Easter Sunday Morning Struck

This Easter Sunday marks eight years since I was cruising along Interstate 95 at 65 mph when the stroke struck. Since that day, I've accomplished much, starting with relearning the basic things: how to walk, swallow, and talk. I also wrote a memoir, My Stroke in the Fast Lane: A Journey to Recovery, which tells about the adventure, stroke prevention (Did you know that heart attacks and strokes are the #1 killer of women, even over cancer??), and the importance of positive thinking.

I still have a shaky right hand and right-sided weakness. When I had the stroke, I was certainly not able to thread a needle and sew on a button. NOW ... yes!!! I can do it!! There are these handy-dandy needle threaders, and with great patience, I sewed these brass buttons onto my jacket. Personal triumph abounds!

I treasure every moment and am grateful for everything I am able to do. (Even being here typing this message to you eight years later.)

My Beloved Mother Put to Rest on Martha's Vineyard

Mom, whose ashes were placed in this elegant hat box, on my lap during the ride to the Vineyard

We tucked in Mom next to my father, David H. Kogen, who was buried on Martha's Vineyard in 1986. The beginning of my book, My Stroke in the Fast Lane: A Journey to Recovery may be dramatic with having a stroke while driving on an interstate highway at 65 mph. But not as dramatic at my father, who died right on the tennis court while making a serve. 

Mom lived a wonderful, long life at 94. She died a natural death of old age. God bless her. 

Here are Betty's obituaries that appeared in the Vineyard Gazette and Westport Journal.

I miss her so very much.

"Islanders Write" hosted by MV TIMES & Edgartown Books

Welcome! In the morning, there was a great selection of workshops. The one I took, lead by esteemed New York Times writer Nicole Galland, was about layering characters and what might influence them:

Then, off to sell books (thanks to friends & neighbors for stopping by). At the evening cocktail party, writers had an oppportunity to read from their books:  

One of the bonuses of the day was having my good old friend Norman Birnbach present his book, Stealing Time. 

 

"Islanders Write" & Edgartown Books have a whoopdeedoo weekend coming up!

I'm thrilled to be part of "Islander Writes" and to have a book signing at Featherstone Center for the Arts on Saturday, March 15, from 2 to 3:00 p.m.

Followed by a reception from 5-7:00 pm hosted by EDGARTOWN BOOKS:

"Islanders Write" celebrates writers & offers a smattering of (free!) workshops on both Saturday & Sunday. Will be fun!

"Make new friends, but keep the old. One is silver & the other is GOLD."

Best friends for an incredible 60 years!! Leslie and I met in 3rd grade in Miss Meyer's Quilt Club. On Wednesdays at Jefferson School in Maplewood, NJ, we brought our lunch to school and quilted. (Imagine little hands sewing together colorful squares of fabric.)

Leslie was intrigued by my lunches, which she said were "so Betty." (My Mother.)

"They would be these little rolled-up pieces of lunch meat with a toothpick, a bag of carrots or something else healthy, and an apple, or something else healthy. I'd bring something like bologna slapped into a hard roll and a Twinkie or Yodel."

After posting the photo on FB, someone who shared our beloved Maplewood childhood put up these shots:

These are from our Jefferson School yearbook. (Who even thought we had one??!?) Leslie and I look like we're babies! We share so many memories.

Wrote my friend Z, my other BFF: "The power of friendship is glorious."