It wasn’t Churchill Downs and it wasn’t Mint Juleps but friends Muriel Smith, Debbie Appello, Brenda Hotchkiss and Jane Frotton enjoyed a great Derby evening with a great waitress, Laura, at the Harborside Inn Sunday evening

Three things that made me happy today….and I had to work hard to narrow it down to three…. Seeing so many people subscribe to my Veni Vidi Scripto blog at https://6001f9f5595f3.site123.me/; Seeing some of the magnificent art work at the Atlantic Highlands Art Alliance museum and shop on First Avenue, And Zooming with my dear friends at

in Israel who I know are as excited as I am that next week marks five years since their magic potion cured my breast cancer without any surgery. But I’ll have more on that in a future Veni Vidi column.

Although good things happen every day that keep me happy, it’s because there are so many of them that I don’t always take the time to stop and narrow down the daily list to just three. But big or small, each is always something that makes a difference in my day. Now it’s your turn! Send me the three things that made you happy today. Mine today are both big and small happinesses! I enjoyed a wonderful evening out with three friends at our Thursday night ritual at the Proving Ground in Highlands where we enjoy an evening of wine, whining, and winning solutions to whatever bothers us.. We can accomplish that every week. Two: Being able to hear from Monmouth County Clerk Christine Hanlon how much she enjoyed this year’s Mock Jury contest by high school students from across the county. Christine recalled when she herself was the volunteer who coordinated all these magnificent events for students as a most unique extracurricular activity. Three: I have some very hungry and very friendly squirrels who either climb up the column or run up the 16 steps to my apartment in the trees to take advantage of the peanuts and corn cobs I put out for their enjoyment! Now they just sit and look at me as I open the door to drop out a fresh supply for hungry diners. I swear they’re smiling and syaing thank you!

As you already know, there are many more than three things every day that make me happy, I just don’t always take the time to list them, though I always appreciate them. But today, by 9 a.m, I already had more than half a dozen things that brought a smile to my face, made me happy, and once again made me appreciate everything I have and all the wonderful people that surround me. I needed air in my tires, and working the free air machine at the Route 36 Highlands gas station isn’t one of my talents. But not one, but two men came over to help. Call it sexist, but this female was very appreciative, especially after I apologized for not being that talented, one of the man said to me, “that’s ok, I don’t know how to change a tire!” Then leaving the parking lot at the Route 36 Fitness Center, I couldn’t help but notice the half dozen hard working men who were mowing the lawn, planting flowers and generally cleaning up a mall area that always looks inviting, clean, and colorful. Back at home, I had two squirrels waiting on the steps for their anticipated treats…they run up the steps to the landing and patiently wait until I drop a couple of peanuts, then hop up on the railing so I can enjoy watching them chew, enjoy, and mess up my porch with the shells! That was ok, though, because I also heard to sparrows in the bush waiting for me to fill the feeder! The little varmints all have me trained! And in today’s Kentucky Derby, Hot Rod Charley is my favorite, not because of the French jockey, who won the last Derby by default if you remember all of that! Interestingly enough, the favorite is ridden by the jockey who lost in that awful race! But every Gamecock will be cheering on Hot Rod Charley because of the story behind it. The owner, trainer and University of South Carolina football coach all got together because a friend wanted to do something more, and they wanted to help, to memorialize his son. Seems Dad is a Gamecock alumnus, and his two sons always wanted to be as well. But one of the teenagers was tragically killed by a drunk driver, and the parents set up a scholarship fund for walk-on football players at South Carolina. Hot Rod Charley is wearing a Game Cock blanket today, and helping to support that scholarship fund and a soon to be football player who missed out on selection or scholarship. Not crazy about the egotistical rider, but hope he wins this one. Then there’s that new indoor plant store that’s opening with a formal ribbon cutting my Mayor Gluckstein next weekend. Kennedy and Vine sounds like a great place for everything from potting soil and pots to indoor blooms and..I would expect…vines! Says a lot for the gumption and drive of a business owner to be able to open a new business during this Covid stuff. And a lot for First Avenue in Atlantic Highlands for being the kind of town and location new shop owners want to come to.

