For those unfamiliar, it was a drawing game that consisted of plastic templates of varying sizes. There were two master templates shaped like donuts, which you would pin to the middle of a piece of paper attached to cardboard for stability. These templates were usually round (though some varied).

Then, you would select a solid, round plastic piece with many little holes in it (there were many sizes to choose from, depending on how large or small you wanted your final product to be). The holes were to put the tip of a colored pen into, which ultimately would create your design.

My masterpieces would invariably resemble a flower, with a perfect hole in the center, which to me was just beautiful. The pen would never leave the paper, the design would be fluid and perfect. The result? A thing of beauty.

It occurred to me that this perfectly describes the events of my family’s past week. My mother turned 90, and we threw a huge surprise party for her. Family and friends came from all over, including another continent and many U.S. states, to honor her.

As I sat in that room and looked around at the varied guests, it made me think of Spirograph. Here was my mom at the center of this masterpiece. She is the core, the center of all our lives. Each petal is another person from her past, from her whole life, who, together, make up this magnificent design that is her story.

Each stage of life was represented in that room, and in that portrait, all present intersected to form a perfect union. They all came together in an amazing design.

The fluidity of this flower represents her life, her continued existence, and each of her very best friends and family members make up the rest. How perfect is this image?

Each one of you has a Spirograph depiction that can be made with you at the center. You are the core to someone’s life, the example to follow, the bar for which to strive. The colors and  the templates you choose and the patterns are all up to you, but your fluidity through this life creates the beauty.

So remember to shape your flower the way you wish — and enjoy it. The final result depends on you.  Create beauty. Create adventure. Create love. Then you can sit back and bask in the memories of your Spirograph life.

I am one of those people who enjoys interacting with others: a friendly exchange with the check-out girl at the store, a light-hearted exchange with my bank teller, a joke shared with a toll-taker.

There is something endearing about fun exchanges with strangers. It’s the human factor, which we all need.

Remember four short years ago during COVID, when isolation was thrust upon us? Because we had no choice, we despised and resented it. People tried to stay as far away from others whenever possible.

There were no light-hearted conversations, no chance encounters or friendly exchanges with others. Isolation became the enemy. We swore we’d never go back.

Why then are we choosing once again to avoid the human touch? I admit there is a huge convenience factor.

If given the option of driving to my local bank branch to deposit a check or doing it via mobile deposit, I will choose convenience nine times out of 10! But should I?

Those brief but spontaneous encounters make daily life fun and more interesting.

The same thing is true at the grocery store. I will usually use the self-checkout lanes to pay. Occasionally I will go through regular checkout lanes and when I do, it is always enjoyable.

And interestingly enough, when I do use the self-checkout, there is always one item that requires human interaction by a good-natured store employee, whose sole responsibility is to help out.

I actually don’t mind because we usually share a joke or a good-hearted commiseration: “Technology strikes again!”

So the line that was supposed to take less time, actually took longer than the others. Irony? You bet!

While driving these days, toll booths have become ghost towns. No humanity whatsoever; no one to give you directions or tell you what restaurants are the best in the area, or just to offer a friendly greeting.

With our phones, GPS has taken the place of direction-giving, and Alexa and/or Siri have replaced the references for good restaurants or local interest sites. More convenient? Absolutely. But better? I’m not so sure.

In this age of tech advantages, just remember to connect with others any chance you get. You need that human touch, the interaction with others, as much as others need it from you.

That pretty much describes my attitude on life. Though we traverse many peaks and valleys in our lives, there is always something to be joyful about.

To celebrate my retirement, I took a trip to Disney World with my daughter and youngest granddaughter. April in Florida — you would think the temperatures would be moderate and pleasant. You would be wrong.

It was in the 90s and oppressive and not a drop of rain. Florida is definitely a land of surprises! So, armed with many bottles of water, stops for popsicles and attempts to stay in shaded areas and air conditioning, we went about enjoying our Disney adventures, watching the magic through the eyes of my granddaughter.

My Fitbit counted near 20,000 steps every day. Through the meteorological monkey wrench of heat, we plowed forward nonetheless, armed with a small fan with water spritz capability. Thank you Disney for that one!

At the end of each day we were exhausted. But the feeling of joy and the memories of the magic filled us with a wonderful feeling. Disney is magic, albeit temporary.

