Gifts of a Sand Dollar

Written by Liz Hekimian-Williams


Gifts of a Sand Dollar

By Liz Hekimian-Williams

I guess this New York City girl is now a nature enthusiast torepparttar extreme! Our recent sand dollar experience proves it.

Do you remember that famous story about a girl that throws a starfish back intorepparttar 111518 sea one at a time alongrepparttar 111519 shoreline? Whenrepparttar 111520 girl was told by an onlooker that what she was doing wouldn't matter much, she replied "it matters to that one" and threw another starfish back intorepparttar 111521 sea.

Well, I have a sand dollar story to share. The other day we happened upon a little island while boating and we couldn't believe how many live sand dollars were inrepparttar 111522 water and onrepparttar 111523 sand, green, fuzzy and thriving. They weren't white and dry like you buy them in a store. My kids were really interested in them and so were we adults, actually.

Other kids were getting them out ofrepparttar 111524 water and hauling them home, showing them off to us, and even offering them to us. My family enjoyed holding them and looking at them, but then we'd each throwrepparttar 111525 sand dollars back intorepparttar 111526 water... to keep on living... and we left with only memories as souvenirs. Now I wasn't always like this. In fact, when I was a teen, my folks took me torepparttar 111527 Bahamas and we had some natives dive down and get us a couple of starfish that we brought back as souvenirs. Back then it seemed likerepparttar 111528 most normal thing to want to do. I still rememberrepparttar 111529 shock on my kids' faces when they first would hear about my youthful vacation andrepparttar 111530 starfish experience, though. They invariably asked why would I do that because didn't it killrepparttar 111531 starfish? Boy that made me feel lousy.

Turns out they had a very good point. I've learned from life, from my kids, I don't know from where else exactly but now I feelrepparttar 111532 same way asrepparttar 111533 kids do. I wonder, why DID I want to do that?

Oh well,repparttar 111534 past is done. But now, we CAN saverepparttar 111535 sand dollars (andrepparttar 111536 starfish) one at a time at least.

15 Successful Packing Tips

Written by Joyce Moseley Pierce


You have permission to publish this article in its entirety, electronically, or in print, as long asrepparttar bylines are included. A courtesy copy of your publication, if possible, would be appreciated. Or an e-mail informingrepparttar 111517 writer of your use. piercejam@sbcglobal.net

15 Tips for Successful Packing by: Joyce Moseley Pierce 1600 words - 65 character lines

Whether you travel for business or pleasure, frequently or only occasionally, it seems that we basically packrepparttar 111518 same things every time. Here are a few tips to help simplify repparttar 111519 process so you don't have to stress about it every time. Remember that most of these items can be purchased when you get there, but you don't want to spend your vacation money on things you already have at home, and if you're traveling on business, you may not have time to run torepparttar 111520 store for something you need at an 8 am meeting.

After reading through these ideas, you might want to make an itemized list of things you consider important to take. Keep it in your suitcase so it will be available next time you pack and use it as a checklist to make sure you haven't forgotten anything. If other things come to mind while you're traveling, update your list for next time, but be sure to return it to your suitcase.

Rule #1 for me is to keep it light. I traveled toBrazil for 10 days with only a carry-on rolling bag and backpack. My husband packed a rolling bag that was big enough to stuff a body into and it was difficult to manage when we stayed in hotels that didn't have elevators. I don't pack more than I can carry by myself and I try to leave a little room for those vacation purchases. I have a nylon carry-on bag that zips up into a small square that comes in handy for carrying things home if I get too carried away.

1. Pajamas or gown. I have a pair of pjs I keep in my suitcase just so I don't forget them. The reason I take pajamas instead of a gown is that hotels are usually cold and if I'm staying with friends or family, I want to be able to get up and userepparttar 111521 bathroom without having to have a robe.

2. Underwear. Pack a pair for every day and then include extras. If you're going to be doing activities that require showering and changing clothes duringrepparttar 111522 day, be sure to include enough for that. Don't forget bras and sports bras.

3. Make up and toiletries. Instead of having to remember what to take every time, go through your beauty routine at home and set outrepparttar 111523 things you use every day. Refill sample jars from trial offers, or buy travel-size containers to pack your cleansers so you don't have to pack an 8 oz. tub of cold cream. Don't forget deodorant and shaving supplies. I keep a razor in my bag allrepparttar 111524 time and just changerepparttar 111525 blade when I'm leaving again. Keep your toiletry bag stocked and leave it in your suitcase forrepparttar 111526 next trip,but be sure to check and make sure you don't need to refill any ofrepparttar 111527 containers.

4. Tooth care. Instead of buying a travel size tube of toothpaste, when I get towardrepparttar 111528 bottom of my big tube, I stop using it and throw it into my toiletry bag. I also packrepparttar 111529 floss and toothbrushrepparttar 111530 dentist gives me.

5. Feminine products. Don't forget to pack at least enough to get you by until you can get torepparttar 111531 store. A urologist once told me that women seem prone to bladder infections while they're on vacation. If you are, you might want to pack an OTC medication that will help relieverepparttar 111532 pain and lessenrepparttar 111533 symptoms until you can get to a doctor.

6. Medications. I have a separated pill box that holds pills for a week. Usually my trips are not that long (unfortunately!) so I'll put in what I need for each day and userepparttar 111534 extra slots for aspirin or other things I might need while away. I have another pill box that I use for my vitamins.

7. Clothes. After considering whatrepparttar 111535 weather will be, I pull clothes out and lay them onrepparttar 111536 bed. I like dark colors because those spills aren't quite so obvious as they are on light colors! I pack pants that will be interchangeable with more than one shirt. In trying to pack light, I may wear a pair of black pants more than once, but not my shirts! If you're going to a cool climate, remember to bring things to layer. It will take up less room than bulkier items. It doesn't hurt to try things on before you go, either! If you haven't worn something in awhile, it may not fitrepparttar 111537 way you remembered.

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