I haven’t written about many things that make me happy recently, primarily because I was hoping some of you readers would write things that make you happy and we could share them. But the truth is, there is no limit on the things that make me happy, some for a second, some for many minutes, some for the entire day. But every little thing that makes you happy is something to be thankful for. Saturday I went to the new bakery on West Avenue in Atlantic Highlands simply because I learned firsthand the week before that their croissants are the best I’ve ever tasted. So I was all set for another one Saturday and my taste buds were jumping up and down with joy. Then I got there and found the shop was closed with a very polite apology on the door and the assurance it would be open Sunday. I saw two cars leaving just as I pulled in and another gentleman was coming up to the door as I was leaving., So I broke the sad news to him as well, we shared some comments on what a great addition this it to Atlantic Highlands and both promised we’d be back the next day. So I had no choice, of course, and returned this morning. That’s when I met Valerie, the charming and friendly owner who is also a fantastic baker. I learned she had to close because she was taking her daughter to look at a prospective college for next year and had to take the time off to go to Georgia. I told her I admired her priorities, but when I told her I didn’t see any croissants in the case, she said not to worry, she had them. But then she added, “and if I didn’t, I would bake you some!” Does that ever make you happy? Valerie lives in Middletown and already is in love with Atlantic Highlands. Not only are the people so polite and friendly she said, but she added “I love when they come in here and know each other and greet each other right in my bakery!” So just look at how many other people are happy! Sometimes I think we all have little things that make us happy, and some more little things that could make us happy if we just took the time to stop and think about it. Try it! Bet you’ll find at least three things that made you happy today! Share some of them if you’d like, and make other people feel happy. It’s contagious! Then at the Girls Café in Highlands…a place that always makes me happy…. That hard working and very ambitious Mike has already put out some spectacular flowers in stands around the outdoor dining area…makes you happy just to think the tables are there, the sun is shining, and the days are warming up. According to what I hear, Mike is promising “You ain’t seen nothing yet!” because there are a few more special touches he wants to add to the decor. So keep you eye on the Girl’s Café…actually, try Vera’s oatmeal and ask her to add the cranberries and walnuts…a very pretty place with a personality all its own might be getting even prettier this season!

Again. Just so many things that make me happy. Today I want to talk about two that also reiterate my belief that everything happens for a reason, and good comes from everything. I have always believed I was diagnosed with breast cancer in order to be part of the trial that would help prove there are indeed other solutions to killing breast cancer rather than chemo, radiation and surgery. Definitely not in all cases, simply because one cure does not work for everyone. But cryoablation, freezing the cancerous tumor to death, is definitely an option for many women who get regular mammograms and discover breast cancer early. My stories on my procedure and five years of cancer freedom have been spread far and wide and hopefully are making IceCure, the name of the company in Israel that created this means of curing cancer. Now this week, I learned that

, that incredible radiologist at Centra State Hospital in Freehold is concentrating on making the procedure better known now that five years of trial is successful and complete. The doctor was the professional who did my cryoablation and though I had not met him until about three weeks before he performed the procedure, we have been in touch and friends ever since. Hopefully now more women will hear about Dr. Tomkovich, will hear that Centra State has the courage to trial new trials and will take advantage of what cyroablation offers. I still say it was the easiest choice I ever made, because I always knew that even if it didn’t work, I could also opt for one of those other less palatable solutions. Now the same thing has happened since I developed aging macular degeneration, (AMD) the leading cause of blindness in people over 65. Annoyed no medical doctor or optometrist had ever advised me of how many people this disease affects and taking a simple capsule twice a day called AREDS, available any every drug store, could possibly help slow the process, I immediately began writing about it once I grew accustomed to getting those needles in my eye once a month. This week a learned the editor of a Health magazine e-mailed me to say she’s interested in my story and asked me to write it. So once again, hopefully, because I have AMD many others can learn more about it, learn what they can do to avoid or diminish the effects of it, and perhaps save their vision for years to come. Now that also makes me happy! I’ve had two not so terrific diagnoses in the last five years. Both times, my cases were a bit out of the norm. Because I’m a writer I have the ability to spread the word about them and possibly help others. And I am. And it’s working. Isn’t that enough to make anyone happy?