Outside of the confines of Disney, war continued to rage, violence was rampant, protests on college campuses were out of control, problems existed. But inside the magical kingdom? No such angst. Smiles abounded, cast members were delightful, new friendships were forged, and lots of memories were made. And the spirit of kindness abounded, which we experienced first-hand.

While at Epcot, we decided to stand in line at Norway, for the “Frozen” ride. The wait time was posted as 30 minutes. OK, we can live with that. It was inside and it was air-conditioned.

With no strollers allowed, my daughter had to hold her very tired little girl, 40 pounds of love. In short order she fell asleep and seemed to get increasingly heavier in my daughters arms. As we threaded our way around the Disney-style cattle chutes, my daughter took a brief rest on a barrel that was there for decoration.

It would have been a very brief respite as the line continued to move, but the woman in front of me, obviously from another country, told her to stay where she was. Since the line would eventually loop back to that area, she would let her back in. That break for my daughter lasted a good 15 minutes, and totally reenergized her.

The kindness of this stranger was exactly what we needed. Within another 10 minutes or so, we were on the ride and my granddaughter woke up refreshed, face to face with Olaf (the singing snowman!). I have never seen a more delighted face!

I am most definitely grateful for the kindness of strangers, especially when traveling with children. We tried to pass that spirit of kindness to all we encountered, and it added to the already magical trip.

No matter what, it was the day the Lord had made. We were most definitely rejoicing and enjoying the gladness in our hearts. Kindness is contagious, pass it around!

With the newfound time I’ve been gifted, I’ve chosen to fill it with some of my favorite things, and that includes projects around the house and gardens.

Maria Von Trapp may have had raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens, but she clearly did not have Home Depot! Otherwise I’m sure that famous song would have been sung differently.

Yesterday was trip number one (of many, I’m sure) to the Mecca of Maintenance, the Haven of Home Improvement, the World of Wonder. I felt like Alice in proverbial Wonderland.

My list of projects rivals that of Santa’s naughty and nice list in length. And the passion for these projects was fueled by the fire of the inventory of my new favorite place.

Aisle after aisle of items I never knew existed. Aisle after aisle of colors of paint. Aisle after aisle of power tools. Not to mention, my favorite Home Depot hangout — the garden department.

Once you step in the doors of this majestic handyman’s (or woman’s) paradise, you have to take a moment to breathe it all in. Glance to your right, and as far as the eye can see, there are countless crossroads, each with a myriad of choices on a plethora of signs.

Oh, and don’t forget to look up… the ceilings are incredibly high — I wouldn’t be surprised if you could see the stars at night from within those walls — after all, it is almost a universe unto itself.

On my first post-retirement trip, I asked myself the burning question, “Where do I start??”

I’m sure that each visit to this wonderful place will give me new and exciting ideas for future projects. No, I don’t have an island in my kitchen… but I could! No, I don’t have a pond in my backyard. But why not?

And do you have any idea how many different kinds of soil exist in the world? Garden soil, topsoil, peat, mushroom soil, just to name a few. And don’t even get me started on types and colors of mulch. My gardens will be glorious!

I suppose this is just my personality, to make lists of projects to do, and little by little, chip away at them. For many years, the lists included mostly items for work, things that were expected of me or things I chose to do in my job.

Don’t get me wrong, I took a lot of pride in it all and truly enjoyed it. But now, suddenly, my time belongs to me. My projects are of my choosing. It is a gift; the gift of time. It’s a gift I never take for granted. It’s the gift that keeps giving. And it’s a gift that is to be treasured.

I hope you can take the time to do the things you love. It’s a great feeling — in fact, I think it’s one of my favorite things!

This one event, orchestrated by God, grabbed the attention of an entire nation. Here at Brittany Pointe, groups of residents and some staff members waited patiently outside for the show to begin.

Outside of my office, a group of six residents brought out lawn chairs, little tables and a slew of snacks, which included, of course, Moon Pies! They turned an astrological event into a party.

Several of us joined them in this time of festivity, and when the clouds parted for a bit, we  got glimpses of the main event. The temperature fell quickly, about 10 degrees. And it got a bit darker — of course, there were a good number of clouds, which might have had something to do with it. But the romantic in me wants to think it was caused by this great celestial happening.

