MarthaWilliams

We lived on Williamson Ave.

in Bloomfield, NJ when I was a child. It was a very friendly neighborhood and I had lots of friends. We would play all the usual outside childhood games; hide & seek, hopscotch, roller skating, dodgeball and, of course, we spent a lot of time riding our bikes. In the winter, we would go sledding down Williamson Ave. while keeping an eye out for cars! When I was entering the 6th. grade, we moved to Glen Ridge and I lived there until I got married.

Our next door neighbors were very nice and friendly. We lived on Williamson Ave. in Bloomfield, NJ on the second floor of a two-family house on a corner so the neighbor on one side was across the street. I had a friend who lived in the house behind us that I played with quite a lot. Mrs. Meyers who lived next door used to babysit Anne and I occasionally. A wonderful neighborhood to live in as a child. We moved to Glen Ridge when I was in the 6th. grade.

Yes, we did move to Glen Ridge, NJ to a single family house when I was in 6th. grade. The school was just a couple of blocks away from my home which was very convenient. I did feel like an outsider at first as most of the kids had been in the school system since kindergarten and had formed friendships. Fortunately, it didn’t take me too long to find friends which I kept through high school and beyond.

Childhood memories- I have many happy memories, my favorite ones involved playing and being outside. We lived in a great, friendly neighborhood with lots of kids. We played all kinds of games including, of course, hide and seek and kick the can. I remember sleigh riding down Williamson Ave. in the winter and there wasn't a lot of traffic on that street so it was really fun. I also had a friend who played with paper dolls with me-a favorite inside thing to do. My mom would call out the window when she wanted me home-sometimes I would pretend not to hear her!

I enjoyed playing with paper dolls with a friend in my neighborhood. I also had a "Tony" doll- think I named her Susan and she had an extensive wardrobe! I also loved coloring books and I've taken that up again. As I got older, I really enjoyed roller skating and bike riding. Anything to get me outside!

I'll start with where I bought the candy. "Sam's" convenience store was located across the street from my elementary school. Dad used to work there part-time when he was in Jr. High school. He even made the ice cream sodas. He may have waited on me!

Ok, back to the candy I liked. Licorice, Necco wafers, 3 Musketeers bars, corn candy, candy cigarettes and they sold small wax bottles filled with flavored water inside--real healthy, huh?!

My favorite candy now is "York Peppermint Patties". I buy them by the bag- - fun memories.

My weekends were pretty predictable- chores and shopping on Sat. of course. Sunday we went to church and I attended Sunday school. We went to an Episcopal church until we moved to Glen Ridge when I was in the 6th. grade where we started going to a Presbyterian church in Bloomfield.

Often on Sunday afternoons, we would go for, yes, a Sunday drive to no where sometimes stopping for dinner at a Howard Johnson's restaurant.

It was truly a day of rest. I didn't have grandparents nearby or we would of seen them on Sundays occasionally I'm sure.

Traditions are a great thing- hope you make your own.

I remember going to Ocean Beach, NJ for many years where my parents would rent a 2-bedroom cottage and it was very close to your next door neighbors. You could also walk to the beach.. The funny thing was that they never had a reservation- dad would stop, mom would go in and inquire re the price and availability. If it was deemed too expensive, they moved on to the next beach community until they finally found something they liked and the price was right! They were very relaxing vacations and I think that's where I acquired my love for the ocean. To this day, it's my favorite place to be!

We also would visit my paternal grandparents retirement home in Glen Gardner, NJ in the summertime where we would swim in the pond and climb the apple trees and explore in the barn- lots of interesting stuff in there!

I have so many happy memories of these times spent with my family

My maternal grandmother, Nettie Smith Keyes, lived in

Waterbury, Conn. when I was growing up. When we visited her, I would stay with her in her apartment and we would have fun together. We played cards-that table is now our kitchen table. Napkins reside where the cards used to be. I remember staying up late- my mom never knew! She also owned a gift shop with a friend and I remember trying on the jewelry that they sold in the he shop. I always looked forward to our trips to Waterbury. She eventually moved to NJ where she lived near my parents.

My paternal grandparents, George and Sarah Booth, retired to a home in Glen Gardner, NJ on around 125 acres which included a large stone house, a guest house, a large barn, a pond, a vegetable garden and an apple orchard. They were warm and friendly people and we always had a good time with them. I especially loved swimming in the pond and picking apples from the orchard. I remember using an apple peeler/corer that was used to prepare apples for apple pies. My daughter-in-Law, Charlotte now has this tool. We visited them several times a year and I have wonderful memories of these visits.

