Jacqueline M. Ruffino-Platt Happy Birthday to my mother-in-law Helen. On Aug. 30 she would have been 107 years young. Someone I am pleased to have met and became a member of her family. She made me feel welcome and loved the very first time John brought me home to meet his family. We shared many…
Tag: Jacquie’s Corner
July 2024, Features
Jacquie’s Corner: Another Chapter Back in My Early Days—A Special Time
Jacqueline Mary Ruffino-Platt Remembering many years back when the pastor of the little church across the street from my home in New Jersey asked me to look after his father-in-law who was very old and could not feed, dress, bathe himself, and needed assistance. I was quite young at the time, 19 years old to…
Features, June 2024
Jacquie’s Corner: Beautiful Day Here in Arizona
Jacqueline M. Ruffino As I looked out the window from our lovely home, I saw a few folks riding their bikes, two- or three-wheelers, or walking along with their loved ones or some good friends. I rode a bike when I was a child and loved it. However, for many years, I have not sat…
May 2024, Features
Jacquie’s Corner: When the Street Lights Come on, Head for Home
Jacqueline M. Ruffino-Platt One of the instructions given to us as children, when the sun goes down and dusk was slowly approaching, we knew what to do. Head for home. Sometimes, I reminisce how much fun my little friends and I shared growing up in those times. Some evenings, my husband and I share some…
April 2024, Features
Jacquie’s Corner: The Unexpected Birthday Gift: A Tale of Travel, Thrift, and Kindness
Jaqueline M. Ruffino-Platt Several years ago, on a brisk morning in Virginia as I hurried to work, a sense of excitement tingled within me, fueled by the anticipation of a mysterious gift awaiting my discovery. The property manager at my condo had received a large box on my behalf the evening prior, igniting my curiosity.…
Features, March 2024
Jacquie’s Corner: Springtime and a New Life
Jacqueline Ruffino-Platt The flower buds are beginning to show their little heads in all colors, opening their eyes, unfolding their little petals, and sending out the exotic aroma of delicate perfumes. The bushes and trees of the gardenia, rose, lilac, magnolia, jasmine, and orange blossoms showed off their glorious, colorful floral arrangement. While I was…
January 2024, Features
Jacquie’s Corner: Are You Ready to Meet and Greet New Year 2024 and Your Friendships?
Jacqueline M. Ruffino-Platt I don’t know about some of my readers and friends if they are looking forward to another new year and ready to invite and accept the year 2024. For some of you, my readers have had a rather fun year traveling throughout our states and/or country. Meet new neighbors, friends, and acquaintances. Yet some…
Features, November 2023
Jacquie’s Corner: Veterans Day and My Contribution
Jacqueline M. Ruffino-Platt The year was 1972 when I moved from New Jersey to Northern Virginia. My first apartment was in Arlington, close to Fort Myer Army Base. Each morning I woke with the sounds of Reveille and in the evening the beautiful bugle sounds of “Taps.” I followed my senses and interest in the…
Features, October 2023
Jacquie’s Corner: What I Learned from My Mom
Jacqueline M. Ruffino-Platt Wow … delicious … juices running and aromas of the finest culinary delights you can imagine. As most of you know, I love to cook and bake, inherited some of my talents from my mom. A woman who cooked and baked without one shred of a recipe. Years ago I asked Mom if…
Features, September 2023
Jacquie’s Corner: Another Best Birthday Ever … Again
Jacqueline M. Ruffino-Platt May the coming year’s trip around the sun be the best ever. Each year as we grow older, and sometimes wiser and happier, we receive “Happy Birthday,” “Best Wishes,” “Have a Wonderful Day” from our family and friends. My mailbox is filled with beautiful cards with meaningful sentiments from those who remembered…