Serenity Now

The word vacation has been a figment of my imagination for a while. I would love nothing more to have no cell phone service or internet for a week while soaking up sun. However that seems extremely hard to achieve these days. My family has a small place Upstate but we even can't get ourselves up there.

When I was younger I despised going up to the cabin- I wanted no part of it. I was a kid part of the technology age. I didn't want to go to a place with only 5 T.V. channels and our closest neighbors were 1/2 a mile away. I also wasn't fond of the whole nature part either. Hiking in the forest with other animals for some reason scared me to death. The only thing I looked forward to was a trip to the Super Wal-Mart which is about 40 minutes from our cabin. It was practically the only sign of civilization I saw during my stays there.

As I have grown I've learned that seclusion isn't so bad. It's actually quite nice. It's almost spiritual. Now I can't wait to go to my cabin to just walk around, take pictures and breathe in that nice, clean air. The best part is looking at the stars at night- I can see stars! My cabin has become my little sanctuary in many ways. I feel more creative and rejuvenated with each trip I make.


I think it's important to have a personal sanctuary. Sure I wish I could rent a house in the Italian countryside but for now I'll work with what I have. It's vital to learn to relax and unwind so that sanity is kept in tact. With the way the world is today everyone can use a break from reality. It's okay to be a little selfish and focus on yourself for a bit. It's as easy as turning off a cell phone.

Whether it be a little cabin upstate, a spa trip, or even a dip in the pool, do whatever keeps you sane and cherish it. I know it's hard, but try. Mental health is just as important as physical health.

Hopefully I will catch you kids in a more peaceful state.

Be happy,
Catherine

End of an Era

I recently received word that the elementary school I attended will close its doors for good on June 30, 2010. I was fortunate enough to attend St. Francis of Assisi School from 1995-2005. I remember my first day of Pre-K being terrified as I latched onto my mother’s arm. As soon as I entered the classroom I was warmly greeted by my teachers and fellow classmates and the rest was history.

As the years went on, I had wonderful teachers who have inspired me and encouraged me to explore my talents. If it weren’t for my eighth grade teacher, Mrs. Williams, I might have not decided to follow the path of journalism. Then there is my art teacher, Mrs. Zeuner who believed in me and because of her I have a deep appreciation of the arts that I have tried to carry out through my high school and college careers. And last but not least, there is my third grade teacher Sr. Therese, the woman is a saint. I’ll never forget our daily rosary prayer session in the chapel, the cursive lessons, and our weekly spelling bees. At the end of that particular school year she even gave me her blue rosary beads she used everyday which I still prize and use. Because of Sr. Therese I have learned to pray and I understand the importance of prayer and how it is our direct line to God.

St. Francis has become more of a family than a school for me. The people there have nurtured me to enable me to become the strong, independent person I am today. I have formed friendships, some that even have lasted to this day. It is safe to say without the St. Francis family I would be a different person.

I am aware of the controversy around this decision to have the school closed but I hope we can put this behind us and move forward. I am not saying I agree or support what has happened and how this situation has been handled, but, we cannot linger on this unfortunate event. We must move on and forge ahead like the strong family we are. We need to ensure that our parish is not affected because then I will shortly be writing about our church being closed down.

Before graduating from St. Francis back in 2005 I remember thinking how this school will live on forever. I even thought of one day sending my children to St. Francis so that they could have the same experiences as I did. Never would I have imagined that these thoughts would merely be dreams.

My heart is heavy and tears have been shed. My hopes are that we can come together and protect what remains of our family. I pray that the St. Francis of Assisi parish will once again see its golden days.

Goodbye to an institution, a family, and a legend that will live on forever in my heart and fond, loving memories and those of others.