Bonni Brodnick Blog

What was I thinking that Easter Sunday morning when I was driving on I-95 at 65mph with my mother & discussing my son's upcoming marriage in only eight weeks? HAVING A STROKE RIGHT THERE ON THE HIGHWAY, while cruising in the middle lane, was far from my thoughts. One reviewer said, "With a narrative that radiates authenticity and candor, Bonni's tenacity, unyielding determination, and unique sense of humor become beacons of hope in the darkest corners of 'Stroke Land'. Her exceptional bravery and unwavering determination are profoundly inspiring, rendering this book a deeply engaging and emotionally charged journey into the limitless resilience of the human spirit." [Crooked head and right-sided weakness are remnants from the stroke.] "My Stroke in the Fast Lane: A Journey to Recovery" is available at your favorite local bookstore, Bookshop.org & Amazon.

                                                                                                                      Photo: Unsplash When my son went off to college, I cried. A lot. Every time I saw a school bus, I would get teary. The CD in my car was cued up to "Sweet Dreams, Little Man," by the Dixie Chicks.  I was a wreck every time I listened to it. When my daughter went off to the same college two years later, they drove down our country road in the same car. (We were still living in Pound Ridge, New York.) My husband and I waved goodbye and shouted, "See you at Thanksgiving!"  When the car was out of sight, we made two large Gin & Tonics, took out the cigarettes, and ate...

Originally published in MEDIUM, "Age of Empathy" Escape From Gel Nail Manicure Hell Words From a Former Addict Bonni Brodnick 4 min read · Jun 14, 2022 2.4K 32 Press enter or click to view image in full size Photo by  KARTIK GADA  on  Unsplash My name is Bonni.  I am a recovered gel nail manicure addict.  After several years of falling into this beauty trap, my fingernails sent me a message, loud and clear: T hey wanted to breathe. No doubt, the durability of the gel nail procedure is remarkable.  With it, you can confidently use your nails and not feel worried about scraping the crud from the bottom of dirty pots or even slamming your nails when you reach for the car door too fast.  Put your piggies through practically anything, and your model-perfect manicure will remain intact. Press enter or click to view image in full size Photo by the Author How do you get gel nails? The manicurist will remove any nail polish you have on, then soak your hands in ...

Originally appeared in MEDIUM, "The memoirist" Man, can this guy sing and write lyrics, or what? James Taylor & Me: How We Met The rock-a-bye of Sweet Baby James                                                                       Courtesy of Discogs.com It was a summer night on Martha’s Vineyard when I was introduced to the captivating sound of sweet baby James. “Sunny Skies,” “Steamroller,” and “Oh, Susannah” were just some of his songs that captivated me and millions of baby boomers who could sing along in the key of C Major. “Who’s going to Teen Night?” my mother asked. Teen Night  took place every Thursday night at the Chilmark Community Center, which was just down the road from us. My siblings and I hopped in the back seat of our Oldsmobile Vista Cruiser station wagon. This was the design where ther...