Hello! I’m Sandra Levine, a filmmaker and speaker, born and raised at the Jersey Shore. My blog, “Still Time for Joy”, will be expanding in 2024, as I launch my new podcast. We’ll explore simple ways to create a happier life, especially after hard times. You’ll meet heroes and healers, adventurers and innovators, who will […]
Blog – Still Time for Joy Read More »
The exuberant sunflower symbolizes happiness and peace throughout the world. If you’d like to bring a little more joy and beauty into your life, you may want to try growing them in your garden. But if you have birds, rabbits, chipmunks, and especially squirrels in your yard, raising sunflowers can be very challenging. I was
The Joy & Frustration of Growing Sunflowers Among Wildlife Read More »
When I heard about a candle-lighting ceremony at a Covid-19 memorial on the beach in Belmar, NJ, I felt compelled to go. The memorial started in January 2021, when Rima Samman placed a few marked stones in the sand to honor victims of the virus, including her 40-year-old brother. There are now more than 2,000
Heartfelt Pandemic Memorial Comforts Mourners Read More »
Our ghost, made out of an old, white sheet, hangs from the front trellis. Our wicked witch peers out the living room window. Our creepy, homemade scarecrow guards the path leading to the candy, although in the midst of the pandemic, we don’t expect many trick-or-treaters today. Even our town’s annual Halloween parade–typically one of
A Halloween Less Haunting, 21 Years After ADEM Read More »
(Click here for more information about the one-hour film, Heartbreak & Healing After Sandy.) On October 29, 2012, Superstorm Sandy barreled up the East Coast and made landfall in New Jersey. Weather forecasters had predicted a devastating storm, and they were right. The Jersey Shore suffered some of the worst damage; a town not far
Surreal Memories, Eight Years After Superstorm Sandy Read More »
The photo of my friend, Karen, popped up on Facebook. Under blue skies she stood smiling with a sea of giant, yellow sunflowers behind her. Acres of them. As soon as I saw the picture, I knew I had to go. I love being outside in nature, and I especially love flowers. After many months
Mesmerized by Sunflowers at Holland Ridge Farms Read More »
(Originally published May 16, 2020) My mother, Dorothy, always made birthdays special for me and my siblings. When we were young, she organized parties where we played Pin the Tail on the Donkey, and opened lots of presents. As we grew older, she invited family to our house and cooked a delicious meal of our
Celebrating Mom’s 90th Birthday Through a Window Read More »
(Originally published April 6, 2020) For years, my husband, Michael, and I have set our dining room table with cloth napkins, not paper, to create a tiny bit less garbage. We throw vegetable scraps on the compost pile. We recycle as much as possible. We try hard not to waste. As we watched the coronavirus
Lack During Pandemic May Shape Habits for Life Read More »
(Originally published March 19, 2020) My mother, Dorothy, lives in an assisted living facility not far from my home. She’s struggling with dementia that worsens month by month, and I visit her often. We also have a beloved aide, Barbara, who takes her on outings several times a week. When the facility announced a ban
Use Tech During Pandemic to Connect with Elderly Read More »
(This article, originally published by BrainLine in January 2016, provides some background into my family’s experience with ADEM – Acute Disseminated Encephalomyelitis. It was written more than 16 years after my husband’s illness began. Sandra Levine also presents speaking programs on ADEM recovery and caregiving.) Early one morning last month, with sleepy eyes half open,
Dinner with the Elephant Read More »
