Did you know that breast cancer is among the most commonly diagnosed cancers and the second leading cause of cancer death among women in the United States? According to michigan.gov, approximately 287,850 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer and nearly 43,250 will succumb to this malignancy in 2022.
Going to Parris Island, SC to watch my grandson Mack graduate from the U.S. Marine Corps boot camp is a memory I will always cherish. On August 5, he officially became a U.S. Marine with the 1st Battalion Charlie Co. PLT 1054 after successfully completing The Crucible, a grueling and intense 54-hour event that tests recruits physically and psychologically on limited sleep, the final challenge of their training.
When June finally arrives, there is nothing better than spending time outdoors, especially when the weather begins to heat up and the first day of summer is just around the corner. In 2019, the U.S. Senate designated the month of June as Great Outdoors Month. According to nps.gov, observance of Great Outdoors Week (the first week in June) began under President Clinton in 1998 and has grown under subsequent administrations into a month-long celebration.
When my daughter Melissa found out her son (my grandson) Mack had decided to join the United States Marine Corps, her life was forever changed. He had just turned 18 and hadn’t yet graduated from high school when he made the commitment. The two have always shared a special bond but no matter what Melissa said or did, Mack’s mind was made up. He told her it was his calling and something he felt compelled to do. His desire was to serve his country and in his words, is “an honorable thing to do.”
The week of March 6-12 is Celebrate Your Name Week. It has been observed in the first week of March since 1997. It was established by American onomatology hobbyist Jerry Hill, who prescribed the first full week in March as a time for everyone worldwide to embrace and celebrate their name. March 6 is also Namesake Day and according to nationaltoday.com/namesakeday, the day was designated to encourage people to research the history behind their names, what they were named after and what it means.
I have been collecting cookbooks for many years and I love to read them. My very first cookbook was Betty Crocker’s New and Revised Edition – a wedding gift I received in 1974. It was a good gift for me because when I got married, I did NOT know how to cook! This particular book is now worn and tattered, the pages food-stained and yellowed. I still prepare delicious meals today that I learned how to make from Betty Crocker’s book.
As I look back and say good-bye to the year 2021, all I can say is it was a very interesting year. Although it began in turbulence with the January 6 insurrection at our nation’s Capitol building – an unsettling experience – and ended with terrifying tornadoes in Kentucky, it brought me some good personal experiences. Here are some highlights of my 2021.
Christmas really is the most magical time of year, full of so many traditions. I’m not much of a baker, but I enjoy baking cookies during the holidays. My absolute favorite are frosted gingerbread cookies I make from a recipe I got years ago at Cafe Aroma in Fenton. The cookies were temptingly displayed on the countertop near the cash register and they looked so delicious, I had to try one. The soft cookie topped with cream cheese frosting and red and green sprinkles was instantly addictive. Making these for my family has become a tradition.
On Veteran’s Day, we reflect and honor all of the men and women who selflessly served in the military to protect our country. I have been thinking about that a lot lately, as my 17-year-old grandson, Mack, has decided to enlist in the U.S. Marine Corps after he graduates from high school next spring. It is a decision he made completely on his own, without telling his parents. His mom isn’t entirely on board with it; but he will be 18 in December and it is his choice. He will leave for boot camp in July.
