portfolio

Won't You Help Tuffy Get Surgery?

Wed, 22 Aug 2018 02:46:37 +0100

Won't you help little Tuffy with his surgery?

Just Breathe...

Wed, 31 Jan 2018 09:07:33 +0100

I love the soft breeze blowing through open windows in the springtime, the sunlight caressing the fragrant flowers in the garden, the birds chirping happily in the branches of the old oak tree. It's so refreshing and each morning as I open my eyes and have my cup of coffee, I look out the windows to see another beautiful day begin to rise. It's so peaceful, so precious, and I treasure each moment of silence far away from the noises of the concrete jungle of the city.

The past nine months have been like a tranquilizer, no nosy neighbors knocking on my door looking for useless gossip, or wanting to borrow something from my kitchen or needing something they could easily find in their own home. It's easier to have someone else lend it to them rather than look for their own in the jumble of junk drawers. I don't mind giving someone a hand or lending an item, but when it becomes a three month long game of hide and seek with my property at the neighbors, it's time to stop lending out.

When my sweetheart and I found this place we thought it would be the perfect hideaway from the toxic relationships we had been dealing with. Some of those relationships were former friends who turned out to be parasites who sucked the life from you. Always arguing with each other, they tried to force us to take sides in their personal battles between husband and wife. And each time we tried to say no, I'm sorry, we can't get involved, they would then take out their misery on us as well as the other partner; We escaped from their private hell quickly and in secret, and to this day they're still trying to find out where we are.

So yes, the air smells sweeter, the sun shines brighter, and the birds sound happier and now my sweetheart and I can just breathe...

Missing my Family

Wed, 31 Jan 2018 09:05:29 +0100

The holidays are coming up and the one thing that I will miss most of all is getting together with the family. When we were kids, I remember mom would take us to the Macy's parade, and we would watch the floats and marching bands in awe, the bright colors and the music all around us, people everywhere taking pictures and trying to get a good view. It was so exciting. After the parade ended, we would get back on the subway for the ride home where grandma had a huge turkey in the oven, and the house would be filled with the delectable scents of our delicious Thanksgiving turkey and all the trimmings...black beans and rice, stuffing, cranberries, sweet potatoes, green beans, it was so much it hardly fit on the dining room table. We always had enough food to feed all of us and anyone who would drop by to say hello. I remember dad coming home from work in his uniform, a bag filled with candy and coconut bon bons for us . He worked as a policeman and every year he had to work crowd control for the Macy's parade. But when he got home and changed into his street clothes, he was more than ready to carve the turkey and sit down to the feast. There was Uncle Walter and Aunt Mellita, who were both very young, and after my cousins Roy and Diana were born, we would have an even bigger spread of delicious treats. We were a pretty close knit family, and did many things together, even vacation together. It seems strange now that people usually vacation to get away from their relatives. We vacationed to stay close to them.

Christmas holidays were very similar. We usually got together with our cousins on Christmas Eve, to watch for Santa Claus ride he sleigh above the houses. I remember one year we were all watching out the window and mom was saying "Look, there he is...he's over there..."
"Where? I can't see him.."
"Keep watching, you will" she would say, trying to keep us out of the living room while my dad and uncles brought down the gifts from the attic. I happened to leave the room and walked to the bedroom at the other end of the hall. It was dark, as I slowly peeked inside, I saw the back of a big wing chair, and lots of gifts all over the floor. I thought Oh no! Santa's sleeping! I ran out of the room and was afraid to tell anyone thinking I wouldn't get any gifts. So while mom was trying to convince my sister Yolanda and my cousins that Santa was still riding around the rooftops on the sleigh, I knew better. He was asleep in the back bedroom.

Every year we would have the same traditions. And as we got older and family members moved away, the traditions changed; we didn't live in New York any more, we were no longer little children, and mom and dad were getting older. Grandma passed away in 1969 and the holidays were now celebrated with less excitement. We still had memorable get togethers for the holidays, it just seemed that the years passed much too quickly. As we got older and moved further away from each other, it seemed we were all too busy to make those trips every holiday. But how I miss those days! I wish I could be with my family again, re-living the fun and the laughter, watching each other pass out on the couch from all those wonderful turkey dinners grandma had prepared with love. It was a feeling I will never forget and will always remember with love. Mom and Dad, Grandma, Dennis, Grandpa, Aunt Jean, Uncle Florencio, Aunt Felisa, I miss you all.

