Memories – Thoughts From The Passenger Seat

life, Memories, 2026

Comparison

Posted on February 17, 2026February 17, 2026 by nancyb422

“Comparison is the thief of Joy” is often attributed to Teddy Roosevelt, but it dates back much farther than the end of the 1800s. There are references to it in the bible telling us that “to compare oneself to others, steals joy and leads to sin.” Ok, a little deeper than I intended to go.

Comparison… how can you NOT compare yourself to everyone around you when you have spent your life being compared to someone else?

It starts early as a twin. Weigh a little more? Measure a little longer? Eat more, drink more, poop more. Getting the picture yet?

Move on to school. Who’s smarter? Better at math, better at reading, drawing, nothing changes. But wait ’til high school!

High School….who’s prettier? friendlier? who’s dating whom? She didn’t say hi – you must be the friendly one! Oh, wait, you’re the one that didn’t say hi to me last week, I guess you’re both bitches! And cheerleaders! How did you both make it at the same time? That’s not fair! You must know someone! Oh, you’re the better cheerleader! Wait, maybe she’s the better cheerleader, I forgot who is who!

The comparisons ended at the end of high school for the most part, but the damage was done. The damage was done years ago. The damage was done as soon as we went to school. How could it not? People, adults and children alike, are all human. People don’t think of the words that hit like pebbles every time a comparison is made.

When we were in 8th grade or so, poring over our cousin’s high school yearbook. There was a set of twins graduating that year. Pretty girls with long, blonde hair. One was so pretty, and the other was pretty, but just not quite as pretty. As if the picture was fuzzy. That’s how I felt right up until we graduated.

Comparison of everything under the sun subsided long ago and all that’s left is how I feel about my body. I glance at other woman to wonder if they are as short as me? Where do they find pants to fit? Are they forever unhappy with the shape of their body?

Why do I care? I’m strong and fit.

“Comparison IS the thief of Joy”

2026, life, Memories

Love Is Blind – The Show

Posted on February 7, 2026February 7, 2026 by nancyb422

I saw on Netflix that Season 11 of Love Is Blind will be starting soon. I’m not big on manufactured drama like The Bachelor and Bachelorette, but I’ve been searching for a binge show and with 11 seasons, I might be able to make it through 5 and call it good.

This is the show where there are a bunch, 10 or 12 each, of men and women. Women in one side, men the other, and they enter pods and talk without seeing each other. Once a couple decides this is it, he proposes, they meet, they’ll go on a trip, meet family and friends, and then get married. Maybe. I’m curious to see how many get to the alter.

Last night was my first episode. There’s a man by the name of Barnett and I had his number the minute he opened his mouth. Mind you, I’m coming from a 65 year old perspective but it took my mother’s death and a rescheduled trip to Jamaica to find the man of my dreams, so I’ve seen many types of men.

Back to Barnett (I keep thinking Bennett), quick with a joke, that way of saying something, making you think it’s true, and then giving it a “nah, I’m just kidding.” The guy incapable of making a decision, has 3 girls on a hook right now but with a different relationship with each. Remember, they are in pods so are talking and don’t know what the other looks like. But the women and men talk to each other about the people they are connecting with so that can get a little dicey.

One woman, Jessica, is convinced they are a match made in heaven. LC and Barnett are “exactly alike” he says. To that I say “RUN”, you’ll never make it. The third, Amber, who I thought was a little annoying, is the one he has had the deepest conversations with.

Jessica also made a connection with Mark who is 10 years younger than her. She is 34, he is 24. But would he be there if he wasn’t mature and grounded? He’s more grounded than Barnett. Well, Jessica, casts aside Mark because she is convinced she’s going to be Mrs. Barnett. Don’t you know, Barnett turns around and says, “mmm yeah, I don’t know, I’m feeling a connection with others.”

Now Jessica lost my vote when she proclaims that she has met a million Barnetts and she’s NOT playing that game. Honey, your spidey senses should have told you to run. Nice backtrack.

In the first two episodes, there has been 3 “engagements” and one in progress at the end of the episode. Between a man and a woman who just previously said to this man she tends to self-sabotage. By the look on her face, she might be planning just that, or maybe it’s to throw us off. I will have to wait and see.

In the meantime, here is a picture of my husband and I during the week after we met at the Montego Bay, Jamaica airport.

2026, life, Memories

Bad at Math

Posted on February 1, 2026February 1, 2026 by nancyb422

I was in third grade when I realized I was bad at Math. I made my way through adding, subtracting, simple multiplication and division, but long division tripped me up and revealed what would be a life long problem.

