Easter Sunday and beyond
If you’re from South Florida and reading this blog know that I hope you are dry and your home, car and belongings are OK, it was a wet one this week! This is as I look outside my window and see more clouds forming.
Anyhoo, here’s what transpired since last Friday’s blog.
Nick in his usual attire, jammin’ to the DJ at the Best Buddies Friendship Walk.
We kicked off last weekend at Saturday’s annual Best Buddies Friendship Walk, held this year at LoanDepot Park (that’s where the Miami Marlins play). It was Vance, Nicholas and I with Monica joining us. We walked up the ramp and then down the ramp, had lunches provided by Subway as it is every year. Nick enjoyed himself, making a spectacle of himself dancing to the DJ, making Tik Toks and Facetiming with his friends. It was a nice morning.
Then that night, at the request of Nick we had dinner at Flanigan’s. I enjoyed, as I always do, their smoked fish dip and also ordered their gumbo which is another winner. Flanigan’s is always on point.
My niece Nicole blowing out her birthday candles as her son Ramzi looks on. Next to him are his cousins Hailey (in the glasses) and her sister Kaitlyn (in the adorable bunny ears).
Easter Sunday was awesome, even though it was incredibly hot… at first, until the downpour happened and we had to move everything inside. My sister Susy hosted it as she always does and her and her daughter, my niece Elena did a great job. Elena is an amazing cook. She made several different tarts, smoked turkey, pasta salad and a delicious vegetable salad. We also celebrated my niece Nicole’s birthday, which was on April 8th. It was a wonderful family get together as it always is. And I am embarrassed to admit that I ate WAY too much chocolate!
The rest of the week was pretty quiet, mainly because of the rain. I ended up doing food rescue in the rain on Monday morning but skipped it during the downpour that night.
Then on Thursday, I decided it was time for me to finally begin attending the monthly support group meetings at Sandra De Lucca Developmental Center, where Nick attends the Adult Day Training Program three times a week. The group of women that gather are amazing, resilient moms of other special needs participants at that program. The gatherings are led by staff member Gemma who is just one of the many fantastic people that run this program. If you know someone looking for such a program definitely look them up or give them a call.
I think I should also let you know what’s been up with my other immediate family members, my daughter Elizabeth and son Michael. They’re both doing great. Elizabeth is finishing up her freshman year at MDC Wolfson and working at Starbucks. And Michael is working hard in New York City as an Executive Chef. They both have such amazing work ethics and I’m so proud of both of them. Elizabeth is very excited for the end of May when she will be visiting Michael in NYC for a whole week.
Tonight, I’ll be heading to Bob’s Your Uncle on Miami Beach to celebrate the fantastically glittery George Neary’s 75th Birthday. George has been a friend of mine since my first job at Miami Today. He’s a fixture in the Miami community, always advocating for our city, even now during retirement. He started a tour company Tours R Us and he keeps quite busy with that. Really looking forward to his party, should be fun!
Oh and I have watched a few of the Best Picture Oscar nominated movies of this year. I watched “Causeway,” “The Banshees of Inishiren” and “Tar.” I highly recommend all of them although I recommend you prepare emotionally since they all have heavy subject matter. I plan to watch a few more this coming week, will let you know which ones.
And I leave you with this… I continue to count my blessings, pray for all my friends and family and cherish the charmed life that I lead. xoxo
Until next week…be safe, be healthy and be happy.