Living in a small town! Living in a small town like Highlands and Atlantic Highlands. Knowing you’re living in the best part of Monmouth County and New Jersey. I lived in Highlands all my adult life until my husband and I took off for ten years in an RV we gave ourselves on our 40th wedding anniversary. I lived in Atlantic Highlands not quite two years, but knew is well and knew its people well from shopping, socializing, and covering meetings and meeting the people who made this town great. So while I saw on Facebook today there are different opinions on what’s great about Highlands, I’ll put that aside for a minute to concentrate on what really made me happy today and made me realize, once again, how terrific small towns in general are. Taking a friend who doesn’t drive to her doctor’s appointment just outside of Atlantic Highlands, it was wonderful to hear how compassionate the doctor was, how he listened so attentively to her problems, how he sympathized with her aches and pains and reassured her that no, she isn’t the only one suffering some depression from the Covid situation and cancellation of social activities. He told her he was going to call in a prescription for one of her problems, answered all her questions, said a cheery goodbye and sent us on our way. We made that second appointment, again praising the doctor for his knowledge, expertise, but genuine concern for his patient. There was no rush, no in-and-out, here’s your bill here. This is a doctor who loves his patients. Granted it was only minutes, but knowing how good this doctor is, and how great Bayshore Pharmacy is, we changed stopping in the drug store just to see how long it would be before she could pick up her prescription. About three minutes if you want to wait, pharmacist Scott Eagleton said. Three minutes! That meant, not only had the doctor immediately called in the prescription, but the pharmacist received it and was working on it. And if I couldn’t wait, he would also deliver it. Where does that happen anyplace else but in a small town like Atlantic Highlands, in a pharmacy where they have been prepared for months to accept the vaccine and really help out all their neighbors, only to be put on a waiting list while the big dogs got their supplies. Seeing all the good that came first from the doctor, next from the pharmacist, it was easy to be happy, and easier yet to wipe out the memories of the criticism by some of Highlands, and what people who just moved in think of people who have lived there a lifetime. And convinced me once again that the place my husband and I chose to bring up our family, the friends I’ve made, the opportunities I’ve had, the way my life has grown simply because I live in this wonderful Bayshore is enough to make me happy every day!

I haven’t written about many things that make me happy recently, primarily because I was hoping some of you readers would write things that make you happy and we could share them. But the truth is, there is no limit on the things that make me happy, some for a second, some for many minutes, some for the entire day. But every little thing that makes you happy is something to be thankful for. Saturday I went to the new bakery on West Avenue in Atlantic Highlands simply because I learned firsthand the week before that their croissants are the best I’ve ever tasted. So I was all set for another one Saturday and my taste buds were jumping up and down with joy. Then I got there and found the shop was closed with a very polite apology on the door and the assurance it would be open Sunday. I saw two cars leaving just as I pulled in and another gentleman was coming up to the door as I was leaving., So I broke the sad news to him as well, we shared some comments on what a great addition this it to Atlantic Highlands and both promised we’d be back the next day. So I had no choice, of course, and returned this morning. That’s when I met Valerie, the charming and friendly owner who is also a fantastic baker. I learned she had to close because she was taking her daughter to look at a prospective college for next year and had to take the time off to go to Georgia. I told her I admired her priorities, but when I told her I didn’t see any croissants in the case, she said not to worry, she had them. But then she added, “and if I didn’t, I would bake you some!” Does that ever make you happy? Valerie lives in Middletown and already is in love with Atlantic Highlands. Not only are the people so polite and friendly she said, but she added “I love when they come in here and know each other and greet each other right in my bakery!” So just look at how many other people are happy! Sometimes I think we all have little things that make us happy, and some more little things that could make us happy if we just took the time to stop and think about it. Try it! Bet you’ll find at least three things that made you happy today! Share some of them if you’d like, and make other people feel happy. It’s contagious! Then at the Girls Café in Highlands…a place that always makes me happy…. That hard working and very ambitious Mike has already put out some spectacular flowers in stands around the outdoor dining area…makes you happy just to think the tables are there, the sun is shining, and the days are warming up. According to what I hear, Mike is promising “You ain’t seen nothing yet!” because there are a few more special touches he wants to add to the decor. So keep you eye on the Girl’s Café…actually, try Vera’s oatmeal and ask her to add the cranberries and walnuts…a very pretty place with a personality all its own might be getting even prettier this season!