My mom was a kind and loving person. She didn't work outside the home- very typical during the 40's and 50's. She had rules but she wasn't overly strict and I knew what was expected of me. I was allowed a lot of freedom and I have great memories of spending time with my friends indoors and out. I also remember helping her with chores. We lived on the second floor of a two- family house in Bloomfield, NJ for the first 11 years of my life and then we moved to Glen Ride to a single family home. I was a happy child and I lived in a happy home.

My dad was a kind, loving person and he loved his daughters dearly. One of my favorite memories is that he loved using his 8mm movie camera at family celebrations and other events. It was his hobby and he was good at it. His numerous tapes have been converted to a CD and our son's have copies too. Our son Chris has the projector he showed them on as he loved helping grandpa with this. I believe Chris has a picture of him doing just that.

This is one of many favorite memories of him.

I smile when I think of my parents. Their relationship was very good. They were kind people who loved their family and they lived near their daughters and grandchildren their whole lives. My dad was the bread winner and mom kept the house. They also did a lot of volunteer work at church and throughout the community. Mom was a volunteer at the local hospital and they delivered "Meals on Wheels" together. Dad was a regular usher at church and mom was a Deacon. They were always doing for others. She was a great help to me when Chris and Ken were born and she continued to help us over the years when needed. Chris and Ken have fun memories of times spent with them. I was so fortunate to have such wonderful parents

Interesting question- I think they were a combination of both.

I knew what was expected of me and I knew my boundaries. I stretched that occasionally like the time I sprained my ankle playing outside and didn't go home until I could barely walk! I was having too much fun! Good manners were stressed and social graces were an important part of my upbringing. I had chores, of course and I did receive a small allowance. My father was a very even tempered man although I do remember him getting frustrated with me while trying to help me with my geometry! I also remember I was not to trespass on our neighbor's property without their permission. They were wonderful parents and I think of them often.

Lots of happy memories of my mom. One of my favorites is that she was a doting grandmother and a great help to me when Chris and Ken were young. She would come to our home and say, "now what can I do for you today". It was a blessing having her in our lives.

She also volunteered at a local hospital as a "Candy Striper", the name a floor volunteer was given. She was also a Deacon at their church for many years. I can hear her saying, "we're here to help others" and she did

I learned a lot from my parents. They were very kind people and they believed in helping others whenever they could and they did. They also taught me manners, to always be respectful of others and to be kind. I remember writing lots of thank you notes when receiving gifts. A "strange" rule they had was I was not allowed to roller skate on Sundays as that was a day of rest! I learned social skills from them too as they loved having people over for a meal and we had company fairly often. I have wonderful, happy memories of them.

I will first amend the question to say,

what did I admire about my dad as he passed in the year 2000.

He was a kind and caring person and his family was the center of his being. I remember him saying, "my girls are my hobby". Actually, his other hobby was taking 8mm movies and he found any excuse to do so!. He just loved doing this and Chris liked to help him with the projector- Chris now has the projector and a picture of him with grandpa.

The tapes been converted to two CD's and Chris and Ken also have copies.

He also loved to barbecue- charcoal of course- and I have lots of memories of gatherings in our backyard and, of course, there are movies documenting these events.

I was lucky- although Ken always said, "luck is for rabbits", so I'll amend that to say, I was so fortunate to have such a great father who I admired for many reasons.

This question made me smile.

The first story I think off is how he loved to take 8mm movies which I had mentioned in a previous question. It was one of his favorite things to do.

Another story I can think of is when I took him to Mountainside Hosp. in Montclair, NJ to have his pacemaker checked out. As we were leaving, he spotted a liquid oxygen tanker at the rear of the hospital. Well, he made a beeline for it and started chatting with the driver telling him that he used to design these for a living. The man was so polite and listened intently. It was such a happy moment for him- and me. When there was a lull in the conversation, I suggested to dad that we need to let the driver get on with his day. Dad left with a big smile on his face- I did too.

Well, I only have one sister, Anne Russotto and she's five years younger than me and yes, we did get along although when we were kids the age difference was more evident. Also, I got married at age 20 and, in her words, left her as an only child. I never thought of it that way.

Today we have a great relationship and really enjoy each other's company. She lives in NJ and we keep in touch and we see each other about twice a year. We share family news and concerns and joys- exactly what families should do

First of all, I only have one sibling, a sister, Anne Russotto and she's five years younger than me.