Now I have grandchildren and great grandchildren, and I wish that I could provide them with the wonderful memories I experienced when I was growing up. This is a different age. Technology has changed the way we live. Children don't play outside any more. They're into video games now, and often spend more time alone than with their families. Couples spend their time involved in work, and more often than not, less time with each other. It's sad in a way, but I guess, that's the price we pay for progress. What we really need is to get back to being a family and doing things together. That's what our goals should be. The only good thing about modern technology is that although I live far from my family members now, we can still communicate by email and phone, but nothing will ever take the place of a hug, of feeling the warmth and love of human contact.

Echo Comes Home

Sat, 21 Nov 2015 06:54:52 +0100

My sweet Echo has come home to stay. When the transporters, Chris and Terri Todd of C&T Shipping pulled into the driveway, I was anxiously waiting to see my little furbaby after 5 long months of being away from her. I will always be grateful to them for their kindness and patience with me and with Echo. She greeted me and Tony with a thousand kisses, and her little tail wagged a mile a minute as she greeted us. It brought tears to my eyes. The first thing we did was take her for a walk on the moonlit beach, and she ran free like a youngster on the sand. When Tony called her name, she ran back to him jumping with excitement. She loves the beach and we love watching her play, chasing the birds along the shore, splashing in the surf. It's a little bit of Heaven, and she's our little angel.

A Halloween Poem

Thu, 15 Oct 2015 19:36:20 +0100

The Summer I'll Never Forget

Wed, 31 Jan 2018 09:05:46 +0100

For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11

The past few months have been very hectic and some very sad, saying goodbye to new friends and trying to follow plans we have started. It's been a hard road, but a lesson well learned, and one we will never forget. During our journeys in life, you never know what tomorrow will bring, and even the best laid plans sometimes don't go exactly as we expect. Yet I never lost faith that God has a plan for me, and maybe it was to teach someone how to help themselves, and maybe it was to teach me to never take things for granted and to be grateful for the little things.

I had a good family life when I was growing up. I went to good schools, had a loving family, great jobs, nice clothes, nice cars. I was fortunate to be active, to be in shape, to be healthy. I took life for granted and believed I deserved the best. But how life has changed!

For the past several months I have been living at a shelter and have met many young and old who have been through hard times. From losing jobs and homes due to financial problems, to the unfortunate few who can't find medical or psychological help, there were people of all ages here. Some were lucky enough to have beds, but many had only mats on the floor to sleep on. There were young women who had to separate from their children in order to get help for the family, and men who had left wives and children behind in order to join the program that would help them find housing and employment, but only if you were living in a shelter. There were veterans who were waiting for help with their housing and medical attention, and elderly men and women whose families had abandoned them at the shelter. It was very sad. The counselors were helpful and kind, and they did their best to motivate the residents to attend meetings and church, and to sign up for programs to help find work. The shelter would serve lunch and dinner daily, meals that were donated by the local grocers and church groups, who often came to serve dinner and hold worship services for those who wished to attend. There were medical and mental health reps who would come twice weekly to counsel and help people find the help they needed. There were computer classes, work readiness classes, and the residents were given daily chores to help them get involved and prepare them for real life situations. Many residents volunteered for positions such as kitchen cook or prep, front desk, security, laundry, drivers, janitorial, and so on. We lived together as a community and when each resident was ready to leave the group and had completed their program, they were anxious and happy that they had finally found a place to live of their own, a good job, and sometimes even a vehicle. It is a wonderful feeling to know that you're finally self sufficient and can take care of yourself and your family. Leaving with smiles, waving goodbye, and sharing phone numbers or friending on Facebook, it was a good feeling to see another success story. It gave each of us hope for our own future. And there were the very sad times when someone who had left had passed away soon after. The only consolation was knowing that during their stay, being closer to and giving thanks to God was a big part of our program. Perhaps it was part of His plan to bring them home to Heaven.

" Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow. ...

Thu, 16 Apr 2015 14:36:06 +0100

It's been awhile since I've last posted and so much has happened. It's been a wild ride. I could never complain life was boring, that's for sure.