The complexity of carrying numbers made my head ache and I just couldn’t “see” how to do it. Especially under pressure in class!

My mother spent time with me at night working on it. She would take paper headed for the trash at work and use the backs of them to make up problems for me to work on. Did it help? Perhaps, but I from that point forward I labeled myself, “Bad At Math”.

I struggled through Algebra, Geometry, and Review Math in High School. But not Accounting. Accounting had a black and white to it. It all had to add up in the end. I had two semesters of Accounting in high school and 2 in college. If my college hadn’t closed the year I graduated with my Associate’s Degree, I would have continued on for another two years to get my degree in Accounting. But, with three grades of students needing to transfer, I thought let me take my degree and go.

Now for over 25 years, I’ve worked in our remodeling business as the bookkeeper using QuickBooks. Thank Heavens, because I’m still bad at math!

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, Memories

My Brief Career as a Frog

Posted on November 10, 2025November 9, 2025 by nancyb422

After we moved back to Connecticut from California in June of 1995, I had a job at the local ABC affiliate, WTNH, in New Haven. I worked there for two and a half years before I left for California and it was my best job ever.

Unfortunately, this second time around was, I think, my worst job ever. In this position, I spent 8 hours each day at a computer entering commercials sent from the New York agencies over a dot matrix printer that never slept. I think I mentioned this in post about Frank and Kathie Lee Gifford. I lasted at the station for a year and a few months.

At the beginning of that year, WTNH signed a “local marketing agreement” with the WB and began operating WTVU. My friend Connie signed on as the Promotions Producer for the new station so she was in charge of promoting and drumming up news of the station. That’s where I come in….

I had already left the station for a new job with better hours and closer to home. Connie was looking for someone to wear the Michigan J. Frog costume at events. Of course, I said, “hey! I’ll do it!”.

*Cody and Michigan J. Frog November 1996*

In the comfort of your own home and with just your own child nearby, it’s not so bad.

My two times in public were both at Hartford Whalers hockey games at the Civic Center in Hartford, Connecticut! What was I thinking!

For the most part it was fun because no one can see your face, so I could be as silly as I wanted to be. But it wasn’t so much fun when kids, and guys, would smack me and push me! That’s why Connie was always by my side as my handler.

The craziest part of the job was that I got to ride on the Zamboni! That’s right – the driver, me, and my butt on a tank of propane gas!

Two times was enough for me. I passed the suit off to Connie and who ever else was crazy enough to wear it.

2025, Memories

Baby Naming and Brush with Fame

Posted on October 31, 2025October 30, 2025 by nancyb422

I was pregnant with our son and due in July of 1990. I found out we were having a boy around the fifth month. I admit I cried because I was not sure I could raise a boy. I had wonderful names for girls but nothing for a boy.

I knew already that his middle name would be John and my husband and I struggled to agree on a first name. It had to flow for me. It had to have more than one syllable, because “John” was one. He threw “Paine” at me but it thankfully didn’t pass the syllable test. Everything sounds so common.

One Saturday morning while we were shopping at Safeway, I saw the People magazine cover…

Besides the gorgeous JFK Jr, there was Kathie Lee with her son CODY. Hmmm, Cody John! That was it!

It was appropriate in a way that his name would come from her because I was home on the couch during my first trimester after emergency surgery from a ruptured cyst. In fact, I found out I was pregnant in the emergency room! I had never watched her before and I looked forward to watching her and Regis until I went back to work in January.

It came full circle when we moved back to Connecticut and I went to work at the local ABC affiliate television station in New Haven. I worked for National Sales inputting commercials bought by the New York sales agencies. Ugh, such tedious work, I had carpal tunnel within the first month. But one perk was being invited to the ABC luncheon at The Rainbow Room on the 65th floor of Rockefeller Plaza by the National Sales Manager.

I don’t remember much about the afternoon besides the fact that Kathie Lee and Frank Gifford were there and we all had the opportunity to have our picture taken with them! People were shuffled in and out of standing between them. When it was my turn, the Polaroid camera ran out of film so we had to wait for it to be replaced. There was my opportunity! I told them how I named my Cody after seeing Kathie and their Cody on the cover of People magazine. The loved the story. Of course I didn’t have a picture of my Cody because I was carrying a small purse. Frank on the other hand, reached into his blazer pocket and took out pictures of Cody and Cassidy to share with me. He was so proud of them!

*Me with Frank and Kathie Lee Gifford 1995 or ‘96*

It was definitely a memorable day and I’m happy I was able to share my story with them.