I remember her saying to me when I married at age 20 and left home, she said she felt like an only child. I never thought of it that way.

Now the difference in age doesn't matter and we have, I think, a close relationship. We keep in touch via email, text or phone pretty regularly. She is a kind, caring person who loves her family and she's a doting grandmother to her grandson Bobby who is 2-1/2 years old. Daughter Jenna is having another baby in Nov. - another grandchild for Anne to love and adore.

I'm very thankful to have her in my life and I think she feels the same about me.

Good question. I always looked forward to family vacations at the Jersey shore and Cape Cod and I loved going out to my grandparents home in Glen Gardner which I had talked about in a previous posting.

Also, every Thanksgiving, we would go to Glastonbury, Conn. to celebrate with my mother's cousin Sperry Norway and his family and also several of my mother's aunts and uncles were there so we were a large group. We would stay overnight and go home the next day.

My godmother lived in NYC with her sister and we would visit with them several times a year. She was a good friend to my mom.

These are the times that first come to mind. I'm sure I could probably come up with a lot more as we were a happy family and we enjoyed each other's company.

Is it ever different today - where to begin.

First of all, our parents didn't have computers or cell (smart) phones to take up their time. The pace of life was slower or at least it was for my family. My mom stayed home and Dad was the breadwinner. Life was pretty predictable and we knew what to expect. Neighbors knew each other and sometimes socialized together. We would go to church Sun. mornings and then take a Sun. drive and sometimes stop at a Howard Johnson's res. for supper.

The stores were closed that day too. It was considered a day of rest. All in all, it was a nice way to grow up.

Family life today appears to be at a much faster pace and Sun. are now taken up with kid's sports and shopping, etc since everything is now open on Sun.- not a day of rest for sure. Every generation will make their own memories based on their experiences.

I had a couple of boyfriends before meeting Bill but I wasn't really in love with them, so, Bill was my first time.

I was 18 and a Senior in HS and we met after he had been away in the Navy for three years. For me there was an instant attraction. I think it took Bill a little longer! We started dating and he even took me to my HS Senior Prom in May of 1961. We dated for two years after that and on June 22nd., 1963, we were married and we will be celebrating our 60th. anniversary in 2023 Hard to believe- time flies when you're having fun!

My first date with Bill was lots of fun. My family belonged to the Pres. Church on the Green in Bloomfield, NJ and I was involved in a youth fellowship group there. The group decided to go on a hayride and I invited him to go with me- I can't remember the location. I know it was in early Nov. of 1960- my senior year of high school. We hit it off right away. I think I was smitten with him before he was of me! That started our relationship. He even took me to my Senior Prom in June of 1961 at the Women's Club in Glen Ridge. That was the beginning of a partnership that has lasted 59 years and counting

I went to my high school senior prom with Bill It was held at the

Women's Club on Ridgewood Ave. in Glen Ridge, New Jersey. That was the beginning of a loving relationship that has lasted for almost 59 years.

Sat., June 22 , 1963, at 2PM was my wedding day. The weather was perfect-sunny and very breezy as one can see from pictures in our album.. The Rev. James Emerson married us in Westminster Pres. Church in Bloomfield, N.J. My attendants were my sister Anne, my sister-in-law Marilyn and a friend, Linda Boothe. We had our reception at the church in Jarvie Hall with cookies and punch and, of course, the wedding cake. At one point during the celebration, I threw my bouquet and Bill tossed my garter. My cousin Charlie Booth caught it! All very traditional and fun. Hard to believe that was 59 years ago. Time flys when you’re having fun.

Life in the 60's was a very busy time for me. I graduated high school in 1961, went to Berkeley Secretarial School for a year, got a job and then married Bill on June 22nd., 1963. We decided to save for a house before starting a family. In Sept. of 1966, we purchased our first home in Bloomfield, NJ. I was pregnant and Chris was born on March 21, 1967. I was a stay at home mom and my mother, who lived nearby in Glen Ridge, would come over during the day to help out in any way she could. Grandma Williams would visit on Thursdays so Chris got lots of attention! His brother Ken was born on Feb. 1st., 1970. We lived in that home for 10 years and then moved to Cedar Grove, NJ.

I was so happy- Christopher John Williams was born on March 21st., 1967 in Mountainside Hosp. in Montclair, NJ. and he weighed 7 lbs.

We brought him home to our first house in Bloomfield, NJ. He was an easy, happy baby and he loved his naps--maybe he still does! Grandma Booth would come over during the day to help out any way she could and to enjoy her new grandson. Grandma Williams would come over on Thursdays so he got lots of attention. It was a very happy time and little did he know that he would have a brother 3 years later.

