passing of her husband, sweet Mr. Earl, 98. They were like second parents to us. Fantastic neighbors - and besties with our parents. Soooooo many good times. Over lunch, we laughed sharing stories 'til tears ran down our faces.

Nothing stays the same in life, snippeteers - NOTHING. Blessedly, many of us hold BEAUTIFUL-HAPPY-FUN-TREASURED memories of an era ... in some brick house, on some street, in some neighborhood. If you have that, you are lucky.

And having that is WAY more important than weeping over what is no longer.

Don't cry because it's over ... smile because it happened.

"Love your listing of all the things that we particularly do (as women) and indeed it all comes with a price tag. I have spent the last 5 days or so getting my ducks back in some semblance of a row after our youngest son's wedding. Now I am preparing our summer home for a string of guests in the next month or so - sheets and towels, sheets and towels sheets and towels - wash, rinse repeat (literally).

Both scenarios are such blessings but it does come with a price tag. I am grateful for a very relaxing long weekend to just putter.

Thanks for always verbalizing many things I think about or experience, and giving them language. I always have a 'me too' response every week. Cheers to our blessings."

~ Monica in Maryland

"So right you are! I learned in rehab that being in the wheelchair all the time was my own doing. I wasn’t listening to the therapist when she said I have to do the work. So I fell. Again and again. My bad. Now I’m home again from rehab. My son says my attitude is much better. Hope he’s right. I try to do what I can by myself. My house is a mess (thanks to my son; he lives here, too). I don’t care. Mike does a LOT already! I don’t - or at least try not to - say 'can’t' just because it’s easier to let him do it. I WILL TRY! I can’t walk now because I didn’t listen when I could have. It is my own doing."

~ Arlene in Florida

"I wish I could tell you that once you 'officially' retire, it's the land of leisure, BUT I'd be lying. My appointment book is already half-filled for June and while I'm officially retired, I am crazy busy as an organizer! More and more, I am specializing in downsizing. We have STUFF - lots of it - and the decisions go on and on."

~ Melody

"Another excellent Snippet and so very true! Grazie mille."

~ Phyllis in Maryland



Mrs. Parks, a sixth-grade Science teacher, asked her class, "Which part of the

human body increases to 10 times its size when stimulated?"

No one answered until little Mary stood up. She says angrily, "Mrs. Parks, you should not be asking sixth graders a question like that! I'm going to tell my parents, and they will tell the principal, and the principal will fire you!"

With a sneer on her face, little Mary sat down. Mrs. Parks ignored her and again asked the question, "Which body part increases to 10 times its size when stimulated?"

Little Mary's mouth fell open as she looked around at her classmates and whispered, "Boy, is Mrs. Parks gonna get in big trouble!"

The teacher continued to ignore Mary, and asked the class, "Anyone know?"

Billy stood up. "The body part that increases to 10 times its size when stimulated is the pupil of the eye."

"Very good, Billy," said Mrs. Parks. She then turned to Mary. "As for you, young lady. First, you have a dirty mind. Secondly, obviously you didn't read your Science homework; and thirdly, one day you're going to be very, very disappointed."