One of my favorite memories with my mom is our 2018 Florida trip, where we took her to her very first water park. It was the first time she had ever tried a water attraction, and seeing her so full of life was a gift. She was so sharp and witty all day, radiating pure happiness.

I can still see her in the Lazy River, letting the current pull her along, insisting, “Let’s go around one more time!” every time we reached the exit. By the end of the day, she told us she only regretted not doing it sooner. Seeing her enjoy herself so completely created a cherished memory that we will hold onto forever.

… In memory of Marilu Lopez-Santiago, who we lost on April 5th, 2020.

A little over 6 years ago, Trump promised our country that Covid would be gone by Easter. Almost 6 years ago Covid was not gone but my brother Johnny was. He died on Easter in 2020 of Covid-19. Who in our country’s leadership do we believe? Who in our country’s leadership will protect us?

This year I attended the Sixth Annual Lighting Ceremony at the Covid-19 Memorial Rami’s Heart in Wall, New Jersey.

Where did 6 years go? It seems like it was yesterday that people were making sourdough bread and complaining that they couldn’t go out while the remainder of us suffered in silence and in solitude.

There were 35,000 people who lost their lives in New Jersey and no one even remembers them. They used before Covid as a time that they had restrictions on them and had not had a loss so unbelievable that it changed them forever.

I was fortunate to be surrounded by people at the Memorial who understand it all — the 6 years, my heartache.

Ed and Marla drove together with me and it still takes your breath away to see all those stones in the yellow hearts.

How life can change so quickly and yet people forget that Covid even exists.

Today, Saint Patrick’s Day, my brother would have been celebrating his wedding anniversary, but he’s not here and I’m really pissed off about that.

It has been 6 years since my brother Johnny died of Covid-19 on April 11, 2020. I have so many fond memories of Johnny and me going to so many beaches growing up on Long Island from early childhood throughout adulthood. One of our favorites was Jones Beach known for its 6.5 miles of white sandy beaches along the Atlantic Ocean with a 2 mile lively boardwalk. It is one of Long Island’s largest and most popular beaches. It truly offered a quintessential beach experience for us and all our friends. It was our slice of Paradise catching rays of sun and riding big waves. I can still see Johnny catching a wave and sitting on top of the world as sung by the Beach Boys.