It’s still morning, and yet so far I have so many things to be thankful for and that make me happy, I have to add them now. The first was receiving a spectacular video from a friend on Ice Cure, that wonderful Israeli company that cured my breast cancer. The video is posted here and should be of interest to every woman who might face this awful disease because Ice Cure certainly offers a great way out of it. But for me personally, it is great to see two very intelligent women explaining the procedure, both women I now call my friends, both because of my visit to Israel after I had the procedure and their kindness to me there and secondly because of our zoom and telephone conversations over the past few months. The videos that are always circulating showing the brilliance of Israeli scientists when it comes to the Iron Dome they invented that keeps the nation safe from attacks are pretty spectacular as well, but I lean towards the brilliant women who are advancing health science to such an intense degree. The second thing that’s made me so happy so early this morning is the sunshine and high temperatures that have just encouraged Cathy and Vera to offer some outdoor dining at The Girls Café in Highlands today. It’s worth a stop just to say hi and welcome them back to the almost-real business world! Kudos to their friend Mike who is making the outdoor restaurant look so neat, clean and inviting. He’s a hardworking and generous man! And if I need three things that make me happy in the morning, it’s that today is Thursday, which means a few dear friends and myself celebrate tonight just being together and being able to laugh and have fun at our favorite stomping place, the Proving Ground. Oh, and there’s another reason I’m so happy this morning, and so many more if I really wanted to count! But look for my story on Ellen O’Dwyer pretty soon. Ellen is spreading her own seeds of happiness, survival, environmental protection, and beauty, what with all the milk pod seeds she is distributing to help protect the endangered Monarch butterfly. Ellen and some very smart girl scout leaders have designed a wonderful project that is probably as effective at preventing depression and boredom in youngsters as it is in teaching an appreciation of nature and how to be a part of it.

Just returning from receiving my second Moderna vaccine at Brookdale Community College, I’m once again high on praise for the Monmouth County Board of County Commissioners, their partnership with Brookdale Community College and the nurses, student nurses at Brookdale and other volunteers who are manning the site with efficiency, speed, courtesy, and downright hospitality and plenty of smiles. The s are administered at the Robert J. Collins Arena, a building name for another great leader in the county, a former administrator. The partnership also includes Monmouth Medical Center and just shows how working together towards a common goal is so efficient. Reportedly the site receive 2,500 vaccines, with plans for 2,000 vaccines to be administered over five days each week. The other 500 will be administered at the Monmouth County Agriculture Building in Freehold. All vaccines are administered by appointment, there are no walk-ins, and yes, there’s a long waiting list. You can check it out at https://hipaa.jotform.com/2101… You would then be contacted by the Monmouth County Health Department to schedule the vaccination. Or go to www.visitmonmouth.com and use the Monmouth County COVID-19 Vaccine Waitlist to be placed on the waitlist for an appointment if it’s still open. I don’t know if they still need volunteers anywhere, but if you’re so inclined, try the Monmouth County Health Department Phone Bank at 732-845-2070 or e-mail MonmouthCOVID19@visitmonmouth.com. It’s the organization that impresses you first. No, wait, even before that, it’s the friendly smiles and greetings of those who lead you through the process, from temperature taking to answering the usual questions, to filing out information, having that checked to be sure you remembered to fill out the back side as well, to being directed to a another volunteer who checks your credentials, which means, for the second shot, be sure to have the card with you from your first one….better yet, take a photo of it and have it on your phone for easy access. From there, you’re directed to another friendly and smiling volunteer who lets you know which nurse to step up to in order to get your vaccine. Today, I was assigned to #13, where a volunteer retired nurse, Gale, was wearing that same great smile everyone else had, friendly greeting, and quick conversation while she administered the shot. Then it’s a 15 wait to be sure you don’t have any immediate reaction and you’re on your way, one step further away from getting the dreaded virus. I mention all this again because sometimes we fail to say thank you or show appreciation to all those who are volunteering, or even if paid, working under these circumstances just to help others. When the center opened at 1 after lunch, there was already a line that stretched from the parking lot to the door and back again. But because of the efficiency inside, it moved quickly and conversations among strangers in line included lots of glee and surprise over that, stories about their friends who had already received second shots that they had no reaction, or were simply tired the next day, and today, of course, lots of comments about the gorgeous weather. We’re lucky to live in Monmouth County. And we’re lucky to have Commissioner who believe in working well with others.

