Monday Monday

Never before had I heard about The Mamas & The Papas. This American vocal folk group was very popular in the sixties, I was told. The little girl I took care of at the time, had one of their tapes and she knew all the songs by heart. At first I wasn't that impressed with the music, but over the weeks I learned to appreciate it. Every morning, when I would take Natalie to school, I would put the tape in the recorder and we would start to sing along. We had to cross several bridges in downtown Portland, to drop off her parents at work, before we would continue our way to the French school Natalie was frequenting. Since we always played that same tape, it was a sport to make sure the correct song was playing nearby the correct bridge. Depending on traffic, we would make it or not. That one song I never forgot, was Monday Monday. The two of us would sing real loud. Natalie would be sitting in the back in her car seat, a smile from ear to ear. I would dress her in the morning, and I remember being goofy by giving her two different colored sneakers. She would wear a white sneaker with a pink sock and a pink sneaker with a white sock. It instantly brightened our day. I liked taking Natalie to school. I would pick her up around lunch time and then the game would start all over again. Another favorite of ours, was Dream a little dream of me. It was pretty melancholic and dramatic and you should've seen our faces while singing the lyrics. That must have been totally ridiculous for the people in the cars around us. But we could care less. Our time in the car was never boring. Thanks to The Mamas & The Papas. 

Reality strikes

I met Suz on Facebook, through a mutual friend. We exchanged several mails and pretty soon, we realized we had so much in common. Suz is Canadian and she got married to her big love, Wilfried, who is half Belgian but lives in Holland. Looking through their marriage album, anyone can tell how happy they were on their wedding day.

Suz and Wilfried came to visit us around Christmas. There was not one minute of silence between us. We discussed recipes and we both spoke our favorite language: English. Wilfried had his coffee and I could see the admiration in his eyes, while observing the love of his life. These two were truly made for each other. You were so excited about your upcoming trip to Canada. You wanted to bring Wilfried along and show him your region. How sad were you, when the C-word came in the picture again and ruined your plans.

I knew about the C-word that had affected Suzy's life. When she told me her back hurt like crazy, she went to see several doctors and therapists. Her worst fear was back... oh Suz.. why? You were so happy with your Wilfried and your furry friends. The way you talked about your kitchen and the Creuset cooked meals for your husband, that really warmed my heart. You had to go back to the hospital. Things weren't going well, but you were courageous and determined and Wilfried was the most supportive man. Nearly every day, you posted a picture of you in the hospital, on Facebook. You wanted us to know how you were doing. People from all over the world supported you and we loved seeing how you continued to take care of yourself. Wilfried brought your own pillow cases, so you would feel at home. You found the energy to put on bright lipstick or make some decorative element in your hairdo. We loved your hats and you wore them like a queen!
You were so sorry to loose your hair again, but proud as you were, you could put that pride aside and take off your blonde wig. That's you, Suz. Just the way you are: nothing to hide. Your inner beauty is plenty. It made us forget the baldness. You were very good at staying strong and keeping your calm although your inner fear must have been so big. We all knew how much you loved Wilfried. You saw his sadness and you didn't want him to suffer..

I hadn't read much from you in the last two weeks. You didn't post any pictures and you didn't write down your thoughts. That was worrisome. When Wilfried posted some updates, we all realized things weren't going right. Your energy levels were dropping and you were getting sicker.

Today Wilfried had to make the most difficult decision ever. Medication was not kicking in and the doctors had told him there was not much left they could do. I'm so happy Suz had talked this over with Wilfried. The doctors have put Suz in a deep sleep, to make sure she won't have any more pain. It might be a matter of days. This is so sad, but it's the last Wilfried can do for his lovely wife. What a brave man. What a brave couple. Don't be sad, he says. It has been enough. Suz is done fighting. She needs peace now..

Dear Suz, I had no idea this would affect me so much. One moment, you were sitting around my coffee table. Now you're in a deep sleep. We didn't have time to say goodbye. I don't want to say goodbye. I want to read you, I want to see your pictures and your wonderful smile. I want to see your hairbands and your lipstick and I want Wilfried to polish your toenails. You're done fighting Suz. You have done so much, but there's nothing more you can do. You are loved by so many and so is Wilfried. Your love will always remain.. Then why is there this ugly lump in my throat?

