Hi Friends!  I am to join Joyce for her fun linkup as we answer her questions below...

 

 

 

1. What's one piece of advice you would you give a recent or soon-to-be graduate? 

 

 

(with my besties in Newport, RI during our Senior Year at UMD- June 1995)

 If your plan is college, when you get there, pace yourself.  There will be a party every night or an opportunity to go out to the bars with your friends.  Get your work done first.  Pick a day or two per week to go out and have fun.  Don't get behind.  Budget your time.  Plan for studying, school work and a sport (if you are playing one) first then reward yourself with those nights out.  Just don't give into the temptation every night.

 

 

2. May 15th marks the birth date of L. Frank Baum, author of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. At this point in time are you more in need of brains, courage, heart, or a trip back home? Explain. 

 

 

(Playing the Role of The Wicked Witch in the UMD Theatre Co's Production of The Wizard of Oz- December 1994)

 

I would say courage.  I am moving forward to assist and accept that my baby bird is leaving her nest.  I need the courage to let her fly and smile while she is watching.  I can't crumble.  I can't be depressed.  This is not about me.  Just need a little courage, and of course faith, to help me through this :/ 

 

 

3.  "There's no place like home" is an oft repeated line from Baum's book. When was the last time you felt the truth of that statement?  

(Our Trip to Coastal Carolina University for their Cheer Clinic- October 2025)

 Anytime we travel.  I threw on my Myrtle Beach sweatshirt this past weekend.  My husband and I were joking about it.  We both agreed that it is an awesome place to visit but not to live, for us.  We agreed that we are grateful that Diana is staying close for college.  If we eventually buy a property down south, during retirement, it may be a community in South Carolina, just not there.  Time will tell...

 

 

4. May is National BBQ Month...do you own a grill? Who does the grilling at your house? What's your favorite thing to throw on the grill? What's the last thing you grilled? 

 

(Grilling pizzas in the back yard- Circa Summer 2013)

 Yeah!  I love this.  I love the unofficial start to summer and grilling season.  Rob does all of our grilling.  I can grill but he really enjoys it so I try to let him do it.  We grill mostly meats.  I love marinated steak tips on the grill- yum!  That is probably the last thing we grilled this past summer or fall.  Nothing too exciting!  Oh..I also occasionally love a grilled pizza.  

 

 

 

5. What's a memory you replay in your head when you need a little joy? 

 

(Our Family Trip to Cancun- February 2025)

 

 Our Road Trip to Niagara Falls

Trips to the Lake

Diana's entrance on the stairs when she played Clara in The Nutcracker

Friday Night Football Games 

Eva's softball games

The Beach- The Ocean

Our Family Trip to Cancun with Our Parents 

 

 

6. Insert your own random thought here.

 

Oh this post had me reminiscing big time...loved looking back through some old college photos..especially now that Diana is ready to embark on a similar journey- I am praying that she enjoys her campus- meets her people and eventually says they were some of the best years of her life!  I know they were mine....love looking back and thinking back to some of my favorite memories of my lifetime.  Grateful I had the experience I did and I am only wishing the same, if not, better experiences for my girls.