2025, Memories

38 Years of Life Together

Posted on October 12, 2025 by nancyb422

On October 10th, my husband and I celebrated the second of two anniversaries that were life changing for both of us.

38 years ago, on the Saturday of Columbus Day weekend, I boarded a plane from Hartford Connecticut to my new home in Castro Valley California.

My boyfriend/future husband and I met on May 2, 1987 in the Monteiro Bay Jamaica airport. A girl from Connecticut and a guy from California who both made last minute plans for the same week at the same resort. What better place to meet than the back of a box truck selling beer, followed by a 2-1/2 hour bus ride to Negril separated by an aisle and a row with some flirting going on. How did we know?

Following the end of the week, we lived on letters and phone calls, a long weekend encompassing 4th of July, a family wedding reception in Connecticut, and a week long visit to California to become engaged and plan my move.

The day came quickly, and I said my goodbyes to my dad and twin sister at the gate and I boarded the plane.

2025, Memories

On This Day In History

Posted on July 17, 2025 by nancyb422

A funny thing happened 35 years ago while trying to birth a bowling ball. It, I mean HE, didn’t want to come out!

The due date had already been adjusted and I was now a week overdue.

I entered the hospital at noon on a Monday, July 16th and was induced. It was all fun and (cribbage) games until the back contractions hit. I nearly broke my husband’s hand from squeezing it.

Finally around 5am, on Tuesday July 17th, after HOURS of no progression, the doctor said it was time for a c-section.

As they prepped me, my husband thought he was going to wait it out in the room. I said, “oh no, you’re coming with me!” And got gowned and followed me in.

I remember so clearly, the room, lying on the table, the sheet blocking my view from my lower half.

As the prepped me, I looked at the clock on the wall and said, “we’ve waited this long, can you take him out at 7:17?” They laughed and said No!

Our sweet baby was born at 7:06am on 7/17.

2025, family, life, Memories

A Sunday Morning

Posted on June 29, 2025 by nancyb422

This morning I sit in the spot my father occupied most evenings during the summer as I grew up.

In his webbed chair that glided back and forth, he’d sit with his cup of tea after dinner and watch the neighborhood go by. We might sit near by on the metal couch glider reading a book.

Was he surveying what needed to be done around the yard? Mowing the lawn was the main focus as there were no shrubs and the trees and bushes were growing “naturally”. He was not a man who enjoyed taking care of yard work and we three girls did our share of mowing the lawn (we enjoyed the exercise!). Or was he just enjoying the view, our company, and counting his blessings?

I know he would have sat here on a Sunday morning like I am as there would be a flurry of preparation for 9:15 mass. But after Sunday midday dinner, he’d be here listening to his radio with a ballgame on or country music, watching the neighborhood go by.

2025, life, Memories

KFC

Posted on June 21, 2025 by nancyb422

Which food, when you eat it, instantly transports you to childhood?

I grew up in a traditional household in the 60s and 70s. Sundays involved the 9:15 mass, picking up newspapers (New Haven Register, New York Daily News, Boston paper) with the possibility of a comic at Boylans, and a stop at my aunt’s house before we were home. Once home, we read the papers, and waited for Sunday Dinner which happened anywhere between Noon and 2 p.m. Ok, maybe I’m exaggerating, but some Sundays it felt like it was that late because everyone else was out playing while we were still waiting to eat!

Except for that rare Sunday when we got Kentucky Fried Chicken….

Kentucky Fried Chicken. There was a store across the street from our church that opened at noon. On those Sundays (usually during the summer), my mom would head back out to pick up a box or bucket. They would also get the cole slaw and mashed potatoes and gravy that went with it.

Oh that chicken! So crunchy and greasy. I probably ate it for the skin more for the chicken. You can have those big old chicken breasts at the bottom of the box or bucket! Give me a leg or thigh for that juicy dark meat. As a last resort, I’d eat the breast but I’d need a lot of cranberry sauce to wash it down.

My father would jokingly swear that the cole slaw tasted “just like ice cream” and I’m sure we choked it down. Not like now – I love cole slaw!

Stores still exist, but the one across from our church is long gone and it’s probably a good thing because, like anything else that tastes so delicious, that skin is not good for you!

The last time I had it was in 2022 when we were traveling in California to visit my father in law and we stopped to pick it up and bring it for a dinner with him. It was as good as I remembered it and I’m sure as I did every other time I ate it, I told my husband the stories of my families KFC Sunday dinners.