Your wedding picture says: All I want to do, is grow old with you.. I'm so sorry for the both of you. May 2012 was such a great month for you both. I'm so happy you finally got to marry this wonderful man... Keep an eye on  him, Suz. I'm sure you will inspire many people from wherever you are..

R.I.P. Suz lost this valiant battle May 23.. 

For a spoonful of sugar..

She was only three when I came to look after her. Her prior (male) nanny Morgan showed me around on my first day in Portland, Oregon. He was really nice and he and Natalie bonded well. Morgan was there on a temporary basis though. Natalie's parents had applied for a European au pair. They wanted their little girl to have the best education possible and they thought some discipline could do no harm.

Natalie Ann Scott was cute. She was a doll. She was very smart too. I remember how she could read and write short words and she was only 3! Her private school provided with a French teacher by the name of Denise and having no more than 6 other kiddos to play with in your class, is a unique situation for a kindergarten. I would take Natalie to school in the morning and pick her up for lunch. I liked to prepare special kid's lunches for her. I would make little faces out of bread, that I would dress up with pieces of fruit and greens. Grated cheese was great for creating a perfect hairdo and some nuts would keep the brain working. After lunch, Natalie would take a nap and I would pick up toys and clean up the kitchen. As soon as Natalie would open her eyes, she would ask me to play one of her favorite DVD's, that we would play downstairs in the basement, where I had a whole floor to myself. Well, that is, for Natalie and I. I didn't mind sharing the space with her. We loved to sit on the sofa together and watch Mary Poppins. Natalie is the girl who taught me how to say: supercalifragilisticexpialidocious and cinnamon. Can you believe I had a hard time saying "cin-na-mon"? To me, it was more of a tong twister than the Mary Poppins-line. Natalie would curl up laughing when once again, I would wrongly say: cim-ma-non.. It became our little joke..

I loved watching Mary Poppins. I never thought I would ever see the movie again, once I left Portland. Only a few years later, I had two daughters of my own. Our little one had a favorite movie... Exactly.. Mary Poppins was back! We watched the DVD, on the couch, together. Just a spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down.. I cannot count the number of times we sang that song, without ever getting bored. Mary Poppins is of all times..

I wonder what has become of Natalie. She should be about 24 now. What kind of education would she have had? Is she seeing someone seriously? How about her parents? I remember how happy they were with their little girl.. Did Natalie ever get siblings? Maybe I should try to locate her on Facebook. Don't know if she would remember me. I have scrapbooks full of pictures and stories on her. It would be nice to show her some day..

A gift from heaven

Aunti Erika is a catholic nun. Since she's used to going to church on a regular basis, we tried to find a catholic church over here she could attend. The manager at Caribe Cove has been very helpful and told us about the Basilica of the National Shrine of Mary, Queen of the Universe in Orlando. Aunt Erika and Grandma were completely excited about this trip. After a quick visit to the gift shop - we needed some post cards and Grandpa needed some extra T-shirts - we hopped in the car and left for Orlando. We're all glad Grandpa decided to leave the 5XL shirt for other tourists..

There was quite some traffic down the road. I heard the Basilica was real popular, but could all the traffic really be headed that way??? With a 30 min delay, we arrived at the Shrine of Mary. The other cars kept going - the parking lot of the Premium Outlet Mall of Orlando was just next door..

We were all impressed by the size of this church. Just in time for the 12 o'clock mass, we decided to join in and take a seat. We were surprised by the devotion of the people present. They all sang along and chanted their "Praise the Lord".

Although our guests didn't understand the exact words the priest preached, they did get the contents of the sermon. We lit a candle for whoever needed some help from above, before the priest gave us his blessing. He showed us the way to the museum and the gift shop. It made me think of Las Vegas: the numerous thingamajigs, the chaplets and rosaries, the bottles filled with holy water and the statues of Jezus Christ.. It was impressive to say the least. Plenty of souvenirs to choose from.. Auntie Erika and Grandma truly enjoyed this visit. They got themselves some post cards from the church and were pretty quiet in the car.

The clouds were filled with rain and we didn't want to ruin our hair - I don't think Americans are used to seeing ladies with raincaps - so we skipped the Premium Outlet Store for now..