That party atmosphere seems to have overtaken the whole country, and especially those in the path of totality. I saw on the news that a large group of couples were actually married during the eclipse in the Philadelphia area. What a great idea! Doubtful that they will ever forget their anniversary.

Many people did an impromptu road trip, to anywhere on the path of totality. What an adventure! Many people were so struck with emotion and the awe and majesty of this event, they literally cried. The stories reported on every major channel were heartwarming.

What struck me the most is that there seemed to be no time for hatred or crimes. With all eyes pointing upward, no one was looking to cause trouble.

We were too busy, entranced by the celestial dance of the sun and the moon. There were no reports of violent crimes on the news reports that evening — all attention was focused on the magnificence of the eclipse. What a nice change.

We are certainly fascinated by these acts of nature — the week before this main event, many of us felt the earth move beneath us. An earthquake! This is certainly not a regular occurrence in our lives.

After all, Pennsylvania is not known for its seismic activity, though many of us are located on a fault line — the Ramapo Fault Line, to be precise. Who would have guessed?

People certainly are fascinated with the beauty that lies all around us in nature. Many of us are moved by sunrises and sunsets, everyday occurrences that so many take for granted.

Do you want to feel good? Take a look at a beautiful sunset, with its hues of pinks and oranges. We don’t have to wait for a phenomenon like the eclipse to appreciate the beauty and the magic that is literally all around us.

Look for beauty, beyond the hustle and bustle of everyday life, and I promise you will find it.

Seventy-degree days were unheard of, unless you lived south of the border. As a child growing up in Levittown, I remember four distinct seasons, each with its own set of marked traits. But by far the most magical was winter.

I recall snowfalls that seemed endless. To have enough snow on the ground to cover half my height was not only common but welcomed. Now, to be honest, as a kid of short stature, I’m probably embellishing a bit in my memories, but certainly a foot of snow was not a rarity.

Ah yes, snow days in the ’60s and ’70s. Those were the days! After a night of snow, we kids would wake up, take one look out the window and run to the radio, to listen for our three-digit code to be announced as one of the closures: 7-5-2. Those were my magic numbers.

And there was no option for virtual learning. It was a bona fide day off. Once those numbers were announced, my brother and I were out the door (after spending a good half-hour being layered up in snow gear by our mom!) There the options of fun in the snow were endless!

It was as if the neighborhood kids had a meeting, and all agreed to meet out in the street for the morning sledding gathering!  With virtually no traffic in our suburban neighborhood, we felt free to use our street as a sledding course.

Kids of all sizes (and that included some of the parents, who reverted back to kids in the midst of the magic white stuff) worked hard to pack that snowy road, to make our course even speedier. Brine? Cinder? Salt?  Nope, not on our streets in the ‘burbs!

There was nothing to impede our ability to fly down that hill on my Flexible Flyer!  We were unbeatable. Perhaps as a fun reminder of my youth, I still have my trusty sled, stored away in my garage. I’m not sure what I’m saving it for — perhaps the next big snow?

Of course, snowy fun was not limited to sledding. We were also quite versed in snowy architecture. There were snow caves, dug from the high drifts created by the snow removed from the driveway and tossed about in our yard, there were igloos, snow forts and snow sculptures decorating practically every yard in a 10-block radius.

And let’s not forget the classic snowmen, built from the imaginations of kids of all ages, adorned with scarves, hats, clothing and gloves from our closets, much to the chagrin of our parents.

It has been quite awhile since we have had a snowfall that measured up to those of my youth. Who knows, maybe we never will. But the memories of the good old Pennsylvania winters will live in my heart forever.

My community, Brittany Pointe, shared a bus with one of our sister communities, and their Life Engagement Director Louis was onboard as well.

After the museum, we all shared a delicious lunch at a local restaurant. The hot sandwich buffet was a hit, with all the trimmings. As with any buffet, there are inevitably leftovers, and ours was no exception. Normally, those leftovers get trashed. But in our case, my coworker and friend Louis saw an opportunity that none of the rest of us saw.