Every day there are so many more than three things that make me happy, and there has never been a day that at the very minimum three things have made me happy. Today I simply reveled in three things that made me happy other days, then made me happy again today when I thought about them. One was talking with a friend and we were charmed once again by his young granddaughter. The family was together at Thanksgiving he said, several generations, and this thoughtful beautiful little charmer of nine years of age put one of her toy soldiers in front of every place setting. When she was asked why, she simply said it was to honor all those soldiers and sailors who couldn’t be celebrating the day with their families because they were out protecting them and everyone else. The second was the wonderful neighbor who, without a word, simply came out not once but twice in these recent snowstorms and shoveled sidewalks for two different women who live alone. When I say shoveled, I mean the entire sidewalk in front, the walk to the door, and the steps and porch to each home. That’s kindness and kind of melts your heart to think back on it. Add to that mom and daughter who came one night and shoveled out my car! Does everyone have such wonderful friends and neighbors? The third for today would be thinking about the one night a week a few friends get together at the Proving Ground in Highlands for one or two drinks, some great food, an awful lot of laughter, a few serious discussions, and an all around totally relaxed evening because we all feel so comfortable with each other and enjoy each other’s company…..even when we disagree! That’s real friendship! And that makes me happy.

Because I was fortunate to be registered and called, I did have a Covid vaccine at Brookdale College this week, and I can’t begin to praise the Monmouth County Board of Commissioners, the system, the workers, the volunteers, the organization enough! I received the call that if I could get there that afternoon, I would be accepted. With my vehicle snowed in, and me not being a shoveler of heavy snow, I relied on another great friend, Jane Frotton, to give me a ride over. Jane, generous to a fault, readily did it, although she herself wasn’t registered there so could not get the vaccine. From the county police officers outside the Collins Auditorium building directing traffic and parking to the volunteers who said thanks and have a good day as I left, no one…no one…and you already know how quick I am to criticize…could have been nicer or more efficient. Check in took a minute…. temperature taken, signup paper approved, then directions to keep distance, and while you’re in line, why not fill out these papers? Papers and clipboard and pen in hand, I advanced behind dozens of other equally contented folks to the next checkpoint, all the time filling out the papers with necessary background info, including my Medicare and other insurance cards. The next equally pleasant person checked to be sure I had filled in all the blanks, asked me the usual Covid questions about time, place, and whom I’ve seen, and moved me on down the line. A white coated person saw me next, checked to see whether the blood thinners I take would be a problem, then moved me on, letting me know, when the space was open, which desk to go visit. There, my information was checked again for completeness and accuracy, and I was issued a card with the date, type of vaccine…Moderna…and date for the second vaccine. The person here also gave me a great suggestion. Why not take a photo of this card, because it’s important for you to keep it, that way, it will also be on your phone. Great hint. From there I was directed to the line to get to the vaccine itself. And here, if possible, it got even better! Brookdale is known for the excellence of its nursing program, and it’s the senior students who were volunteering to give the injections. How wonderful! Learning on the job with people who are sometimes frightened, concerned, and unsure of everything that’s going on. But each one of these women was calm, cool, pleasant, cheery, soothing, comforting…. can’t think up enough adjectives to say how incredibly wonderful the experience was. Three seconds later, a band-aid covering the injection point, I was invited to sit in another chair, equally spaced, of course, for another 15 minutes or so until staff felt confident I would have no immediate reaction. Then by the exit door, there were two more volunteers ready to wish me well and send me on my way. Counting the 15 minutes I sat after the injection, the entire procedure took no more than half an hour. With scores of people in line, it all moved so smoothly. The next day, I got a telephone call to see whether I had any untoward reactions. I had no, still have not, and am set for March 3 when I go back to the same place, same time, to receive the second vaccine in the series. There’s more good news for me personally as well. My friend, Jane, learned of another source where she could get the vaccine, and is already scheduled for hers, which makes me truly happy. And she’s got an equally generous family. Her daughter, Renee, brought her daughter, Jocelyn, to my house that night, and the pair shoveled out my car, so I didn’t feel imprisoned. And when neighbor Kevin came out to help as well, it made me realize, just once again, how fortunate I am to live in an area where people like being nice to other people, and…because I am so fortunate… I happen to have the best friends of anybody! I wonder why every college can’t be like Brookdale, every board of commissioners as concerned for their constituents, every Health Department as efficient and friendly as Monmouth County’s and everyone have friends like mine.

