Creative Mind by Nancy Ann

One of my  favorite art galleries to visit is the Islip Art Museum located on 50 Irish Lane in East Islip, New York.  The location is one of the many reasons why I am drawn to this art museum in addition to the incredible art exhibits.  The art gallery is located in a section of a historical mansion called, “Brookwood Hall.”  This landmark 41 room mansion is full of history. That alone makes the trip to the gallery even more appealing.  It was built in 1903 by a very rich businessman from New York City that wanted a getaway for his family.  Over the years it changed ownership several times and was even an orphanage for children.  In 1967 it was sold to the town of Islip for only $385,000.00. The building is also the setting for municipal offices as well as the art gallery.  From the large windows within the gallery, you look out to a lake and large grounds that families can enjoy a picnic and tour the estate.  (Islip.org)           According to Islip Art Museum websit

On June 23, 1980, my mother Beatrice was killed by a drunk driver.  The man who killed her was a stranger who was "partying" in the Hamptons on Long Island, New York.  He was from Switzerland and was working in New York City for his father.  We never met.  He came into our lives, took our Mother's life, and walked away, "free as a bird."  Today I believe he is back in Switzerland living a productive life as though nothing ever happened.  He never even said he was sorry.  Her precious life was taken away because of a bad choice in judgment on the behalf of another individual.  I have forgiven this stranger.  However, I hope he never forgets the bad choice he made, the lives that he destroyed,  and I hope that everyone who reads this remembers to never drink and drive.   (A poem I wrote in June, 1980 after my Mother was killed.) WHY DID SHE GO? My mother is gone from my life and I miss her so. I wasn't ready to part with her, Oh why did she

                                                  (This article I wrote is rather lengthy but it touches on a subject that everyone living on the planet should be concerned about.)                                               “Warning, eating fresh fruits and vegetables may cause learning disabilities, cancer, many other severe health conditions, and even death, for you and your family.” I realize that sounds farfetched, but unfortunately it is true. A warning should appear on many foods consumed by the unsuspecting public. There are health risk labels on tobacco and alcohol products notifying the consumer that the use of those products “may cause health problems.” In the meantime, people are unknowingly eating, breathing and drinking highly toxic residue from pesticides, approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for use in commercial farming, and listed as “safe for human consumption in low doses.” Why is it that there is no notification to the public from the FDA regar

This weekend a friend visited for two days and along with him came an adorable two-month-old raccoon abandoned by his mother. I must say I really enjoyed having the sweet little raccoon named “Baby” around for a few days. My five-year-old Bassett Hound “Opie” did not even seem to mind. For two days, she followed our every move, performed tricks in the trees and took long naps on the deck and in the bushes with Opie. She was very loveable and playful. I believe she did not even realize that she was a raccoon. I had almost forgotten as well until she followed me into the kitchen. I opened the refrigerator and she spotted leftover hamburgers on a plate. As she went for the plate of burgers, I went to pick her up and stop her and I quickly saw the wild animal instinct come out in her. Soon after this episode, she went back to her sweet self as though nothing happened. I, however, was aware of the fact that as cute as she was, she was a wild animal that had no place being around humans