Tag: friends
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Sammy Gardner: February 24, 2012 – July 4, 2017
Sammy Gardner was born in Chicago on February 24, 2012. He was one of three kittens, two boys and a girl, born that day to a mom I’ve never known anything about. When he and his siblings were found by volunteers from the Illinois Animal Rescue within a few days of their birth, their mom…
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My top 10 favorite experiences of 2016
As 2016 quickly draws to a close, I need to stop and reflect upon the joy I felt this year. In fact, especially this year. By just about every measure, 2016 was a difficult year for many people. Generation X lost many of our pop culture idols; a presidential election went wonky at the last…
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Like every Friday night of my childhood, I hung out with Sue Ellen Ewing, um, Linda Gray
If you’re a Gen Xer, you grew up on a Friday night of Dukes of Hazzard, Dallas, and Falcon Crest, even if it was against your parents’ wishes or explicit instructions. I was lucky. My parents would often go out on Friday evenings, ironically to church group functions, leaving Dave and me with a babysitter…
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What happened to my BFF Mary?
When we moved to Arlington Heights from Ft. Myers, Florida, in 1975, one of the biggest perks was that our block was filled with kids my age. There was Kenny and Judy next door; Kerrie and her younger brother across the street; Amy and her 3 siblings on the corner; Greg across the street; a…
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Top 10 reasons why being in the audience for The Late Show with David Letterman rocked
In 1996, David Letterman left the comforts of the Ed Sullivan Theatre in New York City and went on the road, hosting The Late Show from four cities in four weeks. Stops included Washington, D.C. on November 8, 1996 and Chicago on November 15th. His Washington, D.C. show took place just three days after the…
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Cooking with LMS: Healthy homemade Cheez-Its
Raise your hand if you enjoy Cheez-Its. You know, the little orange crackers made of cheese. Okay, put your hands down. I see that it would have been easier to ask who doesn’t like them. Last week I was having some friends over for a John Hughes’ Film Festival (more on that later) and wanted…
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My lumpectomy was easy-peasy
NOTE: If you haven’t read the first two installments of this unexpected series, My first mammogram saved my life and Respect my coping skills and I’ll respect yours, I encourage you to read them. It’s not necessary to read them in order to understand what’s happening, but they will give you more context. My Needle…
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My favorite name is Sister
October 5th marked the 40th anniversary of when I gave up the name “Only Child” and took on “Sister.” As I recall it, it was a bright early October day when my brother Dave came into the world. Fall had hit and we were wearing socks with our sandals in Ft. Myers, Florida. It was…
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Watervale Bingo Days 5: We’re half-way there!
Tuesday was an exciting day here at Watervale. It was windy, rainy, and chilly. I believe that the high was about 59, which meant that I actually put on socks. I’ll have you know that, although it was tempting, I did not wear them with my flip flops. I even slept in a wool hat,…
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Watervale Bingo: Days 1 and 2
If you’re playing Watervale Bingo, the game I invented earlier yesterday, I hope you’re excited for the summary of my activities for yesterday and today. It’s been a fun-filled first two days with many adventures still to be had in the next eight days. On Friday, I left my house at 4:08 a.m. CT and…
Jessica L Gardner 