Unbeknownst to anyone, he asked the restaurant personnel for to-go containers for the 12 or so sandwiches remaining. While our residents boarded the bus, he busily loaded up the sandwiches with a little help but with no explanation or fanfare. I could not fathom why he needed so much food. But I was set on the task of making sure we had everyone on board, so I didn’t ask questions.

His purpose soon became clear. He had asked our bus driver to stop every time she saw a homeless person. Our driver complied. Each time, my friend hopped off the bus and asked each person if they would like a hot sandwich.

The smiles and thank you’s he received were heartwarming. As he gave the food out, he smiled and told each person “God bless you.” This continued until he no longer had any food left. It did not take too long. As he climbed back on the bus that last time, the residents broke out in thunderous applause.

He very humbly turned and merely said, “To God be the glory.”

What a perfect example of loving kindness and generosity! This was not a planned stunt or showy gesture. It came from his heart. He saw an opportunity to make a difference in others’ lives, and he was inspired to grab it. His humility was what touched me the most. And his faith.

I am grateful to my friend for reminding me that we all have the ability to make a huge difference in someone else’s life. We just have to be open to seeing those opportunities. I am inspired to keep my eyes open wide, and in that way, see the opportunities that may come my way.

“To God be the glory.”

The card aisle was transformed into red, the candy department was largely red, and the gift shops glowed red as well. And if you were in the market for roses of any color, not just red, it became a near futile search. Sold out.

I guess it is safe to say that we are usually seeing red this time of year. This is all well and good, it is certainly a fun holiday and one that brings joy to many. But why only once a year?

Did you ever stop and consider the other 365 (or, in the case of this year, 366, thanks to it being a leap year) days? Wouldn’t it be great if we treated each and every day as an opportunity to show others how much we care about them? Can’t each day be Valentine’s Day?

To me, Valentine’s Day is the day that my neighbor cleared my driveway for me after a particularly heavy snowfall. It’s the day that a large group of volunteer ladies worked together at my church to make fastnachts prior to Mardi Gras (aka Donut Day) as a fundraiser for a mission trip to Appalachia.

Valentine’s Day is the day that my family got together to celebrate a meal with a special family recipe, for no specific reason. Every day, there are lots of examples of love being shared, and it’s a reason to celebrate.

Any day can be a great day to share love. Last week, I was doing some grocery shopping. The bagger was a delightful youth with some special needs, who obviously did not let that get in his way. He was diligent as he bagged my groceries, but when he saw a bag of cookies, he lit up.

“These are my favorites,” he said, smiling ear to ear.

I thanked him for his rave review and said that I would let my husband know those particular cookies came with a glowing recommendation. He was genuinely pleased. That was love shared and reciprocated. We both walked away from that conversation feeling happy.

I am in no way a cynic, but I truly believe we do not need a specifically named holiday to share joy with others.

I am the first one to buy Valentine’s gifts for my grandkids and cards for my family members. I love a holiday that celebrates love. But I also love to buy them little gifts just because. I firmly believe that if we all shared love regularly, the world would be a happier place.

So, I hope you all had a wonderful Valentine’s Day on Feb. 14, but I hope that spirit of loving kindness permeates your life daily, both in the giving and receiving, and that in doing so, you’ll find genuine happiness.

Many of us have memories of class trips there during our school days. It is not the kind of place you can easily forget, and it is not your run-of-the-mill museum.

Meet the provider of this historical jaunt down the ways of life in the late 1800s and early 1900s, Henry Chapman Mercer. He had an incredible thirst for knowledge and for interesting artifacts. He was indeed an inspirational individual and a collector of … pretty much everything. He amassed over 65,000 artifacts, on display at his museum.

Mercer attended Harvard University and then University of Pennsylvania Law School in the late 1800s. But he never practiced law — his passion was archeology, early tool making, German stove plates and ceramics, among many other things. He was a fascinating man, whose collections of artifacts from the late 1800s bring history to life.

One has to wonder, how did his collecting start? It was by chance! He attended what today would be referred to as a yard sale, in search of a particular item, a pair of old-fashioned fire tongs.

While at this sale, he came across other old household items that he had heard of but never seen and was intrigued. He began to collect items that he felt would be of interest and decided to display them. Inspired by what someone was getting rid of, he began a quest that he could have never foreseen. The rest is, as they say, history.

As a child, I can remember walking the seven-story museum, each floor stacked above the other, around a large central open space, which was jam-packed with history literally hanging from the rafters.

