Cleaning the Closet

Once in a while I get lost

Once in a while I feel down

Once in a while I feel overwhelmed

Once in a while I clean a closet


Cleaning the closet…a beginning and an end.

A sigh of relief over a job well-done.

Pull everything out

Assess it

What goes back in

What gets thrown away

Be discriminating

You don’t have to keep everything

Some things are a surprise

Some things are just nasty

And you wonder why you kept them in the first place


Cleaning the closet, like cleaning the cobwebs from your mind

Is good for the soul

It has a beginning

And an end

And you can deal with all the crap in the process

What do you keep?

How do you let it go?

Can you really give that up?


Yes, I can

When I get lost, I clean a closet

When I feel down, I clean a closet

When I feel overwhelmed, I clean a closet

When I clean a closet I feel better.


My mind is clear

My heart is free

My thoughts are organized

I’ve gotten rid of the crap

That goes along with living

That gets in the way of living

To make room for life

And all it has to offer



When I feel down, I clean a closet.

Watery Wednesday: Gone Fishing?

One photo is worth a thousand words...

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The Shore is Waiting

Does it get any better than this?

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Watery Wednesday: OCNJ We're going on VACATION!

It's been a long, rainy summer here in Connecticut. And it's been a harder year than last. I am looking forward to taking a deep breath of ocean air on Friday afternoon. Ocean City, New Jersey has been a favorite vacation spot of ours for over 10 years now and if I can just see the ocean once a year, I am refreshed.
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Watery Wednesday: Above the Falls

Once you climb the trails to the top of Kent Falls, the scene changes. There is peace and quiet, the trails widen. The water is placid and lazy. Peace of mind. Lovely.

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Skywatch Friday: OCNJ Kites!

We go on vacation in a little less than a month now. I can't wait! I am looking forward to taking some excellent shots of the kites this year. There are always about a zillion of them up in the sky. It's really cool when you see 5 or more kites on one line and see the sky loaded up with them.

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Watery Wednesday: Kent Falls babbling brook

at the base of the falls are picnic tables, charcoal grills and this babbling brook. It makes for a restful afternoon. For more great Watery Wednesday pics, please visit http://waterywednesday.blogspot.com

Buddy Friday: Living on Your Own in College

My oldest daughter just completed her second year of college. She moved out of the dorms and into an apartment so she could intern over the summer. She was very excited at the prospect and grateful that she has a job waitressing to cover her expenses. We thought the opportunity would be good for her both for the experience of interning as well as the experience of "living on her own." We figured it would give her a good idea of whether or not she was ready for an apartment setting for the school year.

There are a lot of things a college kid doesn't know (even though they're convinced they know everything). How to set up a budget, how to balance a checking account, when is rent due, how does a wire work. All this was new to her. She asked questions, got answers, but felt like she should have been imparted with this knowledge somewhere along her educational journey.

I told her I would look for some sort of reference for her. I didn't know if it would be a beginning budget or bookkeeping book, i really didn't know what I would find when I went to the bookstore. The answer was "not much". It is funny, there is a huge push for college shopping, outfit your dorm room with the coolest, latest, greatest stuff. $pend money, money, money (after you've paid the tuition$$ mind you). But there is no reference for a college student to spend their money WISELY.

I plowed through the section, looked through books and the best I could do was a woman's guide to living independently. I did buy a copy as it did have a chapter on how to budget your money as well as how to save, how to invest. A grow into guide if nothing else. I may find myself writing a book.

Caitlin has decided to live off-campus this year, has found a rent and a roommate. I'm very proud of her. I'm also glad she has the opportunity to learn how to live on her own with the safety net of college and mom and dad before it's just her, an apartment and work.

I would love to know: What is your best tip for a college student living on her own for the first time?

Watery Wednesday: Kent Falls After the Rain

It has been very wet and rainy in Connecticut for the better part of the last six weeks. The Fourth of July was the first sunny warm day in a very long time. We visited Kent Falls on Sunday along with thousands of our closest friends! It was a beautiful day, the trails were a lush green and the falls were thundering loud. Even the smallest inlets were full of water. It was a beautiful day. For more great Watery Wednesday posts, please visit http://waterywednesday.blogspot.com.

One Less

Our Community lost a piece of its future tonight. In one earth-shattering moment, one of our children was taken away from us forever. What was supposed to be a day of celebration, the completion of another school year in sleepy New Fairfield turned tragic at a party. No, alcohol wasn't involved, no there was no mean-spirited hazing, yes the parents were in attendance. But in one swift moment our lives were changed forever.