Instead we got back on the highway and headed towards the Mall at Millenia. The ooh's and the aah's in jawdropping faces, the feet that went faster by every step we took, could tell we were really ready for some mall-time. We split up the group (well, Eva decided she wanted to see other stores than we were going to explore) and made an agreement to meet up again at the front door around 5 PM. But not until we had lunch at Dad's favorite Johnny Rockets. He really wanted his parents to indulge the perfect burger and crunchy fries and trust me: they enjoyed it allright!

The ladies enjoyed Bloomingdale's and Macy's, the men followed us around. We enjoyed Abercrombie & Fitch, The Gap store, Hollister, .. aarrgghhh... I think we need to come back another day, to see the rest of the mall..

Although it's only 9 PM, Grandpa already fell asleep on top of the bed spread around 8 PM. I guess he was tired of the active shopping day. We enjoyed our sandwiches at home and had a relaxing evening. Time to reflect over the day and make preparations for the upcoming days.

Where to next?

We had another fun day in Kissimmee, Orlando. Our guests are getting used to the Florida sun, the food, the free time. After a breakfast of cream cheese and red fruit French toast, the whole family headed towards the pool, determined to get a nice tan. After all, they want the home front to see how they enjoyed the good weather, right?

Since I had some time by myself while the others were at the pool, I took the Black Beast and headed to Super Target. I want this supermarket at home.. What a joy!! I can't stop filling my shopping cart with groceries. There are so many things I want to cook here and it's a pleasure to feed our crowd. There are plenty of restaurants out here in the neighborhood, but we also like a healthy meal when we get the chance. So yes, plenty of veggies and fruit, whole wheat bread and low fat cold cuts.

The plan for today, was to have a walk in Downtown Disney. The weather looked promising so we didn't hesitate. No more than a 25 min drive to spend a good time with the family. It was good to see how they all enjoyed the excursion. The Harley Davidson shop, the boatride, Rainforest Café, the Disney shops.. it's good to be back here..

No more restaurant visit for dinner either. Don't we love home cooked meals? Having seen so many overweight people, we decided we will skip on the French fries, donuts, cotton candy and buttered popcorn. We bought some new outfits and we do want those to fit, right?

We even enjoyed the thunder and lightening and the streaming rain, seen from the deck outside the apartment. Life is sweet.. It's good to be here with our family, although we wish our oldest daughter could have joined us.. We know she's having a good time in Italy with her friends, but I'm sure she would have enjoyed Florida too..

Grandma and Auntie Erika like to watch the Belgian news. They are pretty modern, checking the news on the iPad. While Grandpa is taking a nap - after all, he likes to be awake in the middle of the night - we are cleaning up and preparing breakfast for tomorrow. There could be some rain showers in the upcoming days, so maybe we should do some shopping.. How about the Mall at Millenia? I'm sure Eva won't object and neither will Grandma and Auntie Erika. Just trying to figure out how we could please the men in our company..

Taking time to refuel

The day started early but slowly. Around 6:40 I heard noises in the TV room. I took a peek and saw that the front door was open.. guess who was outside, roaming around the premises? Exactly.. Grandpa had been up and going for a couple of hours. We picked him up at the front desk, sipping his cup of coffee, to take him grocery shopping, while the others where still dreaming their sunny dreams.
It's just fabulous that Walmart is open 24/7. We drove up to the store in Clermont, to get some necessities for breakfast and lunch. Fresh fruit, loaves of bread, drinks and cold cuts and some more pantry staples. The trunk was filled to the roof so we headed back towards Caribe Cove. Time to cook breakfast and wake up the lazy bones.

Eva was ready to go to the pool and get a tan. After all, you have to enjoy the Florida sun and get bronzed while you're here. We showed our family around and had a pleasant talk with the manager. It was good to see her again.

Cleaning up after a quick home made lunch of Cuban bread with sirloin steak, we were thinking about what we were going to do in the afternoon. Winter Garden Village seemed like a good option! I'm not sure if the men were as thrilled about spending hours in the mall as we were, but they surely didn't complain. We fed them Red Mango frozen yogurt and a drink at Uno Chicago Grill while we got to spend money in our favorite shops. Happy faces on both sides of the sexes!