When I was 30, I was a busy mom to Chris, 6 and Ken, 3. We lived in our first home in Bloomfield, NJ. and it was a happy time for me as I was able to be home full-time with them. I really appreciated being able to do that. Also, grandma and grandpa Booth lived about 15 min. away in Glen Ridge and they were a big part of our lives and a great help at times too. Also, grandma Williams would visit on Thursdays to enjoy the boys. How fortunate Chris and Ken we're to have four grandparents in their lives. It was a blessing to have them nearby

Oh wow, that put a smile on my face. So many favorite, happy memories of their childhood. We lived in Bloomfield, NJ in our first house when they were very young and I was able to stay home with them. They were always full of energy and loved being outside as much as possible. Chris liked his bike and Ken loved his big wheel. Bet Ken sometimes wishes he still had one! They had friends in the neighborhood too which was good. My parents lived in Glen Ridge not far from us so Chris and Ken would see them fairly often. Lots of memories there for sure. What happens at grandma's house stays at grandma's house.. Our family vacations every summer to Cape Cod and then to Bethany Beach De. conger up happy memories of he boys enjoying the beach and the ocean. Sometimes their 3 male cousins from Somerset, NJ would be there too in De. at the same time we were- five boys together can conjure up all kinds of mischief! When Chris and Ken were older, we would haul a small sailboat up to Cayuga Lake in Canoga, NY. for a couple of weeks-lots of fun memories doing things with the Eltings'.

I smile when I think of their childhood and all their adventures. I hope they do too

The thought makes me smile of course.

The times spent with them were special and included playing games with them and going in the pool in the summertime. They were always happy to see us. A special “grandma treat”, after being out to a museum or park, was buying ice cream for all! I still do that when we’re together.

I still text with Rhiannon occasionally and she always responds back to me.

Interesting question. First thing that comes to mind is having good communication skills. That being said, misunderstandings can occur when communication breaks down between individuals. Being a good listener is also very important and showing empathy and support when needed is essential for a relationship to thrive. Re my marriage, we have fun together and it's important to keep your sense of humor as life can get more complicated as you age. Don't take yourself too seriously!

Being near the ocean is my favorite place to be for sure in the summer.

Growing up, my parents took us to the Jersey shore- Ocean Beach or Ocean City I believe for a week. We also vacationed on Cape Cod and they rented a house in Brewster near the ocean. My mother would sit under the umbrella all covered up so not to get sunburned. I, of course, would work on my tan.

We go to Ocean City in June around our anniversary and stay at the Dunes Hotel for three nights. We could sit on our balcony and watch the ocean- heaven. A boardwalk was nearby for getting exercise.

I also just like to be outdoors in the summer- unless it's in the 90's which it is today!

The first one that comes to mind is a camping trip we took in 1976 to Silver Bay on the eastern shore of Va. in Aug.! Yes, it was hot but a good time was had by all. Our dog Brownie was with us and we brought our canoe. We had a good time fishing from the canoe- can't remember the kind of fish we caught but that was our dinner some nights. One day dad caught a shark but he quickly cut the line before hauling it into the canoe.

We were also close to farm land so we would "glean" the fields for potatoes They had just harvested them so the soil was soft with the aroma of new potatoes . I think we stayed there a week- it certainly was memorable and and our camping trips were always fun. This family loves being outside in nature !

The first place that comes to mind is Bermuda. We've been there three times and I would gladly go again. The last time was for our 50th. Anniversary, ten years ago, and we took a cruise out of Baltimore in June.

The Island itself is so beautiful and the beaches are so pristine. There are beautiful flowers everywhere too and the people are so friendly. Hamilton is a wonderful city and one of our favorite places was the Hog Penny Pub for food and drink. There's lots of Art Galleries there too and we purchased two prints that now hang in our guestroom. Public transportation is very good there and we used it to go to the beach. We always felt safe even when going out at night too. All in all, a beautiful place to visit.

I have a couple of artists I really like. We have three prints by

Andrew Wyeth that hang in our home, my favorite being one entitled "The Bradford House" which reminds me of a white clapboard home you might see on Cape Cod or perhaps even the eastern shore. Another is a print of a row boat resting on the edge of the water and we also have one of a very large wooden sailboat.

I also enjoy some of Vincent Van Gogh's work, especially one called "Irises" and another called "Stary Night". My parents had a Van Gogh print called "Sunflowers" which Ken and Charlotte now have.

