Steps...

My Mother used to say that I had a lot of 'steps' in my life, and she was right. I have three grown step children and four step grandchildren (Mother died in 1992 so she didn't even know about the step grandchildren). Early on I resisted being called 'Grandma Jane,'….. but in the end, they won. They all live on Long Island and enjoy visiting Vermont. In addition to my brothers Bill and Mike, I have a step sister and a step brother from my Dad's second marriage. Although he died in 1970 we've all remained close and my step mother Jean, who died just last year, was one of my best friends. All together I enjoy ten nieces and nephews. Over the past twenty years we've held many family get-togethers at my second home in Stratton VT for skiing and golf, including an annual family golf tournament.

For many years I split my time between my homes in NYC and VT. When I decided to retire in 1999 after 30 years on Wall St., I began spending more time in VT and kept an eye on the real estate market. I found and bought my dream home in Manchester VT in 2002 and moved in permanently in the spring of 2003. I absolutely love being here. The mountains, valleys, lakes, rivers, streams, wildlife and wide open spaces are ever changing and beautiful. Sometimes, it feels like Mountain Lakes when we were growing up, with a population of just 4,000 in this beautiful setting. There are many wonderful, interesting and fun people in the area and lots going on. So far, I've become involved in The Manchester Garden Club, The Academy for Lifelong Learning, the Southern Vermont Art Center and Hildene, the restored summer home of Robert Todd Lincoln. We're not far from Saratoga Springs NY and its performing arts center. Boston is 2 ½-3hrs. The past two days I was there for the Beacon Hill Garden Tour. And, of course, I still get back to NYC on occasion, and to visit family in NJ, NC, AL, CT, MA and Washington DC. One nephew just moved to London - I'll be sure to visit him in one of my favorite cities. I love to travel and saw much of the world on business trips, but now it's strictly for learning and pleasure.

Some of you know that my brother Mike was married to Joanne Pitcher, MLHS class of 1964. Together they had one son, Matt. We lost Joanne in 1995 after a long and heroic struggle with breast, and then ovarian, cancer. Matt was just eleven at the time. This past March Matt turned 21 and has just completed his junior year at the University of Vermont. To celebrate his 21st, Matt and I are leaving this coming week for a cruise of the Adriatic starting and ending in Venice, and then we'll go overland through the Slovenian alps, ending up in Vienna. Upon return to NJ I will fly to NC to join Bill's family at the beach.

MLHS classmates Elsa Little and Marilyn (Hutchinson) Weichman are still two of my closest friends and we get together at least once a year.

Looking back, I loved my career, but now for the first time in my adult life I have the time to enjoy the simple pleasures of life day by day. Life is good!

I look forward to seeing you all in July!