Okay, some of us got sunburn.. we still have to get used to the idea of putting on sunscreen. We'll do better tomorrow.

Good thing the car is big enough to hold lots of shopping bags. We had dinner at Mimi's Café in Winter Garden Village, before we crashed at the apartment. Looking forward to another day in the sun. 

Wired but tired

photo Eva Joos

After a 10 hour flight, we finally got to our destination: Stanford Airport, Florida. We had a good flight.. The first flight for the inlaws and they were completely at ease. The plane didn't go all the way up to the sky like a rocket does, so they were comforted by that idea.
It took us some time to get through customs, as half of the group doesn't speak English. The officer at customs was real nice about that though. He used Google Translate to make himself understood and the inlaws sign languaged and used their thumb ups to let him know they knew what he was talking about. What ad adventure!

The Florida sun welcomed us and so did Dollar Rental Cars. The original plan was to rent a Dodge Caravan. We weren't too sure about the size of the car, as there are 6 people and as many suitcases. What a bummer: the trunk was too small for all of our luggage. We had the option to order a taxi to deliver the suitcases, or to rent a bigger car.. What did you think? Exactly! We saw a Ford Expedition right across from the car we had rented and decided to take that one. We made a good deal and loaded the car. All set to go.. we thought, but I couldn't turn on the ignition. What was wrong?? I almost hopped out of the car to ask Mr James at the Dollar shop. Until we read the key chain: A22, not C5. OMG! what a blooper! I felt so stupid! We had a good laugh over it before we transferred all of our luggage to a third vehicle. What a monster that big black car is!

The sun felt great and we headed towards Kissimmee, a one hour drive away. My tummy was aching for food and we stopped at the Panera Bread restaurant, just around the corner of the apartment  for a quick bite. Grandma and aunt Erika were pooped but grandpa found his courage back after a hot steak and caramelized onion panini. It didn't take us long to fill out the forms at the front desk at www.caribecove.com so we could head to our rooms and unpack the suitcases. By then it was 9:00 PM local time or 03:00 AM our time. All quiet now peeps... we need some rest.. 

In case you missed it

Not even one more month before we will pack our bags and leave for Kissimmee, Florida. Can't wait! I'm sure we will have a wonderful time. For the first time, we will travel with the inlaws and an aunt. It will be a completely different vacation, but that's okay. We get along real well and the apartment is spacious enough to find some privacy from time to time.
Yesterday we got the confirmation of the rental car that will be waiting for us at Stanford Airport. It will be a huge monster this time, because there will be 6 of us and loads of suitcases. It will be kinda weird to be traveling without our oldest daughter this time, but it's reality: the girls are growing up and starting to live a life of their own. She will have a great time in Italy, we're sure about that..

Having diabetes and traveling shouldn't be a problem. There is some more preparation to do though: I have to order a spare insulin pump, in case the other one breaks down (I'm pretty sure it won't happen, but we won't take the risk). The application has been sent, so that's one item I can cross off my checklist. I need a document from my endocrinologist, stating that I need my diabetes supplies. Check. This time I would like to take the Dexcom G4 as well. Not sure yet how I will arrange that, but I'll contact the company. I would be more at ease to drive that monster car loaded with family if I had CGM to warn me from upcoming lows. After all, you need to be focused and I'm not familiar with all the new roads that lay ahead of us. I have to see my diabetes nurse for extra pump supplies and glucose strips. Don't want to be short of glucose strips or infusion sites while enjoying the Florida sun..

My suitcases will be packed just the night before we set off. I never worry about the contents of my suitcase. As long as I have plenty of medical supplies, I will be fine. I feel butterflies jumping up and down in my tummy.. So looking forward to going away for a while...

Happy as a clam

I don't know how it happened, but I was surfing on the Internet and ran into this awesome food blog. I couldn't focus on anything else. This was the best food blog ever! The chef calls herself Pioneer Woman and refers to her husband as The Marlboro Man (although he doesn't smoke but has a rough edge to him). They raise 4 little punks at their home in the American country. I just had to open each one of her recipes and couldn't do anything else but pause and make some of her recipes. I know what will keep me going in the next couple of days.