Those are the ones that come to mind at this time.

Interesting question. The first item I think of is a sketch of a

Gibson girl my mother-in-law Mary Williams did as a teenager. I had it framed and I think of her whenever I look at it.

I inherited a grandmother clock from my parents. It was made by the Waterbury Clock Co. as a prototype but was never mass produced.

I also have a grandfather clock I inherited from my uncle Richard Booth. I'm not sure how old it is but the inside workings are wooden.

And, of course, all my family pictures that I look at every day that reside on my bay window sill. They make me feel happy and blessed.

I have many favorite sounds. I loved the sound of my son's voices when they were young and learning how to talk.

I love to hear bird's singing and calling out to one another.

I love the sound of the wind in the trees.

I love the sound of people singing

I love the sound of a ticking clock.

I love the sound of people laughing.

I love the sound of silence- not always easy to experience.

I love the sound of Bill's voice telling me he loves me.

One of my most favorite sounds is being on the beach listening to the waves crashing on the shore.

I love the sound of people being kind to each other. The world needs kind people now more than ever. Just be kind.

Well, two of my favorite books were given to me by my sons.

Chris gave me the book, "Collective Wisdom" by Grace Bonney which is about lessons, inspiration and advice from women over 50- wonderful stories that make me smile.

Ken gave me "Poems That Touch The Heart" compiled by A.L. Alexander. The poems bring inspiration, solace, hope and cheer to the reader. I have my favorites of course.

I also enjoy reading biographies and one of my favorites is "Becoming" by Michelle Obama.

I also enjoy reading inspirational books for women of faith. Ken gave me the book, "Life Lists For Women"

and I refer to it often.

I enjoy other kinds of books too but these are my favorites.

One of my favorite poems is:

"Guide-Posts On The Footpath

To Peace" by Henry Van Dyke.

I found this poem in a book Ken gave me in 1992 called "Poems That touch The Heart". I think you will like it as much as I do.

"To be glad of life because it gives you the chance to love and to work and to play and to look up at the stars; to be satisfied with your possessions, but not contented with yourself until you have made the best of them; to despise nothing in the world except falsehood and meanness, and to fear nothing except cowardice; to be governed by your admirations rather than by your disgusts; to covet nothing that is your neighbor's except his kindness of heart and gentleness of manner; to think seldom of your enemies, often of your friends and every day of God, and to spend as much time as you can with body and with spirit in God's out-of-doors- these are the little guide-posts on the foot path to peace".

Henry Van Dyke

Good question. I would probably say I'm a morning person as

I usually get up before 7AM as I enjoy some time to myself which includes putting on the coffee, watching one of the morning shows and checking my phone for new messages and, of course looking at Facebook. I also read from a book I love, "Life Lists for Women, inspirational thoughts for women of faith. I also have seen many beautiful sunrises.

Simple pleasures are what keeps me going in the world we live in right now.

I love walking down the pier to the Chester River and sitting there for a while. There's an osprey nest nearby and a Martin house which makes for lots of bird watching/activity.

I enjoy my exercise classes too and they definitely help keep me limber. It's important to keep moving and there's lots of social interaction with friends too during these classes which makes it fun.

Of course, communicating with family members is one of my favorite pastimes. I love hearing about what's going on in their lives . Of course, the best times are when we're together which hasn't happened as much in the last couple of years because of Covid. Better days are coming!

Another simple pleasure I enjoy is sitting out on our deck reading or writing which is what I'm doing right now. I look across the road into woods which is the view we had at our house from our screened porch. Bill just joined me on the deck- another simple pleasure

Speaking of simple pleasures, we're going to the Dunes Hotel in Ocean City, MD. next week for a few days to celebrate our 59th. anniversary. The hotel is right on the beach with a great ocean view. This is one of our favorite places to go so we're looking forward to it. I will end with this. I could think of lots more I'm sure.

Interesting question. Both my parents were on the quiet side although I think my mom was more outgoing. She loved family gatherings, volunteering and babysitting the grandkids. Dad was introspective and he enjoyed talking about a specific subject, one of which was discussing his engineering work, designing Liquid Oxygen tanks. We listened intently and realized that he loved what he was doing for a living. Wasn't he lucky! He was also a voracious reader- Scientific American and Time magazine being two of his favorites. He also loved taking 8mm movies.

Ok, I digress, I think I am a combination of both of them. I consider myself fairly outgoing and I do enjoy being with people. Also, though, it's important to me to have time by myself. I enjoy coloring, reading and corresponding with people I care about. I also love being outside and taking a walk is one of my favorite past times.