Again. Just so many things that make me happy. Today I want to talk about two that also reiterate my belief that everything happens for a reason, and good comes from everything. I have always believed I was diagnosed with breast cancer in order to be part of the trial that would help prove there are indeed other solutions to killing breast cancer rather than chemo, radiation and surgery. Definitely not in all cases, simply because one cure does not work for everyone. But cryoablation, freezing the cancerous tumor to death, is definitely an option for many women who get regular mammograms and discover breast cancer early. My stories on my procedure and five years of cancer freedom have been spread far and wide and hopefully are making IceCure, the name of the company in Israel that created this means of curing cancer. Now this week, I learned that

, that incredible radiologist at Centra State Hospital in Freehold is concentrating on making the procedure better known now that five years of trial is successful and complete. The doctor was the professional who did my cryoablation and though I had not met him until about three weeks before he performed the procedure, we have been in touch and friends ever since. Hopefully now more women will hear about Dr. Tomkovich, will hear that Centra State has the courage to trial new trials and will take advantage of what cyroablation offers. I still say it was the easiest choice I ever made, because I always knew that even if it didn’t work, I could also opt for one of those other less palatable solutions. Now the same thing has happened since I developed aging macular degeneration, (AMD) the leading cause of blindness in people over 65. Annoyed no medical doctor or optometrist had ever advised me of how many people this disease affects and taking a simple capsule twice a day called AREDS, available any every drug store, could possibly help slow the process, I immediately began writing about it once I grew accustomed to getting those needles in my eye once a month. This week a learned the editor of a Health magazine e-mailed me to say she’s interested in my story and asked me to write it. So once again, hopefully, because I have AMD many others can learn more about it, learn what they can do to avoid or diminish the effects of it, and perhaps save their vision for years to come. Now that also makes me happy! I’ve had two not so terrific diagnoses in the last five years. Both times, my cases were a bit out of the norm. Because I’m a writer I have the ability to spread the word about them and possibly help others. And I am. And it’s working. Isn’t that enough to make anyone happy?

It’s still morning, and yet so far I have so many things to be thankful for and that make me happy, I have to add them now. The first was receiving a spectacular video from a friend on Ice Cure, that wonderful Israeli company that cured my breast cancer. The video is posted here and should be of interest to every woman who might face this awful disease because Ice Cure certainly offers a great way out of it. But for me personally, it is great to see two very intelligent women explaining the procedure, both women I now call my friends, both because of my visit to Israel after I had the procedure and their kindness to me there and secondly because of our zoom and telephone conversations over the past few months. The videos that are always circulating showing the brilliance of Israeli scientists when it comes to the Iron Dome they invented that keeps the nation safe from attacks are pretty spectacular as well, but I lean towards the brilliant women who are advancing health science to such an intense degree. The second thing that’s made me so happy so early this morning is the sunshine and high temperatures that have just encouraged Cathy and Vera to offer some outdoor dining at The Girls Café in Highlands today. It’s worth a stop just to say hi and welcome them back to the almost-real business world! Kudos to their friend Mike who is making the outdoor restaurant look so neat, clean and inviting. He’s a hardworking and generous man! And if I need three things that make me happy in the morning, it’s that today is Thursday, which means a few dear friends and myself celebrate tonight just being together and being able to laugh and have fun at our favorite stomping place, the Proving Ground. Oh, and there’s another reason I’m so happy this morning, and so many more if I really wanted to count! But look for my story on Ellen O’Dwyer pretty soon. Ellen is spreading her own seeds of happiness, survival, environmental protection, and beauty, what with all the milk pod seeds she is distributing to help protect the endangered Monarch butterfly. Ellen and some very smart girl scout leaders have designed a wonderful project that is probably as effective at preventing depression and boredom in youngsters as it is in teaching an appreciation of nature and how to be a part of it.