A dish full of pots de crème are setting in the fridge. They will look at me tomorrow morning and beg for some whipped cream to finish them off. I know I won't have any myself (okay, that one heaping spoonful is just not a portion so it's to be neglected) but there are enough volunteers around here who will happily dig in.

As I am making my own food blog, I am more than happy to try out some of Ree Drummond's recipes and share them with you.

There is something about the way Ree describes her recipes. It's like you are in the same kitchen, sitting at her counter and hearing her out. Her descriptions are so, so, well.. I can't find the right word for it. Just try and read some of her recipes and you will understand what I mean. She sure made my eyes sparkle, my heart pound faster and my fingers itch to race to that kitchen (in reality: shove that notebook from my lap, push myself up from the couch while dropping the blanket on the floor and stumble towards the kitchen that is so not cleaned up)..

Ree Drummond: you rock! I'm happy to have found you. Sorry Nigella... I have to let go of you.. My first copy of a Pioneer Woman cook book is being shipped to Belgium right at this instance.

A plan!

July 23 1992. Twenty years ago.. The day I crossed the ocean and started a life of my own..

On my way to Portland, Oregon, I was taking a deep breath on that huge airplane, thinking about what I had got myself into. Making the decision to go live abroad for 13 months, is not something you do overnight. It took me several months of preparation and hard work, to earn the money and pluck up courage for this major adventure. Without any help but an add in a local newspaper (no Internet back then), I found Au Pair Homestay USA in Overijse. This was the organization that would help me live my dream. How friendly and kind they were and the information they gave me was making my heart tick even faster. Meeting up with former au pairs, was so exciting, that I wanted that July 23rd to be there asap.

Once I was given the documents and files on my au pair family, the dream started. I was going to Portland, Oregon!!! My host family had a 3 yo girl, by the name of Natalie Scott. They lived on Southwest Brae Mar Court, on top of a hill, seeing out over downtown Portland. Looking through the pictures they had sent me, I realized this dream was really going to be reality in no time. I had to finish College first and make sure my grades were good. I was a good student though I didn't foresee any problems of that manner. It was good to discuss my plans with one of my teachers. He knew exactly what I wanted to do and he gave me his full support. I graduated and packed my bags, leaving the student behind and welcoming the adult I had become.

Meeting up with the other girls at Brussels Airport was thrilling. I was surprised though, to see so many of them in tears. Why were they crying? They were about to experience the best year of their life? They were hugging their parents and handkerchiefs were wet with tears. My family stood there. We didn't hug. We didn't cry. I was very impatient and couldn't wait to hop on that plane and leave. The relationship with my parents was not of that order, that we were so close we couldn't miss one another. I must even admit it was a relief to get out of the house and become independent. Too many rules and not enough love, made me run off. By the time I got on that plane, Belgium left my head to make room for the US. It was one of the best decisions I had ever made. It sure changed my life dramatically.. My childhood was over. I was ready to live my own life..

Sit back and enjoy the ride

About three years ago, I took care of a young lady, pregnant with her first child. At the age of 6, her life changed completely when she got sick. The diagnosis said Friedreich's Ataxia. It was not a very hopeful diagnosis, certainly not if you get it at such a young age.. I got interested in this condition and searched the Internet to get more information. That's how I met Paula and Tom Hook from La Porte, Indiana. United States, exactly. They have three wonderful girls. Two of them have FA, just like Jody. They got diagnosed as adults, meaning the disease won't progress at the same speed. Paula and I have kept in touch over the years and every now and then we mail and tell each other more about what keeps us going. On several occasions, she has invited me and my family to spend our holiday at their ranch. That sounded so appealing! Unfortunately we have not been able to go see them yet. One day... one day...

You had a dream from the day you turned 12. You promised yourself, that one day, you would go to the United States. I recognized that feeling, because I shared that same dream. We discussed this dream on several occasions. It was hard for you to believe that dream would come true. Until the plans started to get more concrete. I introduced you to Paula on Facebook. The two of you got acquainted and you liked each other. You told her about your dream and your wish to improve your English. You were looking for a job in exchange for room and board. There's always work on a ranch... and there's plenty of space for you to stay. If you know what I mean..