My parents were very kind people and I hope that I am the same. They taught me strong family values which hopefully I passed on successfully to Chris and Ken.

That's an interesting question as I'm overall a pretty happy person to begin with so it's hard for me to pick out particular times but the following were especially happy times in my life.

I had a happy childhood with loving parents and neighborhood friends.

When I fell in love with Bill it was a very happy time for me. After we married, we saved and purchased our first home. I was pregnant with Chris when we moved in and three years later Ken was born. I loved being a mom- still do- and I was able to stay home with them when they were young. When Chris and Ken were 10 and 13, we bought a 17' O'Day sailboat. We kept it in our backyard and trailered it to many places including Lake George in upstate NY. to the Scott's cottage on Basin Bay.

In the 80's, we bought a Pearson 27' sailboat. We sailed it on Raritan Bay in NJ and spent many happy hours exploring the Bay. We moved it down to the Eastern Shore of Maryland in the year 2000 when we decided to retire to Chesterton. We kept it in a marina in Rock Hall. We spent many happy hours sailing on the Chesapeake Bay and especially loved to sail to Annapolis and take a mooring for an overnight stay. A very happy time for me.

Living at Heron Point makes me very happy. The residents are so friendly and caring and our needs will be met for the rest of our lives. I consider this decision a gift to our sons.

It doesn't take much to make me happy, thank goodness.

Interesting question. I enjoy interaction with people and, therefore, I think I would like being some kind of a a Therapist. I'm a empathetic person and I like helping people with their problems. Psychology has always fascinated me and I was in a Psychology Club in high school and I also subscribed to the magazine. I love to people watch and I find human behavior fascinating. I visit two residents in the Nursing Unit here at Heron Point and I enjoy it very much. Being a good listener is important too. Also, being kind is essential and I hope that I accomplish that every day.

First of all, of course, my family which includes extended family too. They are the most important parts of my life. Keeping in touch with them is essential for my happiness.

They matter.

Living at Heron Point matters to me as I consider it a gift to our son's in the respect that they know we are in a safe environment and we will be taken care of for the rest of our lives. That matters.

Having good friends matter and supporting them in times of trouble is important especially considering where we live. There is a very caring, kind environment here at Heron Point and we care very much about our employees too. They matter.

Volunteering matters to me. I visit residents in our nursing unit and I just recently joined the Welcome Committee- a good fit for me I think.

They matter.

Exercising your right to vote matters to me and I never miss the chance to do so. It's a privilege we are given living in this country. It matters.

Finding a purpose in life matters and reaching out to others is an important part of that equation.

Good question. A lot of things give me peace of mind. When we made the move to Heron Point, I felt peace of mind and considered it a gift to our sons for their peace of mind!

Knowing my family is doing well and thriving gives me peace of mind. I think of them every day and I'm so proud of them and the lives they've made for themselves.

Peace of mind to me means appreciating the small, everyday things and events in your life. Having a positive attitude helps me have peace of mind.

First of all, nothing in life is perfect so perfect happiness is not how I would describe it.

I am a happy person by nature and therefore it doesn't take a lot to keep me in an optimistic mood. First of all, of course, my family gives me much happiness. Living at Heron Point and enjoying new friendships makes me happy. Happiness starts with your attitude. I start every day with a grateful heart and I realize how fortunate I am to live the life I have. I will never take it for granted.

So, I hope you find something to be happy about every day- I do!

I never thought about this before.

I interpret this as meaning what gives your life significance, what makes life worth living.

For me, first of all, it's my family- the people I love and cherish. I can't imagine my life without them. They give my life meaning, purpose and joy.

Having good friends is also important to me and we have made many friends since we moved to Heron Point and I enjoy spending time with them. We share our joys and sorrows and we give each other support and love when needed.

My faith also gives my life meaning. I enjoy attending the Pres. Church in Chestertown and the comraderie I share with the members is important to me. I love hearing the Bible stories and singing the beautiful hymns.

Doing for others and being kind is important also to give my life meaning. I try to do this every day.

Some days are definitely better than others but every day is a gift.

Interesting question. Some things that come to mind:

That I was a kind, caring person who loved her family and friends and who tried to live a happy, fulfilling life which included my faith in God and my volunteer work over the years which now includes volunteering at Heron Point and at my church.

I hope my son's remember me with fondness as I'm so proud of them and the lives they have made for themselves.