Author: nancyb422

I am a collector of family history - pictures, stories, facts - whatever I can get my hands on. I share that at It's All About Family. I started Thoughts From the Passenger Seat because I have a lot on my mind! It started riding on the back of my husband's motorcycle and on business appointments but I don't do much of either anymore but the thoughts are still there. I enjoy writing and I hope you find something that you connect with on either of my blogs. Thoughtsfromthepassengerseat.blog - Thoughts From the Passenger Seat NancyB422.com - It’s All About Family

2025, Goals, life

Here’s the Plan

Posted on December 28, 2025December 28, 2025 by nancyb422

Yesterday we hiked the road to the tower of our local state park. It has well-marked trails, as well as a road to the tower. We haven’t been there in a very long time, but instead of walking on the treadmill, I said, “Let’s go to the tower!”

While we were walking, I came up with a plan to track what was important to me. In 2026, I want to keep track of hikes, bike rides, and day trips or longer travel events.

It took me three tries earlier in the month, but I have my day planner for the upcoming year. I was like Goldilocks. I ordered one from Amazon and returned it, bought one from Walmart, and gave it to my husband. I finally looked a little harder and bought this one on Amazon.

In the back, it has blank pages, and will keep a list of each event. I’ll likely write it in on the day itself, but by having a list, I can tell with a glance that we need to take a hike! I think I will write about potential places to visit on the Events/Travel page.

This is part of my plan for a more thoughtful 2026.

Do you do anything like this?

2025, Healthy Living, life

Beginning is easy, Continuing is Hard

Posted on December 26, 2025December 26, 2025 by nancyb422

That is a Japanese Proverb and it is oh, so true. For me, at times, even the Beginning is hard.

I told my husband this morning that this week will be a week of working on new habits and re-starting habits that fell by the wayside over the year. I’ll determine what works, what I like, and what I don’t and carry that in to the new year.

Some of those habits include:

Reading my daily bible plan entry in the Bible app
Writing a morning journal entry from the Ordinary and Happy website
Morning time management. I don’t have to get to the office at 9am, but I like to because then I can focus on organizational tasks instead of routine tasks
Schedule at least one day off each week
When we get a text for a bike ride – do it! Even if it’s a Monday (payroll can be done up until 8pm EST)
Plan breakfast, lunch, and my workout the night before
Wind down for the night after dinner so when the 9pm alarm goes off to take my magnesium pill, I’m ready to head upstairs. I love time to read in bed!

Is that too much? There at times, especially at night when I’m watching a show, I’m like an obstinate child. the alarm goes off, I turn it off, continue watching, and forget to take my pill altogether!

Wish my luck and we’ll see what sticks!

2025, family, life

Merry Christmas!

Posted on December 25, 2025 by nancyb422

*My sweet mini Christmas tree and the morning sunrise*

Christmas Day, re-birth, a new beginning. Like a precursor to the new year. I’ll spend the week, contemplating the past year and the year ahead.

My husband and I have opened our presents, all purchased by me this past Saturday. Various candies we enjoy, a book, puzzle, and gift cards. Gone are the days of agonizing over what to buy because we spent so little on ourselves through the year, it felt like we “needed” everything. Now, we need nothing, want nothing.

Our son and daughter-in-love will come over mid-morning for a late breakfast and to exchange presents. I’m grateful they live a few miles away, and more grateful that they want to be with us in the morning.

After they leave, I’ll break open my new puzzle – White Mountain brand, Saturday Cartoons – and we’ll watch Arthur Christmas, which was recommended on my “Ordinary and Happy” December 25th Daily Planner. I was not successful completing any of the suggested items but Today is always a great day to start.

I hope your day is a blessed one where ever and how ever you spend it.

2025, life

Another Tuesday Funeral

Posted on December 17, 2025December 17, 2025 by nancyb422

Yesterday, like last Tuesday, I went to a funeral. This was a much different one. This man was 17 days shy of his 89th birthday when he passed away, and he was surrounded by family who loved him and caregivers who had grown to love him over the time they’ve been with him and his wife in their home.

He was my sister’s father-in-law, and because my sister and her husband started dating in high school, fifty years ago, we have all known each other a very long time. The family has always included my family and me as part of their family.

His name was Marty, but he was also known as Lefty, and with the seven grandchildren, he was Pop. He enlisted in the Navy at 17 (he lied and said he was 18), met his future wife, married, and had three children. He was an embalmer for the family funeral home, owned a gas station at one point, and eventually settled on owning a boarding kennel in 1975, shortly after my sister and her husband started dating.

We would spend Sundays at the pool on the kennel property during summers in college, and again when our son was young. He would walk up from the house or the kennel to see what was going on. Memorial Day, July 4th, and Labor Day were spent there with him and his wife, their kids, and grandkids. My dad was always included in the picnics and Sunday afternoons.

In the winter, they lived in Florida, and for the summer, they traveled to Connecticut. Several years ago, they started slowing down, so the condo was sold, and they moved north full-time.

Over the past few months, he declined quickly, and he passed away on Wednesday, December 10th.

There were calling hours and a service at the family funeral home where he worked, and he was interred with military honors at the cemetery in the family plot. His son-in-law and two granddaughters gave eulogies, and as they spoke, I remembered the man he was. He always had a smile on his face, was quick with a joke, loved to push people in the pool, and was happy to talk to you. He lived a long and full life. ❤️

2025, life

Death and the Holidays

Posted on December 15, 2025December 14, 2025 by nancyb422

I started this to talk about funerals and I still might but I know have to ask first, What is it about the holidays and death?