You're leaving July 10th and you won't be coming home till August 6th. It will be your first trip abroad, your first flight, your first time away from home on your own. You will love it. All excited and hyper, you will get on that plane. Your heart will be pounding way too fast, just like mine did 20 years ago on my way to Portland, Oregon. It will be an experience of a lifetime. You are lucky this family will welcome you into their home. They are lucky to have you over and experience a wonderful time with you.

Sit back and enjoy the ride. Open your ears and eyes and let all of your senses indulge the United States. It's not a coincidence you ended up with the Hook family.. before you know it, you will be "hooked" to the States.. Keep us informed, okay? We expect no less than 1 blog a day, to hear all about your adventure.

Ride for Ataxia Chicago

Our daughters Kati and Carli were diagnosed with Friedreich's Ataxia. Having the disease for several years now, they are ready for a cure or at least treatment. With many other brave people who have FA they have taken on the tasks themselves to HELP find that treatment/cure. They have participated in studies and have been to several fundraisers. This is considered an orphan disease, since there are about 5000 people affected with FA. So please, we need all the help we can get. If you can't ride think about a donation. Together we can defeat FA. Thank you!

This is what Paula Hook wrote for two of her beautiful daughters. She never expected her girls to get this awful disease. It is affecting her family and there is no cure nor a treatment to make them better. Look at them. Let your heart speak and help them raise money to get a cure for FA.

Paula and her husband Tom are wonderful, generous people. They are a loving family and very much involved. They raised three beautiful daughters and they are crazy about their grandchildren. Living in La Porte, Indiana, Chicago is not that far off. The Chicago Ride for Ataxia is very important for them. Raising money is never easy. If that money could help find a cure to heal their girls and so many others out there with FA, they would be the happiest people ever. Please help Paula and Tom raise as much money as possible, so they can guarantee their daughters a quality life..

It's cold outside

Baby, it's cold outside! My feet are just frozen and numb and I can't find any warmth to defrost them. I hate cold weather. Okay, it's not snowing or raining or anything, but I just don't like to be cold. If only we could live in Florida, where we could enjoy the heart warming sun.... Wandering off, I can imagine myself in Kissimmee, enjoying some relaxation in the jacuzzi, surrounded by the gators. No stress, just sheer relaxation..

American citizens like to go to Florida to retire. Sounds like a plan to me. I definitely wouldn't mind. The heat would be good for our bones and our sanity. Because that's what the sun does with people: it lightens up your mood. Look how happy people are when the sun is out? Maybe we would adjust to those temperatures and no longer find it special after some time? Although we still get annoyed by the rain and the cold, after all of those years in Belgium...

Could it be? Yes, it could..

My two girls... Never thought they would get along so well. It warms my heart to see how well they are doing in their lives. They are happy and cheerful and have plenty of friends. And best of all: they are becoming good friends to each other as well..

Eva attended boarding school for two years. During that period of time, the girls didn't see each other that often. It took them some time to adjust having each other around again, but they worked out a system and they do well.

I feel fortunate to have these beautiful girls as my daughters. They make me proud and I'm lucky they chose me as their mom. Life wouldn't be the same without them.

Christmas finals are over. They will get good grades, I'm sure about that. They studied well and they deserve some vacation now. I'm glad they will be home for a while. Looking forward to doing fun things together and enjoy their presence.. Love you girls.. xxx

On pins and needles

Have you guys arrived? Are you at your final destination? Today is going to be a day of wondering how you guys are doing and if your journey went smoothly.

There's no doubt you will spend another wonderful time in Caribe Cove, Kissimmee, Florida. After all, it's an exciting place to spend your holiday. Nearly one year ago, we went together. Our first visit to Florida as a group of friends and an instant hit. I took my family there this summer and now it's your turn again. It'll feel like home, trust me.

Do let us know you have arrived safely, okay? I hope your mom wasn't too stressed out. We know she's not that fond of flying, but in the end, she's always happy she went along.

Don't hesitate to order breakfast at First Watch in Winter Garden Village. It's worth the drive. I'm sure mom will have her favorite milkshake at Johny Rocket's and for you, my friend: Orange Duck at the Panda Express, right? Take care of each other, brothers. You are lucky to have such a wonderful family..

Safe and sound

Today you're leaving for Florida, US. You and your family, that is. I'm so excited for the 5 of you! I just know you will have a fantastic vacation abroad, full of laughter and joy. The sun is even out there, ready to warm your bodies and hearts.

