Author Archives: egallagher713

What is happiness? Can it be defined in a word, in a sentence, in a song? Why are we not happy even when things are going right in our lives? Do we know what happiness really is? Did you know that happiness does not depend on what we have? Happiness depends on how we feelContinue reading “What is Happiness?”

It is the end of December of one of the worst years most of us have lived through and we are counting the days until 2021, with hope in our hearts…. Some people lost loved ones, some people lost jobs and others just survived the consequences and loneliness of isolation and separation because of theContinue reading “A New Year With New Hope”

This year we will be writing different kinds of Christmas lists. Most of them will not include extravagant gifts but rather necessities that we will get for Christmas after surviving this tumultuous year. When thinking about Christmas this year, there is nothing material that I need and I am very thankful for that. So IContinue reading “All I Want for Christmas”

It is the middle of November and all the news broadcasts talk about limiting number of guests for Thanksgiving, closing bars and restaurants early, limiting gym and bowling alley times and even potentially schools going back to remote. The numbers are up in most states and people are starting to feel a new frenzy andContinue reading “Preparing For Next Lockdown”

I don’t know about you but I am looking forward to this election day being over. Aren’t you tired of those political ads that just bash each other? Neither one is saying what they will really do if they become president, rather they are just saying horrible “facts” about the other. We have become aContinue reading “Election Day Havoc”

Do you remember your mother or grandmother telling you to always make sure your bed is made before you leave the house? Do you tend to clean right before going on a vacation? Many of us have this in our heads that God forbid we have an accident and do not return to our homes,Continue reading “Life Interrupted”

How many of you remember where you were on September 11, 2001? I remember that I was teaching a math lesson and had no idea what was going on in the world around me. It was a typical, beautiful September day without a cloud in the sky and we were getting ready to do ourContinue reading “19 Years Later…… Still Painful”

My retirement has been far from normal. My original plan was to retire in June after teaching my last class of second grade. The year was off to a great start in September when I met my wonderful class and I was so excited to celebrate all my “lasts” with them. Unfortunately, that only lastedContinue reading “Sorting It Out After Retirement”

Originally posted on Elly Elementary:
As an educator for over 20 years, the way we teach children to write has changed dramatically.  Before the creation of various online sites that encourage writing, to using social media and researching on the internet, children no longer have to rely on reading a book and taking notes. Or…

This was a most unusual year and summer. When we had the opportunity to visit Newport, Rhode Island with friends, we decided to visit with quarantine in mind and enjoy the beauty that Newport offers. Rhode Island seemed to be doing very well during this pandemic, with low numbers and strict enforcements.  With strict rulesContinue reading “Newport: A Beautiful Retreat in the New Normal”