I can hardly believe we’re discussing our 50th reunion! Wasn’t it just a few short years ago that we graduated? Well, I guess not—having five grandchildren is proof enough that we’re now THAT OLD. When Michael asked me to talk about myself, my first reaction was, “Wait, what???” Why on earth would you want to hear about what I’ve been up to since graduating? He convinced me that I don’t need to be a famous actress, a professional athlete, or a Nobel Peace Prize winner to share my story. So, whether it’s exciting or not, here it goes.

I attended the University of Maryland, and when my parents threatened to stop paying for my tuition after I declared a dance major, I had to reconsider my options. I ended up majoring in journalism/communications. After graduation, I lived in New York City and worked in advertising, television production, and film editing. It sounds glamorous, but the days were long and challenging. Just a few weeks after graduating from Maryland, I met my husband of 41 years at the Rusty Scupper, one of our favorite hangouts.

At the time, he was in his final year of medical school and matched for his ophthalmology residency in Philadelphia. We got married in May 1983, right before his internship began, and moved to Philadelphia, where our first child, Michael, was born in 1985. We lived there for three and a half years, made great friends, and built a nice life. However, once his residency was over, we decided to return to the area to be closer to our families.

In 1986, we moved back to Livingston, just around the corner from where I grew up, and had two more children. My kids, Michael, Jamie, and Arielle, are now 39, 37, and 35 years old. Time flies!

Cary opened his first office in Parsippany the same year we returned to New Jersey. Although I wanted to return to television or film production, I knew those long hours wouldn’t work if I wanted to be the kind of mom necessary to raise happy, independent kids. So, I decided to help Cary in his office. At first, it was part-time, but as the kids went to school full-time, I took on a larger role in developing the office. Cary was the doctor, and I handled staff and patient connections, taking on various responsibilities as needed. Initially, I struggled with this, feeling I had sacrificed my own dreams. But over time, I realized I was doing exactly what I was meant to do—raising children and contributing to the workforce. I felt accomplished, and I still do.

Cary and I travel a lot, both for pleasure and to visit our kids and grandkids. Michael married a Spanish woman and lives in Seville, Spain, with their two boys, ages 11 and 7. Our daughter, Arielle, lives in Denver with her 18-month-old daughter, and Jamie lives in Livingston with two boys, ages 6 and 3. Between international travel and babysitting duties, Cary and I keep busy! Our practice, EyeCare 2020, is in East Hanover, and we are both still actively working.

While dancing and acting were my interests in high school, my singing voice could stop a raging bull, so my parents were right about a career in the performing arts! What I discovered instead was my passion for health and fitness. After my second child was born, I began strength training and never looked back. Unfortunately, at 45, I was diagnosed with early-stage breast cancer, which unexpectedly propelled me into endurance events like long-distance biking and triathlons. I registered for a century ride to raise money for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. After finishing treatment for my own battle, I saw this as a great way to face my fears while supporting others with cancer. The ride was in Tucson, Arizona, and it spanned 109 miles. It was one of the hardest things I’ve ever done, but crossing that finish line made me wonder, “What else can I do to challenge myself?” Clearly, I’m a type A personality!

Next up was the triathlon. For those unfamiliar, a triathlon is an endurance race that includes swimming, biking, and running. I had been running since college, so that part wasn’t difficult. However, learning to swim properly was a real challenge. But I did it! When I turned 55, I decided to complete my first and only marathon and a half Ironman. It was a banner year for me, as I ticked off items on my bucket list. I trained hard and worked tirelessly to achieve my goals. After crossing the finish lines of both events, especially at my age, I felt immense pride—pride in my accomplishments and in persevering through doubts along the way. Soon after, I realized I didn’t want to keep pushing my body quite so hard. I still stay active with strength training, pickleball, yoga, and just keeping moving. I’m also fascinated by nutrition and how it fuels our bodies so we can remain active, mobile, and feel vibrant. After all, we’re 65 now, right?

So that’s my story! I work three days a week, and I’m a Grammy to five beautiful grandchildren who bring me endless joy. When Cary and I retire, we plan to stay in Mountain Lakes (we moved there in 2020) and see what the future holds. I want to remain close to my two grandsons who live here, and whatever happens next will be an adventure.

Looking forward to seeing everyone!