Just returning from receiving my second Moderna vaccine at Brookdale Community College, I’m once again high on praise for the Monmouth County Board of County Commissioners, their partnership with Brookdale Community College and the nurses, student nurses at Brookdale and other volunteers who are manning the site with efficiency, speed, courtesy, and downright hospitality and plenty of smiles. The s are administered at the Robert J. Collins Arena, a building name for another great leader in the county, a former administrator. The partnership also includes Monmouth Medical Center and just shows how working together towards a common goal is so efficient. Reportedly the site receive 2,500 vaccines, with plans for 2,000 vaccines to be administered over five days each week. The other 500 will be administered at the Monmouth County Agriculture Building in Freehold. All vaccines are administered by appointment, there are no walk-ins, and yes, there’s a long waiting list. You can check it out at https://hipaa.jotform.com/2101… You would then be contacted by the Monmouth County Health Department to schedule the vaccination. Or go to www.visitmonmouth.com and use the Monmouth County COVID-19 Vaccine Waitlist to be placed on the waitlist for an appointment if it’s still open. I don’t know if they still need volunteers anywhere, but if you’re so inclined, try the Monmouth County Health Department Phone Bank at 732-845-2070 or e-mail MonmouthCOVID19@visitmonmouth.com. It’s the organization that impresses you first. No, wait, even before that, it’s the friendly smiles and greetings of those who lead you through the process, from temperature taking to answering the usual questions, to filing out information, having that checked to be sure you remembered to fill out the back side as well, to being directed to a another volunteer who checks your credentials, which means, for the second shot, be sure to have the card with you from your first one….better yet, take a photo of it and have it on your phone for easy access. From there, you’re directed to another friendly and smiling volunteer who lets you know which nurse to step up to in order to get your vaccine. Today, I was assigned to #13, where a volunteer retired nurse, Gale, was wearing that same great smile everyone else had, friendly greeting, and quick conversation while she administered the shot. Then it’s a 15 wait to be sure you don’t have any immediate reaction and you’re on your way, one step further away from getting the dreaded virus. I mention all this again because sometimes we fail to say thank you or show appreciation to all those who are volunteering, or even if paid, working under these circumstances just to help others. When the center opened at 1 after lunch, there was already a line that stretched from the parking lot to the door and back again. But because of the efficiency inside, it moved quickly and conversations among strangers in line included lots of glee and surprise over that, stories about their friends who had already received second shots that they had no reaction, or were simply tired the next day, and today, of course, lots of comments about the gorgeous weather. We’re lucky to live in Monmouth County. And we’re lucky to have Commissioner who believe in working well with others.

Every day there are so many more than three things that make me happy, and there has never been a day that at the very minimum three things have made me happy. Today I simply reveled in three things that made me happy other days, then made me happy again today when I thought about them. One was talking with a friend and we were charmed once again by his young granddaughter. The family was together at Thanksgiving he said, several generations, and this thoughtful beautiful little charmer of nine years of age put one of her toy soldiers in front of every place setting. When she was asked why, she simply said it was to honor all those soldiers and sailors who couldn’t be celebrating the day with their families because they were out protecting them and everyone else. The second was the wonderful neighbor who, without a word, simply came out not once but twice in these recent snowstorms and shoveled sidewalks for two different women who live alone. When I say shoveled, I mean the entire sidewalk in front, the walk to the door, and the steps and porch to each home. That’s kindness and kind of melts your heart to think back on it. Add to that mom and daughter who came one night and shoveled out my car! Does everyone have such wonderful friends and neighbors? The third for today would be thinking about the one night a week a few friends get together at the Proving Ground in Highlands for one or two drinks, some great food, an awful lot of laughter, a few serious discussions, and an all around totally relaxed evening because we all feel so comfortable with each other and enjoy each other’s company…..even when we disagree! That’s real friendship! And that makes me happy.