Honoring those that gave their lives for their country while serving in the military is the true meaning of Memorial Day. But as a child, it was time for a parade, picnics, and an extra day off from school. We decorated our bikes and dressed according to the theme, patriotic. It was our mini version of a parade float—a celebration time.

Do you have a memory so intense that it feels like it was just yesterday?

We are all the sum parts of what influenced us as children, and I am no different.

Before I was ever tasked to weed a garden, I remember being amazed every summer when my grandmother’s peonies took bloom? For us it was incredible. The peonies were on the sunny side of her house

Choosing a name for your camp is a personal decision, but many grandparents opt for a generic name like "Grandma’s Camp" or "Grandpa’s Camp," or they may personalize it by using their name. My parents called theirs Camp Cadillac for their grandkids at their lake house in Illinois. Before retirement, my parents dreamed of owning a Cadillac and afterward, they were happy to own several. "Camp Cadillac" is a nod to their post-retirement ownership of several Cadillac cars.

Did you ever meet a fire princess?

Some of you might think that meeting a fire princess might be easier to do as a child, but I didn't have the opportunity to meet one until I was well into my 20s. She appeared unexpectedly one evening, and I quickly learned a fire princess could always be called upon.

The first five years of a child's life are critical for brain development. During this time, the brain is rapidly growing and forming connections that will shape a child's future learning and development. It is important to provide young children with nurturing and stimulating environments to support healthy brain development. So, conversation and teaching are key, during the greatest brain development years.

“It is painful to watch Boomers use technology,” my 30-something son told me as I tried to reset the internet. Although I think I am pretty tech-savvy, I grew up with Big, Beige, and Boring technology. What technology did you grow up with? Was it boring or fun?

The first personal computer I remember using in the 1980s was definitely big, beige, and boring. The operating system it used was MS-DOS which used the language called BASIC (Beginners' All-purpose Symbolic Instruction Code). It was a huge advancement for me since I was programming in FORTRAN on a mainframe that accepted keypunch cards. Did I say I was old?

In today’s age of societal turmoil, manners are more important than ever. Good manners, courtesy, and etiquette are the building blocks of a healthy society. If you want to “Change the World,” begin with style and grace, not hate and disdain. Don’t be a Karen.

How about encouraging a budding entomologist?

When I was a little girl, my dad and I would take walks around the block. After a rain, one day, I saw some worms on the sidewalk, and I screamed. I was afraid of these squirmy things keeping me from walking on the sidewalk. My father looked at me, took my hand, and ushered me to the grass next to the sidewalk. He said, "Wait here."