Last summer I spent in Lake Wales, Florida, visiting my nephew and nieces and my sister-in-law Kim, and my sister Yolanda. I hadn't seen any of them in 10 years. It was a heartwarming reunion, and I couldn't hold back tears of joy being able to see them all. Life had been difficult for them after my younger brother Dennis Varel passed away in 2012. He was their strength and his children were the sunshine of his life. They all missed his big smile, his gigantic heart, and his incredible sense of humor. He was a proud father of three beautiful girls and a very handsome son. They welcomed me into their lives with incredible love, and made me feel as if I had been there forever. I miss them very much, and I miss Kim's company, too. She is an awesome mother who holds a full time job and has a home business as a baker, and she's well known and respected in the community. She was always volunteering her free time to help out a friend, or organize a special event at the school or lodge, and she could cook like a dream and throw a mean party. She was always encouraging and cheerful. Kim is always finding ways to save money, and taught me the art of couponing and price comparison when it came to shopping. She can get her hands dirty with gardening and weeding, and mowing the lawn, and then turn around and cater an extravagant wedding in the same evening. Kim is an amazing woman.

The view of Lake Wales at sunset is breathtaking. The colors changed every night, from golden reds, to pinks, lilac and blue. It was beautiful. The lake buzzed with boats and wave riders every weekend, and couples of all ages walked hand in hand along the shore. Children would ride their bikes along the path, skaters too, and families would all enjoy the beautiful greenery and trees that lined the lake. Each morning at dawn the joggers ran the two mile path along the lake shore. It was a little bit of heaven here on earth.

Tony and I stayed in Lake Wales until the beginning of January, when we decided to return to Myrtle Beach. I love the weather here, the cool crisp nights and days were a welcome change from the scorching heat of Florida in the Summer. My theory is you can always put on more clothes if it's too cold...but if it's too hot, even wearing nothing is no relief from the heat. I don't mind the cold. I love the Fall and Winter seasons most of all. And my puppy Echo, who is an adorable Maltese mix, has lots of beautiful fur that keeps her warm and toasty, too. She loves the beach and runs circles in the sand, chasing the little birds at the shore. She often peers out over the balcony and watches the beach, the waves rolling in and out, and the children playing with their beach toys in the sand. Spring is here, and lots of people are visiting to enjoy the lovely sunshine. While sitting on the beach access boardwalk, I spoke to an elderly man from Canada, dressed in shorts and sandals, wearing his sun hat and glasses, with a deep golden tan, and I said "Lovely day for the beach, isn't it?". He replied " Eh, it is indeed. Especially nice since back home in Ontario there's still snow on the ground."

Memories of Maple Street

Thu, 16 Apr 2015 14:36:45 +0100

I met a girl last summer who loved to write poetry. We shared a couple of glasses of wine, had a few laughs, and found out we had a few things in common. She was one of the only people who came to visit me in my apartment at the hell hole on Maple Street, and after Tony and I moved, I didn't see her again. I remember she wanted to publish a book on poetry she was writing, and she was pretty talented, but it never happened. The name of the book was going to be "Angels on My Pillow". Yesterday Tony told me her neighbor told him she had suddenly passed away from a brain tumor. I never got to say goodbye, so I wrote this poem in her memory. Rest in Peace, Sharon, this is for you.

There's No Place Like Home

Thu, 16 Apr 2015 14:37:27 +0100

Living in the country for the past year has been a memorable experience, but as the saying goes, there's no place like home. I've lived in New York City from the 1950's to the mid 70's, Miami Beach from the 70's to the late 90's, and Myrtle Beach was the place I decided to stay. I've made some wonderful friends here and lost some very special friends, too, but this was the one place I felt at home the most. In my youth I loved crowds and excitement. As I grew older, I needed some quiet time, and since this place has it's slow months, I found it to be ideal.

Springtime begins in March, with the arrival of cheerleading squads, the spring breakers, the old car enthusiasts. There is always celebration for St. Patrick's Day, and this is a special week for me, because I was born on the 15^th of March, my son on the 17^th (St. Patrick's Day). We celebrate this holiday with special significance and the beach is the perfect place. There's a huge celebration downtown with music, food, drinks, and lots of fun and laughter. Easter weekend is also another Spring holiday which brings crowds of people to the beach for a mini vacation. The stores stay open later, restaurants are filled to capacity, and hotels are booked solid during the Spring break season. The nightclubs advertise college night specials, and the older crowds enjoy the car shows and shag competitions.