I attended a funeral last Tuesday for a former classmate. His death was not unexpected, it was just a matter of when because of life choices.

Wednesday evening, while at our group Christmas dinner and cookie swap, my sister received a phone call from her husband, that his father passed away. This was also not unexpected due to health issues and age. The service will be Tuesday.

Friday, while scrolling through Facebook, an obituary popped up for an elderly woman whom our company completed many remodeling projects for her and her daughter’s family. The wake is today.

All 2 to 3 weeks before Christmas. It feels so cruel, or is it so they will never be forgotten? My mother died two weeks before Easter when I was turning 27. My father died 23 years later on Palm Sunday and we buried him the day before Good Friday. Something I’ve never forgotten.

Now about funerals. A lot of people will only go to the wake but not the funeral. Even if the church is a straight mile down the road. Me? I attend the funeral. I see it as helping to send them home. I realize their soul has already departed, and maybe it’s more for me than for them. But I find comfort in the service.

What are your thoughts on death during the holidays and funerals?

2025, life

Stories Of My Life

Posted on December 11, 2025December 10, 2025 by nancyb422

Two years ago(!), my son and daughter-in-law gave me a StoryWorth subscription for Christmas. I have a total of 47 stories, but 11 of them I haven’t started yet! I might remove a few of them, though. I have a long way to go until completion.

Right now, I’m taking each story, editing it, and adding new information and pictures. Once the story is done, I add the name to a list, and I swear I will not go back and make any more changes.

I think it will be interesting to have all these stories in one place. I would like to do the same thing for the blog posts I’ve written at It’s All About Family. I think it would be nice to have all those stories in one place, categorized by family. Another project to work on!

Have you written your StoryWorth life story? How long did it take you?

2025, life, World War II

December 7, 1941

Posted on December 7, 2025December 7, 2025 by nancyb422

I wrote about my Uncle Walt’s experience at Pearl Harbor in my family blog “It’s All About Family” in May of 2024 as part of 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks.

He was 19 years old and fresh out of radio school that Sunday morning.

You can read his story here.

2025, Books, Memories

Cheaper By The Dozen

Posted on December 4, 2025December 3, 2025 by nancyb422

One of my favorite books growing up was “Cheaper by the Dozen”. It was a memoir published in 1948 by the children of Frank Bunker Gilbreth and Lillian Moller Gilbreth of New Jersey and takes place from the early 1900s through 1924.

Frank and Lillian were Time and Motion Study and Efficiency experts and they worked with companies to show how employees could be more efficient in their jobs. They had 12 children (actually 11 because one daughter died from diphtheria when she was 5).

The book shares stories of growing up in such a large family with a larger than life father in Frank.

I remembered this book when I was in the shower this morning – isn’t that where we all do our best thinking? One of the scenes in the book is Frank the father, showing his children, and then a larger audience, how to efficiently take a bath! He sits in a tub, or on the floor and describes as he goes through the motion of moving the soap from one side to the other, up the arms, down the legs and everywhere in between. His children were horrified!

The title of the book came from the times they would be driving down the road in the large, custom car they had to fit all the kids (this was the 1910s-20s), and someone would yell out, “Hey mister, how come you got all those kids?” He’d reply “Because they’re Cheaper by the Dozen!”.

The book was turned into a movie two years later and starred Clifton Webb and Myrna Loy, and a sequel called, “Belles on their Toes” was published which talks of the families life after Frank dies and Lillian continues the time and motion study company.

You might only know of the 2003 remake that stars Steve Martin. I’ve never watched it and likely never will! I think I will add the two books to my “Read again” list for some pleasant reading because my heavy books.

Have you ever read either book or seen either movie?

2025, life

Letting Go

Posted on December 2, 2025December 2, 2025 by nancyb422

I currently have 197 open tabs on my IPhone. I feel like that says something about me. Will I miss one of it’s gone? Will I even notice?

My IPad and laptop are not that bad. By the way, my IPad and phone are not synced. Not since I had a faulty password app and nearly lost ALL my passwords.

Anyway, my life has always been a little like that too. Keep stuff gathered around so I don’t forget them. Projects, papers, files…

If I put it away, if I close the tab, I might want it later and won’t be able to find it again. Sort of like that jacket you never wear so you give it to Goodwill and then you buy a pair of pants and realize the jacket would have been perfect for it!

Maybe December is the time to close those tabs, put those files and papers away and make a note of where they are. It’s time to tidy up for the new year.

2025, Holidays, life

Holiday Decorating

Posted on December 1, 2025November 30, 2025 by nancyb422

We put our Christmas tree up this weekend and I enjoyed decorating it this year. Probably because I don’t plan on doing much else!

The tree is in the middle of the combined family room dining room, in front of the sliding door. At the top is the macaroni star our son made in daycare. I know I should replace it, but I haven’t found anything I like better. There are a variety of ornaments – from my parents collection that my sister divided up, ornaments handmade from one of my aunts, handmade by me for our son, and ornaments we’ve been purchasing in our trips. It’s a nice variety.

For the past few years, I also decorated a small 5 foot tree in the “formal” living room which used to be my only living room. I would put Wallace Silversmith silver plated balls on this tree and it had the option for white lights, colored lights, or blinking lights. I like the colored ones the best and I loved the way they shined off the silver balls. This year I’m just too lazy! It’s a chore to pack and unpack the silver plated ornaments.

I still have to finish adding my son’s collection of nutcrackers that remained here, and my collection of Santa’s from over the years. My family part is on the 13th so I still have time!

Are YOU done with your decorating?