National Sister’s Day was celebrated on August 2 this year, a day that celebrates the unique bond between sisters. And there could be no two people more different than me and my sister, Kathy. We grew up together in a small Maryland town nestled in the valley of the Alleghany Mountains. She was the outdoorsy type, while I was happiest indoors, curled up in a chair reading a book or talking to my friends on the phone.

Summer is in full swing and boy, has it been a hot one! I usually love to take long walks in the early morning or evening but it has been so hot, I find myself sitting in the air conditioning, reading a good book – one of my favorite pastimes. I recently finished The Chef by James Patterson: a fast-paced thriller about a New Orleans police detective by day and a food truck chef by night. It was a good summer read that I thoroughly enjoyed.

Are you a hot dog lover? National Hot Dog Day is celebrated on the third Wednesday in July. And the beloved sandwich deserves a special day because it is one of America’s favorite summer foods! The National Hot Dog and Sausage Council created this day and holds an annual hot dog lunch in our nation’s Capital.

I took my three-year-old grandson, Elijah, for his first trip to the used book store in Fenton the other day, introducing him to the joy of finding books to read. He was delighted with his finds, walking out with three children’s books, including one about Batman, his favorite super-hero. He also found one from the “Froggy” book series, which were my other grandson’s favorite books to read when he was little (Froggy Goes to School, Froggy Plays Soccer, Froggy Goes to Bed, etc.). I would read them to him over and over again.

The other day, I saw a Facebook post about pit bulls that said, “Warning: Do not leave your child unattended with a pit bull.” The post included a photo of one with a child’s drawings all over it!

I love watching the Food Network and one of the shows I have enjoyed recently is “The Best Thing I Ever Ate.” On the show, chefs talk about what they love to eat and where they go to eat it. It makes me very hungry just watching it! Since I write a lot of the food features for My City, I thought I would share some of my favorite foods that I’ve discovered over the years.

Yes, it’s that Hallmark time of year – as in Hallmark and Lifetime Channel Christmas movies! There’s nothing like watching a good, classic holiday movie, snuggled up on the couch with a cozy blanket and a cup of hot cocoa to get you in the mood for the most wonderful time of the year.

I love trick or treaters! Weeks before Halloween, I pick up bags of candy here and there (typically, the kinds I DON’T like so I won’t eat it all). I love watching the little kids, the ninjas, the super-heroes, the ballerinas and fairy princesses, and I even love the scary and ghoulish costumes, sometimes tossing extra candy into the bag of a kid whose costume I really like. I don’t mind the teenagers who bang on the door, shouting “Trick or Treat!” in their deep, tenor voices. It’s okay if they hang on to a childhood tradition for as long as they can, and it’s certainly better than some of the more mischievous things they could be doing on Halloween. BUT, is trick-or-treating becoming a thing of the past? I hope not.

National Grandparent’s Day is celebrated in the month of September. It originated in 1978 when President Jimmy Carter declared that it be observed on the first Sunday after Labor Day. The purpose is “to honor grandparents, to give grandparents an opportunity to show love for their children’s children, and to help children become aware of the strength, information and guidance older people can offer.” I have to say that being a grandparent has brought much joy to my life (as many of you already know because I write about my grandkids all the time). In honor of Grandparent’s Day, I would like to share a few of my favorite stories.

As a writer for My City Magazine since its inception, I have had the honor of writing many stories about the HAP Crim Festival of Races. I’ve become well-versed on its history and have interviewed many people who help make this race so very special and a premiere event for Flint. But my first experience with the Crim goes back a few years when I was working for the Social Security Administration back in the late 70s at the office formerly located Downtown on Stevens Street.