During May the bike rallies take center stage. Harley riders from all around the country gather to show off their beautiful bikes, people from all walks of life, professionals and blue collar workers alike who share a special bond. There are vendors selling everything from jewelry to clothing to parts, and there are families, and couples, old and young, who love the wind blowing through their hair as they cruise along the highway. There are special events planned for the bikers and welcome signs everywhere. People line the boulevard with folding chairs to watch as the multitude of colorful motorbikes cruise along the street. It's an experience like no other. After Harley week, the Memorial bikers come to town, also showing off their expensive toys, enjoying the sunshine, the crowds, and getting together with others who share their interests. When both bike weeks have ended, it's officially summer season when families come to enjoy what the beach has to offer, and the beach never sleeps.

The magic of the summer nights strolling on the boardwalk, listening to the waves crash along the shore, was something I truly missed. I loved the excitement of walking along Ocean Boulevard watching the crowds of people young and old, laughing and enjoying themselves, young girls screaming in terror from the balcony of Ripley's Haunted House. The streets were lined with the traffic of old cars restored to gleaming beauty, and the beat of the music coming from the little shops along the boulevard all made the beach atmosphere seem almost frozen in time. There were outdoor concerts in Plyler Park, there were fireworks every Wednesday evening, and there were the delectable smells of french fries and cotton candy. There was a special feeling of nostalgia on the beach, and many happy memories for countless visitors from all parts of the country.

Fall brings the cool, crisp evening breezes, the bike rally, the old car shows. Fall brings the Octoberfest street fair, halloween parties, Oyster roasts, and family reunions. And Fall brings the beginning of the holiday season. The hotels start to welcome the snowbirds, golfers arrive for special events, and the crowds slowly start to disappear.

Winter months are quiet, there aren't as many visitors, but the beach has a special attraction for those that enjoy the quiet peace. For the price of one night during the summer months, a couple or family can enjoy a beautiful furnished oceanfront apartment or studio for a week in the winter months. The snowbirds and retirees flock to the beach to escape the harsh winter cold and snow. Many bring their beloved pets and take their furry friends for long beach walks. Others enjoy the horses with their riders by the dozens, riding side by side, or galloping along the shore. And the beauty of the sunrise in the early morning hours, as well as the breathtaking sunsets, all make one appreciate the magic and beauty of being alive.

That's home sweet home.

In Memory of My Sweet Rocket

Thu, 16 Apr 2015 14:42:46 +0100

This was tearfully written April 2013. We had to come back to Myrtle Beach but my sweet rat terrier had been missing for a week. We couldn't stay in the home we lived in with my sister, because a tree fell on her home and the fire department made us leave. Red Cross helped my sister and her son, but I wanted to come back to be with my son and grandchildren. I called every day to look for my sweet little dog who had the courage of a lion, and the gentleness of a lamb, who loved me beyond words, and who protected me and stayed by my side for 13 years. Here is the post I placed on Craigslist in his memory.

My sweet Rocket passed away last night.

He was turned into Mocksville Animal Control by someone who told them the owner did not want him anymore. We posted ads on Craigslist and Facebook and several other sites. We checked the neighbors. We called every shelter in 3 different counties several times a week. We followed every lead. We searched by foot and car and couldn't find him. The only neighbor who wouldn't answer the door was once prosecuted for animal cruelty. We picked him up from Animal Control just 2 days ago. He was scheduled to be put to sleep. We drove back home to the beach with our fur baby and noticed swelling, lumps, and signs of abuse. He could not bark, walk, or eat. We took him to the hospital where the vet told us he seemed to have broken bones and possible signs of rat poison.
He suffered untold fear and cruelty at the hands of a stranger. He was held captive and we know he would have come running to us if he could. My only comfort is in knowing we had brought him home to be with all the people he loved and who loved him before he died.
This post is in his memory. If you lose your beloved pet, never stop looking and waiting for someone to find you. Get help and spread the word, and trust no one. Check the shelters daily. Dont take anyone's word for it. Go there in person and ask to see ALL pets, even those marked for death. And if you find a pet post ads daily. Ask for proof of ownership. Check the lost ads and also the pet section. You will save the life of sweet helpless creatures who cant speak for themselves and the owners who grieve the loss of their four legged children. My baby is gone forever but his memory will always be in our hearts.