Cast of characters: Bernie

Bernie and John in their kitchen in Westerville, taken the day of Mom's and Dad's 75th anniversary

Bernie has been a bona fide family member for close to 40 years, and her home and heart were always open to all of us, especially to Mom and Dad. For years and years, she was Mom's personal shopper, making sure that Mom always had pretty and up-to-date clothes to wear. It seems as though every time I complimented Mom on how pretty she looked, she would say, "Thank Bernie!" She loved everything Bernie bought her! The dress Mom chose to be buried in was from Bernie, so that says it all! :)

And it was more than clothes! Bernie knew all of the "little things" that Mom enjoyed so much, and it was her personal mission to shop tirelessly to make sure Mom never had to do without, whether it was a wreath for her door or a Christmas doormat to make the kitchen festive.

Bernie and John always included our parents in their family Christmases, especially in their later years. They took care of sooooo many things for Mom and Dad, helping them financially and in whatever way they could.

One of the few people I know who loves her job, Bernie is the head-honcho master speech therapist with the Westerville schools. She's known since she was knee-high to a grasshopper that she wanted to be a speech therapist, and like everything else Bernie does, she doesn't do it half-way! She's the best! She loves her work as much as she loves meeting people and socializing, and she has a laugh that is so contagious that nobody is immune. Bernie approaches each day with an enviable zest for life!

Having raised three kids (John, Jim and Allison), she and John are now enjoying their two adorable grandsons, Andrew and Luke. The rest of us may be slowing down, but not Bernie. Like the Energizer Bunny, she keeps going and going and going and going! For Bernie, every day is a gift, and she's going to squeeze every bit of fun out of it that she can. :) You go, girl, and thanks for being a member of our cast of characters!