Saturday, January 13, 2018

Cohen family yearly recap, 2017

Happy 2018 Everyone,

As I write the annual update on the Cohen family, it fills me with great sadness.  Many of you know that my father passed away on December 12.  We were so fortunate to have him in our lives, and he will be (and already is) greatly missed. So for us, it wasn’t a happy holiday season…

The entire Gray family headed to Grenada to spend Christmas.  My parents had planned this trip over the summer, so we went.  In a way, it was good that the family was able to spend the week together. The trip was good and lots of laughs were had by all.  My high school friend Valerie from Minnesota was able to join us.  It was wonderful to have her come and spend time with her.



The 2017 year went by quickly.  Rebecca was quite busy. She worked at the local supermarket up until right before she left for college. She did that in addition to being on the cheer team, and they made it to “Nationals”, which was in Orlando. It was an ordeal for them to get there as it was the same time we had a blizzard on the east coast in early February. Later on that month, we drove to Pittsburgh, to check out University of Pittsburgh, and then flew (with her friend Shea and Shea’s mom) to see the College of Charleston, where our close friend of the family Emily Lapidus attends. Emily was a terrific tour guide, and we enjoyed the time there. However, after much deliberation, Rebecca ended up deciding on the University of Connecticut. 



As soon as Rebecca left, we felt her absence. I missed her very much in the beginning of her first semester, and cried a bit the first few days when she left (as well as crying at the thought of her leaving prior as well). Now, not so much… ;).  It was an adjustment for her too.  Luckily, she is happy and had a great first semester.  For her spring break she is going to Colorado with UConn to build a house for Habitat for Humanity.

Speaking of graduations, Brian flew out to Texas with his brother Ben, to be there for our nephew Andrew's High School graduation. Brian and Ben had a good time, and had more than their fill of barbecue! Andrew enlisted in the Air Force, and recently completed basic training.

We got a chance to see him when he came to New York in October with his girlfriend Kloey. Ben is now a homeowner, and has a lovely house in Hazlet, NJ, which is not far from Red Bank..



Amanda still enjoys Stony Brook Hospital and continues to work the night shift as a desk clerk in the E.R. department.  She also began taking classes at Suffolk Community College, and is continuing this spring semester.

The summer was a quiet one.  We spent a week at Treasure Island on the west coast of Florida.  It was a beautiful place and we spent the time relaxing.  Rebecca’s friend Kiri was able to join us too.  Before heading to UConn, Rebecca's "summer of fun" included going off to Montauk and Cape Cod.

I continue to work as a speech pathologist and enjoy every day I am there.  Brian still absolutely loves his job and continues to be extremely devoted and passionate about helping people with their finances, along with his partners at their company Landmark Wealth Management.  Personally, I still find it completely boring, but I’m glad he enjoys it.  Give me my language challenged students any day of the week, that’s so much more fun and exciting (at least to me)!

We wish you all a Happy 2018!



Love,

Debbie, as well as her editor Brian, and Amanda, Rebecca, and Buddy (not pictured, but still as cute as ever)

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