So I turned 37 this week, and I’ll admit that I am quite lucky. I’ve been told by some of my childhood friends that my face hasn’t changed at all since Kindergarten. It’s almost embarrassing really. When I meet people for the first time, they often interrupt me and ask without apology, “How old are you?” Thinking about my birthday this week and the passage of time, it stirred up a lot questions. What have I learned and how have I grown during the past twelve months? Am I wiser, more content? Did I cross anything off my bucket list?

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While watching after my mom last weekend, I got to thinking about her state of mind. She suffers from dementia, so her short-term memory is limited and she is typically confused with even the simplest tasks. Due to her forgetfulness, she no longer drives and has to depend completely on others for the activities of daily living. Observing the progression of her illness is alarming. The look of bewilderment that often falls across her face tells me it is probably very scary for her as well.

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Yesterday, while running in Central Park, I noticed a young father helping his son as they both rode bicycles. I couldn’t help but smile as I watched Dad push his boy on the back, ever so gently coaxing him up the hill. It was a steep incline, so the little guy needed multiple shoves in order to reach the top where he was then able to pedal over the crest and down the other side. 

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My mom hides her purse behind her pillow at night. Inside her bag is a roll of pencils, a set of steel pliers, a wallet full of change, four hair curlers, safety gloves, a deck of playing cards and three rubber bands. Why is her bag in that specific spot and as heavy as a box of rocks? A child of the Great Depression, I suspect it’s because she was raised to keep your valuables close, and to throw nothing away. But if you were to ask my mom, she could not tell you why she is carrying the contents of a plumber’s toolbox in her pocketbook. She probably wouldn’t even recognize it as her own. My mom suffers from dementia. She’s all mixed up and she knows it.

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I was daydreaming the other day about taking a break far away from the bustling UES neighborhood where I live. It is easy for me to imagine an active escape immersed in good company and delicious cuisine as I have relished in adventure jaunts for the past 5 years thanks to http://www.trektravel.com. My first trip with the group was to Napa and although the riding was fierce, I returned from the weekend more pleased with the friends that I had made, than the numbers I had measured on my cyclometer.  As with all of the trips following that initial one, I have found Trek’s touring company to provide the most authentic, unique and well-crafted vacations in the travel industry. By combining legendary service and a relaxed experience, guests are able to energize and take in every moment of the getaway.  I recently spoke with Tania Worgull, (TW) President of http://www.trektravel.com, on this very subject of how to live well and take in the view at the same time….

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