I know your schedule will be busy and packed, so I'm not expecting any extended mails or so. Have fun! Say hi to the alligators and don't forget to water the palm trees in front of the apartment at Caribe Cove. I'll  miss you but I most definitely give you the pleasure you deserve. Enjoy!

It's a small world after all

You and your brother immediately stole my heart, when I entered your home in the middle of a snowstorm that March. Your older brother sat in my lap right away, while you were a bit more timid. But soon enough we got to know each other better and we became best friends.
It was my job to bring you to school and pick you up around lunch. We had long chats in the kitchen and we had so much fun playing in the basement. I remember you riding your go-cart in the snow, wearing nothing more than a pair of jeans and a t-shirt. Your ear to ear grin is a picture in my head I will never forget..

We keep in touch, your parents and I. When they let me know you were diagnosed with diabetes in 2006,  I was gobsmacked.. No... not you David... that was not fair!!!! I got my diagnosis 4 years earlier, but I was already an adult, married, with two children. You were only 18 and you have a whole life ahead of you. You were not supposed to get diabetes. I wished for you and your family a happy and healthy life without worries.

You had a hard time letting diabetes come into your life. It was not something you welcomed.. I wanted to come over and give you a hug. Let you know everything was going to be okay. I wanted to relieve your pain. Diabetes is a chronic disease, and up till now there's no cure. We keep hearing a cure is in sight, but so far, we're still waiting. We still need to provide our bodies with insulin and we need to poke our fingers several times a day to prevent complications in later life.

I read your family article online. I'm so proud of you guys! What a commitment. You are so lucky to have a supportive family. They love you to pieces, David! You're a pretty special boy, you know. I know you're a man now and it's been so long since I last saw you, that I still see the little blond boy you were back then in Chelmsford, Mass.

Let me copy the article here. The Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation could use some extra funding. Good luck David! Till we meet again. Say hi to your mom, dad and brother for me, okay?

Chelmsford Family To Walk to Cure Diabetes

The McHugh Family will participate in the annual 5k.

• By Audrey Mangone
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• 6:00am

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Chelmsford residents Dennis and Susan McHugh walked their first 5K with the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) five years ago and have not given their feet a break since.

“The annual JDRF walk is very personal for us,” said Susan McHugh.

The couple discovered JDRF back in 2006 shortly after their son David, then 18, was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes.

“When we first found out our son was diagnosed we really didn’t know how to help him or ourselves,” said McHugh. “The disease really is a life-changing thing that affects so many people.”

Following the news of their son’s diagnosis, the family contacted a close friend who referred them to JDRF. According to McHugh, she and her family quickly became involved in the organization, walking in the Boston 5k that year.

“We walked then and continue to walk because we see what the organization is doing. We want more of it and we want to support it,” she said.

Since 2006, the McHugh family has continued to work with JDRF not only by consecutively participating in their annual 5k, but also by speaking at informational meetings hosted by the foundation as well.

“There are a lot of organizations out there doing great things, and JDRF is one of them,” said McHugh. “They really have found the magic and caused us to be hopeful.”

McHugh said seeing the event grow year after year has brought her hope.

“The first walk we did was amazing,” McHugh said. “We met other families going through the same thing we were, and there was so much positive energy. We were all there to help support the research that will make the lives of those affected better now.”

McHugh said the families she's met through the walk are inspiration for her to keep going.

“Living with diabetes is manageable, but it comes with lots of complications,” she said. “It’s not like you can skip treatment one night, like you can with brushing your teeth. It’s an ongoing thing. The only thing consistent about the disease is its inconsistency.”

McHugh hopes that the support from her family and others in and around Chelmsford continue to raise money and awareness for a promising future of diabetes.

“I believe the disease can be cured,” McHugh said. “The answer is out there, and we just have to push it over the edge to us.”

McHugh and her family will be lacing up their sneakers for their fifth 5k with JDRF this Saturday, Oct. 1. She hopes others in the community will support the event as well.

“The walk itself is going to be on a beautiful day, with lots of wonderful people and lots of fun,” she said.

Although she is excited for this year’s event, McHugh knows that her support for JDRF and the future of diabetes is just getting started.