Next time you see a teacher in the Bayshore, especially during these awful times when it’s the parent, not the board of education, who decides whether a child is to be in the classroom or at home any day of the week, be sure to thank him or her. And remember they are here because of their love for teaching, certainly not because of the lure of high salaries. Figures just came out showing that Freehold Regional High school is the highest paid school district for teachers in Monmouth County. And at $91,450 as the median salary, that after a 3.19 per cent raise, it is the only school in Monmouth County in the top 50 districts in the state to be pulling in that kind of salary. Next highest is 51st place Asbury Park, with a medial salary just over $83,000. Atlantic Highlands is a great place to teach in the Bayshore, as their teachers, with an 8 per cent raise, are paid a median salary of $80,560, making them the district with the 67th highest median in the state. While in Highlands, the teachers are way down in 357th place out of 657 schools. Those teachers get $65,595 as the median. And it took a 9.5 per cent raise to get them that high. Strangely, both schools send their students to Henry Hudson Regional, where the median salary ranks 278th across New Jersey. The teachers there who continue the education of kids from Highlands and Atlantic Highlands, had a3.9 per cent raise to bring them up to $68,866 as the median. Even stranger are the Monmouth County Vocational Technical Schools, including MAST over at Sandy Hook. There are five vo-tech schools under that board of education. And three of them, Hi Tech, Bio Tech and MAST place in the top 20 best high schools throughout the state! But their teachers rank 209th when it comes to median salary. They got $71,570 this year….and no raise at all. So it’s clear our teachers here go to their classrooms because they love their work, love their students, and feel they are making a difference. So thank them for it. By the way, the lowest median in New Jersey schools is in East Newark borough in Hudson County. Teachers there average $44,258.

Seeing Wanda R write what makes her happy is one of the three things today that made me happy. I’m a firm believer in positive thinking and taking aside a couple of minutes to concentrate on just three things in that particular day that made you happy makes you feel even happier. I encourage you to try it and share. Besides sharing Wanda’s happiness, I was also happy today that Father Jarlath said an extra mass this evening in case anyone who could not make it this morning had a second chance, and I took advantage of it. That’s because I have so much to be thankful for, not the least of which is that five years ago today I was in that 27 minute trial that cured me from cancer without pain, surgery, radiation or chemo, simply because I was diagnosed early and dared to try something no one in New Jersey and only 17 people in the nation tried. This marks the end of the trial for this wonderful procedure developed by ICE CURE, a great company in Israel. Look to Veni, Vidi, Scripto very soon again to see what happened in my five year and final checkup for breast cancer. A great story with a happy ending.

Seeing the sunrise over the ocean at Sandy Hook is a spectacular sight that would make anyone happy every day but even so, some are more spectacular than others. One of the things that makes me happy every day is living in the Bayshore where I can enjoy such spectacular sights. I’ll write about Carol Bucco and a side of her many may not know, but I’ll save that for another day. While I mourn her passing and will miss her dearly, another thing that made me happy today was hearing Courtney Grogan sing such a spectacular mass. I’m also fortunate, as are all the parishioners of OLPH-St Agnes, to hear Courtney sing every Sunday, but today, with several new hymns I had not heard before, her unparalleled Ave Maria, and the feeling she pours into her music can make you feel better even at a very sad time. I’m also happy today because I viewed another chapter in my Great Courses on American History I’m taking and learned more about why Thomas Jefferson collected the variety of books, in the variety of languages he did. We all profit from it centuries later, since he sold them to the nation after the British burned the Library of Congress during the War of 1812…At the time, Mr. Jefferson had the most comprehensive collection of literature in the nation!