Love and Respect–Our Family’s Cycle

In the Old Testament's book of Genesis, Noah was the tenth and last of the biblical patriarchs. He was chosen by God as the only righteous man of his time and is known infamously as the hero of the Flood story (2,000-10,000 BCE). The name Noah peaked in 2016 when nearly 20,000 newborn babies were …

We Start And End With Family, No Matter What Changes

After 75 years of family festivities, we missed our family's Christmas Day celebration. COVID had not even kept us apart. However, one share of pie before the big day sickened us, our family’s Matriarch and Patriarch, so we wouldn't risk possibly infecting others with our presence. In the past decades, however, the world has seen …

Uncommonly Close

This picture is not of our boys and their uncles, but it reminds me of some of their adventures and escapades. They were, in fact, uncommonly close like a band of brothers. They explored abandoned areas, on dares from neighbors, they walked on gutters across our roof, made their own backyard fires, and built forts …

Play Fair

In the early 1970’s the women’s rights movement was recognized as the “second wave” of feminism. Every aspect of women's lives, including work, family, and sexuality were included in this movement.  However, not everyone was on board with this equal rights for women’s evolution. In fact, some of the fathers and coaches on our Catholic …

A Caring and Adventurous Heart

Nineteen months after the birth of our first son, Bobby, we welcomed Jeff into the world. Bobby was a happy, contented, and quiet baby. Jeff, by contrast, had a temperament that proved his personality was larger than life. He weighed 7 pounds, 12 ounces, and measured 21 inches long when he was born in 1968. …

Boyhood Adventures

The picture shown here is not that of our boys and their uncles, but it reminds me of some of their adventures and escapades. You see, our two sons, Bobby and Jeff were born in 1966 and 1968. My brother, Frank, the eldest uncle was born in 1958 and my younger brother Johnny was born …

Obituary: Frank Roy Boling 03/16/1958 – 01/20/2022

Frank Roy Boling, age 63; of Chesapeake Beach, MD; childhood resident of the Berkshire Community within District Heights-Forestville, MD, passed away on Thursday, January 20, 2022, at the Anne Arundel Medical Center, Annapolis MD.  (Frank just learned on December 7, 2021, that he had late stage lung cancer. Three hospitals and 20 doctors later he …

Bless Their Little(?) Hearts

This post was originally published on December 28, 2021, and received 19 views at the get-go but lacked the podcast listening option which required me to republish. Sorry for any inconvenience. Know that the original content remains unchanged. In the Old Testament's book of Genesis, Noah was the tenth and last of the biblical patriarchs. …

Together We Make A Family–Let’s Celebrate!

This post is a follow-up to my somewhat somber December 5 post; "Our Friends, Family, Feelings, and Future". After reflecting on my pre-holiday frustrations, preparations, and in general, the chaos in the world today including the COVID pandemic's social distancing and isolations, my key takeaway remains the importance of my family to me and how …

Remembering Our Mount Calvary School and Community – Part 2

My first post in May 2016 about Mt. Calvary School's history and its closing drew much interest and even today continues to do so. Further, the Mt. Calvary Catholic School Alumni-Forestville, MD Facebook page with its 1.5K members remains active on a daily basis since opening on October 23, 2008. Regardless, of where their live …

Fast and Furious on Bee Oak Road

The Columbian Squires, the official youth organization of the Knights of Columbus, is a leadership and character development program for Catholic young men, 10-18 years old. My husband, Bob, was the Chief Counselor in charge of the St. Pius X Knights of Columbus Squires Circle in Forestville, MD. It was late summer 1978, when Bob …

Life, Love, & Peace: New Born On Easter

On Easter Sunday 2021, God showered our outside family gathering of 35 (including 8 of our 9 great grandchildren) with His continued blessings of love, peace, and perfect weather. Hosts Jeff and Penny truly outdid themselves. As usual, there were plenty of scrumptious fruits, vegetables, and desserts; Jeff grilled hamburgers, hotdogs, barbequed chicken, and Megan …

In The Wee Hours Of The Morning

Listen to on Spotify Last night was one of those nights when I had a restful sleep which is becoming more and more rare to me.  Most times I suffer from a racing mind that refuses to shut down or restless legs and arms syndrome that compels me to get up and do something--anything--except just …

Lives, Duties, Levels of Commitment

The beloved Canadian, Alex Trebek, game show host of Jeopardy for 36 years and over 8,200 episodes, succumb to pancreatic cancer on November 8, 2020, following his very transparent and valiant effort to stay with us a while longer. I like to think of him as "The Old Guard," who honored, protected, and preserved the integrity of …

Home, Sweet, Home

This is an open letter to house-seeking buyers. Real Estate deals are said to be one of life’s most stressful undertakings. Yet, one of Americans’ greatest aspirations is to acquire a house and to take pride in your ownership--it’s like one more step up that ladder to success. In contrast, just as equally or more …

Happy National Candy Cane Day!

Just when and how candy canes got their start is a bit more uncertain than their popularity today: 1.76 billion candy canes are produced worldwide each year. According to Carly Schildhaus of the National Confectioners Association, “legend has it that the candy cane dates back to 1670, when the choirmaster at the Cologne Cathedral in …

Mom’s Address Book

I set mom's address/phone book aside about two months ago when we first started cleaning out our parents home of 60 years. She had always kept her cookbooks, hotpads, and address book in a drawer under her wall oven in the kitchen which was in close proximity to their wall phone and kitchen table. That's …

A Harbinger of Better Days to Come!

I based many of my 18 posts written in 2020 (to date) on these globally unique times of extreme stressors, severe disappointments, and immense sadnesses. I, for one, will gladly embrace 2021 with anxious yet apprehensive hope for our world's future, and trust the rest to God. A positive sign that life goes on and …

Obituary: Frank Burton Boling: 12/07/1928-08/22/2020

Frank Burton Boling, age 91; five generation family patriarch; a 60-year-resident of the Berkshire Community within District Heights-Forestville, MD, passed away on Saturday, August 22, 2020 at Calvert Health Medical Center, Calvert County, MD.  Frank’s wife of 72 years, Norma Florence Ford Boling, age 90, preceded him in death on March 16, 2018.  Frank was …

2020–A Year Without Equal for Most!

So far, 2020 has been the year of all years--one of a kind without equal for most of us! Beginning in December 2019, in Wuhan, China, a new coronavirus began appearing.  It was named Covid-19, a shortened form of “coronavirus disease of 2019.” No one on earth has an immunity to it because no one …