Field trips were a great way to get outside the classroom and see the world. I loved the classroom and loved school. Still do! But I also love to learn, and field trips presented us with new, hands-on learning experiences. And one field trip in particular was just good ole fun, a treat for ourContinue reading "Favorite School Field Trips: Miami 1970s"
English Lessons in a Polish Suburb
The atmosphere was quiet, as I waded through calf-deep snow toward a little apartment on the outskirts of Poznan, Poland. The light through the windows was inviting. This kind of winter was new to me, a Florida girl. The night sky was a deeper blue, as the moonlight reflected off the snow. After spending theContinue reading "English Lessons in a Polish Suburb"
My First Trip Overseas
Traveling Family Growing up, I traveled a lot. My family was very willing to hit the road, visit, explore. And because my dad worked for Eastern Airlines, we got to fly for free anywhere in the United States. We flew to see my sister when she lived in various locations. We also visited family byContinue reading "My First Trip Overseas"
Seeing My Global Future at The Fontainebleau Hotel
Growing up in a Multicultural City I was blessed to grow up in a culturally diverse city. Miami in the 1970s opened a window onto a much wider world. My classmates represented countries from Costa Rica to France, Korea to Venezuela, Spain to Jamaica. Our elementary school classrooms were like the United Nations. I lovedContinue reading "Seeing My Global Future at The Fontainebleau Hotel"
Helping in the First Grade Classroom
In sixth grade at Miami Shores Elementary School, I had a special privilege: I was chosen to be an assistant in a first grade classroom. The program was called Teachers of Tomorrow, most often known as TOTs. Becoming a Teacher of Tomorrow Sixth-grade students were selected for a TOT role or a Safety Patrol roleContinue reading "Helping in the First Grade Classroom"
A Pilot at Heart
I enjoy writing about family photos. I do this partly to remember and partly to share with future generations. If you’re writing a family history book or blog, writing about family photos can be a helpful way to piece your story together. You might use those photos and stories in your book. Or they mightContinue reading "A Pilot at Heart"
A Little about My Dad
My dad, William Sturgeon Gillis, Jr., was 51 when I was born. Can you imagine? He had just put his first daughter through college, and along comes a baby. It wasn’t until I was in my 50s that I truly appreciated what he was dealing with. Dad’s Parenting My mom was his new wife; heContinue reading "A Little about My Dad"
A Passport, a Piccolo, and a Summer I’ll Never Forget
In 1982, I was in 10th grade at Winter Park High School. Back then, high school in Florida started with 10th grade. I played flute and piccolo in the band. The annual district solo and ensemble music contest was a big deal, and I had experienced that scene for two years in junior high. InContinue reading "A Passport, a Piccolo, and a Summer I’ll Never Forget"
Big Screens and Bigger Memories: My 1970s Movie Adventures
When I was young, my grownup cousin, Sandra, tried to describe what a movie theater was like. She said a bunch of people could sit in rows, all facing the same direction, and somehow everyone could watch a movie on a giant screen. How could they see over each other’s heads? I couldn’t picture it.Continue reading "Big Screens and Bigger Memories: My 1970s Movie Adventures"
Frozen Pillows and Porch Ice Cream: Summer Evenings with Mom, Dad, and Taffy Cat
Summer evenings in Miami were hot and muggy throughout my childhood in the 1970s. The hotels along the beach blocked the ocean breeze. The inland neighborhoods wilted in a steamer. But we had a beautiful evening rhythm in our home, buoyed by the sweet scent of the jasmine hedges that wandered through our neighborhood ofContinue reading "Frozen Pillows and Porch Ice Cream: Summer Evenings with Mom, Dad, and Taffy Cat"
Exploring Generations 