Chairs, cradles, trunks, boats, baskets, stagecoaches, machinery — all dangle above your head and around you, in a seeming parade of days of yore. What a great way for a child to learn, to be in the midst of what, at the time, was cutting edge in the world!

A cider press, the size of a large room; a vampire killing kit, to protect from those pesky vampire attacks; the latest in apothecary and medical items, including a saw kit for those necessary amputations; wooden water pipes; and the list goes on and on.

Mercer had an interesting approach — rather than starting with ancient history, he started with the more recent past and worked his way backwards. Quite innovative!

In touring this museum, you are able to picture what life was like in the late 19th century. The cooking vessels and gadgets, the farm tools, printing supplies, medical care items, modes of transportation, even the actual gallows (seventh floor, a must-see, next to the horse-drawn hearse with small coffin inside). It all paints a clear picture of life 150 years ago.

I recently saw a list of the best museums in the area, and Mercer was ranked high. I am now reminded of why. The great American industrialist Henry Ford once said that the Mercer Museum was the only museum worth visiting in the United States. In fact, it was the inspiration for Ford’s museum in Michigan.

I was lucky enough to have visited that museum — it is obvious how Mercer inspired him.  It is indeed another wonderful, hands-on museum, which walks you through the history of transportation on a huge scale. It is uncanny how these two forward thinkers had similar philosophies and saw the importance of looking back and learning from the past.

It is incredible, the wealth of knowledge that exists in our own backyards. I highly recommend taking the time to explore some of these treasures, including the Mercer Museum.

For me, it was a reminder of just how far we have come in a relatively short amount of time. And it is a reflection on the innovation of some great pioneers of the past, who helped mankind progress through the ages; regular people like you and me who had great ideas in times of need. After all, necessity has always been the mother of invention!

But did you know that there is a week dedicated to random acts of kindness in February? It is no coincidence that it begins on Feb. 14, a day of love, and ends on Feb. 20. Feb. 17 is designated as Random Acts of Kindness Day.

I would hope that most of us do not need a designated day or week to remind us to share kindness with as many people as possible. But I do like this concept.

Kindness is contagious. The more you share it, the more it grows.

It reminds me of a spider spinning a web. It is fascinating to watch. The spider begins by setting up a secure frame and then weaves from the center outward, working its way towards the edges. The web grows and grows.

Kindness is sort of like that. If you are kind to one person, they, in turn, may show kindness to someone else, and so on and so on. You are the center of your own web of kindness. Your thoughtfulness will inspire others to extend goodwill and generosity to people they encounter.

We each have lots of opportunities on a daily basis to help those around us, both people we know and complete strangers.

Think about the times you have been the recipient of unexpected kindness. It leaves you with a warmth and a smile, and makes you want to pay it forward.

Even if it is just the sharing of a smile with someone you pass by, holding a door for someone around you or even helping to clear snow from your elderly neighbor’s walkway. Small tokens of humanity go a long way.

Sometimes I think we have become jaded, surrounded by the bad news on social media or television. We are overwhelmed by the hatred that exists in the world or even in our area. It’s easy to lose heart and give in to sadness.

But how about if we work together to build a web of kindness? Each of us, at the heart of our own web, can grow kindness, little by little. And if enough of us do that, our webs will start to intersect, our loving acts will forge together to overcome the negativity that exists around us.

Perhaps I am a dreamer, but I will never give up hope that we can find peace through kindness and love. I know it won’t be easy.

But if we can just persevere through tough times and respond to adversity with kindness, we might just stand a chance to contribute to a better world. Certainly, it’s not easy.

I am a work in progress. If someone cuts me off in traffic, or doesn’t respond when I let them into my lane, or runs a red light and comes close to hitting me… I try really hard not to respond in anger.

I try to consider that maybe they have an emergency situation that they are rushing to address, maybe they truly were distracted by some bad news or another situation, of which I cannot possibly know. By giving them the benefit of the doubt, I keep my cool and do not respond in anger.

It’s a small thing, but if we can master that, we contribute to peace on the roadways. And peace anywhere is a good thing.

So, celebrate Random Acts of Kindness Day every day, and help us weave a foundation of peace, one kindness at a time.