“Things can always happen, and we all must support each other to find a solution,” she said. “We will beat this. We will walk forever if that is what it takes.”

To donate to the McHugh family in their walk in the JDRF 5K this Saturday, please visitwww.walk.jdrf.org, click on "Donate to a Walker" and type in Susan or Dennis McHugh. 

An oh-no moment

Even 10 years later, watching a documentary on 9/11 still shocks me. Nobody needs to hear more than the date 9/11 to know what we are talking about. It's devastating to relive those moments of terror, to see the footage and hear the panic in peoples voices. It's just so surreal to see that horror actual happen. So many people didn't even have a chance. They were surprised like rats in a trap. They didn't have the time to say goodbye to their beloved ones. There were no longer going to be merry Christmases or graduations to celebrate. America would never again be the same..

I haven't visited New York since. Every time we take a plane, you look out for suspicious subjects. You don't really know what to look out for, but still, you are a little anxious. Will this 9/11 be a scary day? Will something happen that will shock the world a second time? Let's hope not.

Godforbiddenly good

While being in the States, I often watched the Food channel. That was really my cup of tea. I just love those shows on cooking and baking. It brings me in the mood to have a good time in my kitchen.

Pulled pork is something I like to prepare in my slow cooker. It's a true delight to have it on a bun, when it's covered in home made BBQ sauce. There are plenty of recipes on the Internet and you can definitely make your own version to your own taste. I like mine with some sprinkles of scallion, baked beans and red onion rings. The house smells so good when the pork is taking its time to fall apart in the slow cooker. I really have to keep myself from opening the lid every now and then to have a taste. There's too much loss of heat when you do that. I leave the pork to simmer for about 6 hours, on top of sliced carrots and onions. It gives me the time to make fresh BBQ sauce. Once the meat is done, I shred it with two forks and put it back in the slow cooker, this time covered in BBQ sauce, and I let it simmer for 2 more hours. It's so delicious.. you should try it. This is my recipe for a fabulous BBQ sauce:

what do we need:

• 1 tablespoon of oil
• 1 yellow, 1 red, 1 orange and 1 green small pepper, diced
• 1 small onion, diced
• a couple of gherkins, diced
• 2 cloves of garlic, finely chopped
• 5 tablespoons of ketchup
• 1 small can of tomato paste
• 200 ml of chicken stock
• 1 tablespoon of red wine vinegar
• some sweetener to taste
• 1 teaspoon of hot sauce
• 1 tablespoon of corn flour

what do we do:

Bring all of the ingredients in 1 pot and let it simmer until the veggies are tender.

Burst the bubble

This is it.. our vacation has come to an end.. We have a couple of more days before the girls have to go back to school, but nevertheless, the end of August will be there before we know it.

We packed last night and we were sad but happy at the same time. It's been a great vacation and we have had tons of fun. I asked the girls if they wanted to come back here and the smile on their face said it all. Eva hopes to be come back in the Spring of 2012. We'll see..

The apartment looks empty, now everything is cleaned up and packed. It won't be long before our friends will take a plane over here and spend their vacation at the resort. I'm sure they will have a great time too!

I'm not really looking forward to the flight. It's not that I don't like to fly, but once I'm ready to go home, I want to get there as fast as possible. We have a night flight this time, but I already know I won't be able to sleep. There's just not enough space and I'm not even that tall! Airplane seats are not comfortable, period. The staff does their best at serving us goodies and drinks, but there's not much more they can do, is there?

I can't wait to pick up the pets. We did miss them! We were happy our brother-in-law and his girlfriend took care of our house while we were here in Florida. It was too long for the dogs and the cat to stay at home by themselves, so we need to pick them up at their hotels. It's good to hear that they had a good time as well. Little Inthe will jump all over us and probably lick us to death, while Rebba will just crawl up in bed and sleep for days. She'll be worn out from taking care of Inthe. Arthur will look great, since he didn't have the opportunity to play outside in the backyard. His fur will be shiny and dirt free. We'll have to keep a close eye on him in the first days to come, so he doesn't wander off too far.

Grandma and grandpa can't wait to hear from us. We have called them a couple of times so they knew we were okay. They wanted to make sure the girls were not kidnapped and nothing bad had happened to them, and we could reassure them. We'll be home soon. We'll be home..