Cohen family yearly recap, 2023

Happy (belated) New Year Family and Friends,

We hope everyone is well and healthy!  We have been blessed with another wonderful year.

Our year started off with a trip to the east coast of Florida.  Brian and I are looking to snowbird within the next few years.  We have been looking for areas and homes which we think we might like. Lots of people ask if we are selling the house in Greenlawn.  The answer right now is “NO” - I love New York and I especially love the summers here with sailing and the beaches (taxes and traffic though….).  Stay tuned to see where we decide to spend our winter months.

In April, Brian, Mom, and I took a trip up the coast all the way to Maine.  I spent a lot of time in Castine, ME when I was at the University of Maine.   I have such fond memories with dear friends, Karen, Doug, and Jim, from so many years ago.  So, while in Castine visiting our nephew Lucas who is there attending Maine Maritime Academy - MMA, I was able to see my friend Karen.  It was so wonderful to reconnect with her.  Her husband Doug and Jim weren’t there.  I was sad I didn’t get to see them.  Jim, however, let us stay at one of his properties overlooking Castine harbor and the MMA ship. 

Lucas loves going to MMA, and it seems like a perfect fit for him (lots of valves for Lucas to deal with and talk about. Trust me, it’s a big thing with him). On our way to and from there, it was great to be able to spend time with our niece Sami who is in the Doctor of Physical Therapy at Franklin Pierce in New Hampshire (Samilita is regrettably a fellow NY Jets sufferer, so we do have that unfortunate bond).

Also in April, Brian and I stayed over at his cousin Ellen and Ray’s beautiful apartment in Manhattan, as we were there to celebrate Passover with them and the Epstein’s and a few of their friends. We had a great time as usual with them all, and it was nice that we stayed over to spend some extra time with Ellen and Ray, and catching up with their adventures around the world. It was then an utter shock to us, and to all, that Ray passed away suddenly just a few weeks later.

Words cannot express the shock as he was not only young, but probably in the best shape of anyone we know. Likewise, words cannot express the sorrow we feel, specifically for Ellen and her daughters Rebecca and Sarah. The service they had for Ray was both touching and beautiful, and we learned more about all the time and effort he gave to help those less fortunate. (My sentiments exactly, and I personally appreciated his love for games that make you think, as well as subtle verbal jabs, sly sense of humor, and a person that was truly comfortable in unapologetically being comfortable with who he was. He is and will be missed).

The summer was filled with a Cohen family reunion as well as my 40th High School reunion.  Of course it was the same weekend in July!  However, it was a magical weekend with the entire Cohen clan from the West Coast and New England family members attending. 

Brian and I hosted the Cohen reunion at the house both Friday and Saturday.  Then to continue the festivities I held a 40th High School brunch reunion at the house on Sunday, while Brian held a separate brunch for his family at his office.  I just wish everyone lived closer, I just adore Brian’s family and would like to spend more time with them (and I know that they adore Deb as well). 

It was wonderful to rekindle my relationships with my high school friends. My high school friends are just as amazing as well and I hope to see them more often too.  As I get older life has nothing to do with “things”, it all has to do with the people in our lives and the memories we create with them.  I guess I am finally becoming an adult and realizing the importance of what it really means to be happy and fulfilled.  There was so much laughter and fun at both events.  It makes what life is all about!! Don’t get me wrong, I am always looking for a good time and laughter and I certainly don’t take myself too seriously (yes, that is quite true!).

In August, we started the month in Delaware.  Mom rented a house where the entire family could stay.  It was a beautiful resort with plenty of fun activities for everyone to do, and we had a great time (and I truly enjoy Deb’s family as well, and am fortunate that we get to spend a good amount of time together). 

Then Brian and I celebrated our 30th wedding anniversary with a trip to Vancouver and British Columbia.  It was magical! In Victoria, Brian surprised me when we stayed at the same B&B we had stayed at 28 years ago.  The owner Joan is quite the character and since she only rents it out to people who had previously stayed there, it was very special, and Brian timed it so that on our actual anniversary, the day was spent at the Butchart Gardens, which was a perfect setting.  

We also toured Banff and Lake Louise. It was beautiful, though unfortunately the wildfires made visibility very challenging, especially when looking out over the mountains. Still, it was a great trip.

Another exciting event took place in August.  Aaron, Rebecca’s boyfriend, joined Brian’s company (Landmark).  He appears to really like the job and the interaction with all the guys in the office.  Rebecca is still at Ipsos and is doing well there. They have travelled fairly extensively during the year, and are often out and about doing fun things. It has been wonderful to have them live with us, though they are in the midst of looking at apartments (enough on that subject, as Deb gets teary at the thought).

September was back to work. My partner in crime at work, Beth, unfortunately was out at the beginning of the school year.  She had to have neck surgery and returned in late October.  So, it was very quiet in the speech room and I was able to get an amazing amount of work done.  However, it was lonely and there wasn’t any laughter without her.  Thank goodness her surgery was a success, and she is back!  I leave work every day now with a permanent smile on my face because we have so much fun together.

My friend Valerie and I went to Charleston in September, to celebrate her receiving her Master’s degree.  We were able to stay at Judy Drew and Reggie Fairchild’s beautiful home on Dewees Island.  I have known the Drews’ since I began sailing as a teenager and remained in contact with them over the years.  We were also reconnected with Judy’s mom Mrs. Drew and Stephanie and enjoyed a delicious dinner with all.  It was so good to see everyone!

Amanda remains working part-time at Stony Brook University and she is completing her Associates degree at Suffolk Community College.  It isn’t easy working and taking four classes a semester in general. and she is doing it on top of work and we are super proud of her.  Her boyfriend Justin is working at AMC movie theatre and continues to enjoy his job.

October is when Brian feels "abandoned” (though I have learned not to complain which is fair, as Deb is “abandoned” most Tuesday evenings as I go to play backgammon, and the 3-4 weekend tournaments that I attend during the year). 

Our Fellowship fundraiser is the Pumpkin Patch where we sell pumpkins to the community.  It is an awesome event; we are open every day and this year we made a profit of $10,000.  I love it, and with the other pumpkin queens - Amy, Peggy, and I, continue to work together amazingly well, so Brian is often on his own during the month of October (😊).

My mom Carol is 82 and is doing fantastic.  She continues to work Monday and Tuesdays at the library (and her social calendar rivals’ people half her age!).  

Have a great 2024, and if we haven’t gotten together or spoken in a while, reach out and say hello (ditto)!

Love and happiness,

Debbie (and Brian)