We're not supposed to lose our children. They are to out-live their parents, out-shine them in their abilities. They are supposed to make the world a better place. Catherine Burke will never have that chance. She should be lazing the summer away having her mother tell her to get up each morning. Now her mother walks past her empty room. One less at the table, one less in the car. One less.

Instead of gathering for the next party, our community gathers for a funeral. Our hearts have been changed tonight. Our sympathies go out to the Burke family. The loss of one child diminishes us all.

Skywatch Friday: That's Atlantic City!

Ocean City, New Jersey is literally an island unto itself, located about 20 miles south of Atlantic City. This picture was captured early in the morning before the haze lifted. Normally invisible, it was amazing to see with such clarity, the outline of the ACNJ skyline.

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Watery Wednesday, Kent Falls

This is one of the many inlets of Kent Falls. I was in a reflective, quiet mood today as my eldest daughter turns 20. I looked for a picture to post that expresses the calmness and thoughtfulness that I feel. I am so proud of my daughter.

Love and Happiness to all.

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Skywatch Friday: Roadtrip to Hartford

The sky has been laden with clouds over the last month. Some good, some bad--we've had a lot of rain. The sky was bright and pretty on our ride up to Hartford a couple weeks ago. The perfect backdrop against such an interesting building.

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Skywatch Friday: Steubie U

My eldest daughter just finished her sophomore year of college. Two years ago this summer we were looking at schools together. It seems like yesterday. One of her selections was Franciscan University located in Steubenville, Ohio, a mere 9 hours away from our home in Connecticut and located in a part of the country I had never visited. These were a couple of shots from the area.

Built in 1990, this is the New Steubenville Bridge. It is a cable-stayed bridge connecting Steubenville, Ohio and Weirton, West Virginia. The sky was angry when we came into town. And then the storm came in as we were trying to find a place to eat that night!

This is the chapel at Franciscan University, or "Steubie U". We were lucky that our tour was the next morning as it was a beautiful blue sky. The perfect way to see a prospective college! We stayed on campus until about 3 when it was time to head back to Connecticut. We had a wonderful trip and some great memories. Caitlin didn't end up going to Franciscan but it is a visit that we have not forgotten. By the way...a caffeinated daughter for a 9 hour road trip is an interesting experience...
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Watery Wednesday: Fishing Club Pier, OCNJ

This is a view of the Fishing Club on Boardwalk and 14th in Ocean City, New Jersey. The colors and shadows are so beautiful late in the day and I love how calm the ocean is in this picture. Please visit more Watery Wednesday posts at http://waterywednesday.blogspot.com.

One Glorious Summer

This is my favorite time of year, my favorite feeling. Summer lets us slow down, appreciate the warm weather and lazy days. Memorial Day has come and gone, the beginning of a very short season here in Connecticut. Enjoy.

For one glorious summer time did not matter
Every day was Friday
It was always 5:05 on our deck
Ready to relax

For one glorious summer our home was the place to be
Friends came to stay
Our way of life becoming theirs
Their hearts have never left

For one glorious summer we loved each other
And our children
And our friends
As if there was nothing more important on this earth

…and there’s not…

For one glorious summer we felt the love of friends long lost
And made new ones as well
Our world and our hearts becoming bigger
With each addition

For one glorious summer time did not matter
Family and friends did
We were happy
We were home

For one glorious summer we changed our lives forever

It was one glorious summer…

Summer 2008, Laurie Gerry

Watery Wednesday: Bull's Bridge/Appalachian Trail

We were hiking on the Bull's Bridge portion of the Appalachian Trail in Northwestern Connecticut. It was our first hike as a family and we did get a little turned around. The scenery, however, was stunning. To see more watery posts, please visit http://waterwednesday.blogspot.com.

My World Tuesday: One Room Schoolhouse

This is West Centre School, the last of 7 one-room schoolhouses for the District of New Fairfield. It is a landmark now but from the early 1800s to 1940 was a functioning school. The teacher made roughly $10 a MONTH in 1830. There was a wood stove for heat and no running water. The term began on October 1 of each year and it was each family's duty to provide firewood and a new broom. Oh--the two doors? One for boys and one for girls, each leading to their own cloakroom before entering the classroom.

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Watery Wednesday: Hazy days of August, OCNJ

I love peaking through the dunes and catching such peaceful scenes!

My World Tuesday: Spring has Sprung!

We have had a very long winter here in Connecticut! Snow fell early and stayed on the ground for most of the season, which is somewhat unusual. I felt the need to go out and take pictures of the early spring flowers, these were taken yesterday, April 26.

Spring has finally sprung!

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