Back in January it was announced that New Kids on the Block would be playing Fenway Park in the summer along with Paula Abdul and Boyz II Men. Fenway in the summer is the perfect place to be for a concert and a childhood favorite? Yes, yes please.

A dozen group texts later and emails later we had a plan- eight of us- my best friends- would be going. With the help of Shirley’s coworker who had an American Express card and could get our tickets in advance.

It POURED the night of the concert – they had to stop Paula Abdual’s performance and evacuate the field for 45 minutes. But we were in a covered area- neon gloves, 80’s make up and hair and all. It was an awesome night being my 10 year old self again!

This past weekend was Pascarelli girls weekend in New York. This was suppose to happen last year as a Christmas gift- better late than never!

We took a pedicab tour of Central park stopping at all the fun sites like the Friends fountain and the Lennon tribute. We wandered around Times Square and had lunch at the Hard Rock Cafe. We walked an hour to wait an hour in line for a new cooke dough shop (crazy line!!) There was a trip to the Empire State Building (I had a headache for that).

The second day we started with Mass at St. Patrick’s and then went to the 9/11 Memorial Museum before a last lunch and heading back home.  It was a quick trip but a lot of fun hanging out with my mom and sisters.

When I went to the Boston Living Center’s Celebration of Life Thanksgiving Dinner this year, I caught up with many old friends. One of them was Michael Bacon. Michael began at the BLC a few months before I began volunteering in the summer of 1996. Michael was the Meals Program Director and later the Director of Nutritional Services and after 21 years decided to retire. The BLC held his retirement party on his birthday and Chris and I were honored to attend.

It was special to see so many old friends and catch up with people- we joked about it being like a family reunion. The tributes were touching. One particular sentiment that I always appreciated was that the Dining Room was always the Dining Room- it was about family and enjoying a meal together. As someone who sat at tables and enjoyed many conversations, I know how special that is.

I remember a few weeks after I began volunteering serving dinner on Monday nights, I sat down to talk with a few members after dinner was served. It was a great conversation and I soon realized other volunteers were cleaning up and I wasn’t. I apologized to Michael for not doing my job and he told me I was doing it- sitting, talking, hearing stories and being present for people was more important than anything else I could be doing. It’s something I never forgot.

I was also struck at the history that brought so many people together- past directors including Larry Kessler who I have known of for so long. So much time has passed since I volunteered and people have moved on (and in some cases passed on).

The message I left in Michael’s card were the first thoughts I had when I heard of his retirement: “To leave the world a bit better, whether by a healthy child, a garden patch, or a redeemed social condition; To know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived. This is to have succeeded.” -Emerson