Good Living 123

We can all get a bit curmudgeon-like from time to time. Well, here it is… an official day to live and let go. Let’s release whatever negative we may be feeling… resentments, grudges, or anger. Whether accepted or not, we can try to make a gesture to reconcile. Kiss and make up.

1996 send-off for Miss NH 1996 Michelle Tolson

Honored to have been included in the new “Where Are They Now” series on “Forever Miss NHs,” launched by our 2023 Miss New Hampshire, Brooke Mills. For decades, I have watched the young women grow more beautiful, smart, talented, and community-involved. I am humbled to be considered one of their “Forevers.” Thank you, Brooke!

With Belinda (Bridgeman) Freeman and Miss NH 1995 Stephanie Foisy Mills Ryan in Atlantic City, during Stephanie’s Miss America Pageant week.

The RePost:
!!! Welcome to a new series of “Where are they now?” with our Forever #MissNH’s !!!

Where are they now?
Cathy Burnham Martin, 1975

May 9, 1975 At Miss NH pageant reception celebrating my 21st birthday

As a student at New Hampshire College, I planned to enter their local competition. Because I was nervous to do my first local pageant in front of my college chums, I entered the Miss Manchester Pageant as a warm-up, and won!

August, 1975 – hosting other New England titlists at Volvo International Tennis Tournament dinner

Talent: I was thrilled to win the Talent award at the 1975 Miss New Hampshire Pageant. As a stage actress, I chose comedy for my talent and performed Queen Lucy from the Broadway musical “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown.” I recall being concerned that I might run over the time allowed, as there was a lot of laughter throughout, but I was thrilled to see the sponsor Union Leader’s publisher William Loeb laughing so hard he was holding his belly!

September, 1975 competing in Miss America evening wear competition

Favorite Memory: 1975-76 were packed with an abundance of awesome memories. Some are funny, some are poignant, and all are cherished. The experience taught me a great many skills, including public speaking. (Someone, somewhere believed that if you put a crown on someone’s head, she could speak easily in public… so I learned.)

September, 1975 – Atlantic City midnight celebration following Miss America Pageant

My craziest lesson in speaking came while commentating a girl scout fashion show. Not one of the young models would even enter the stage until AFTER I finished reading the one and only line written about them on the little 3×5 cards that I had been given. Sooooo, I quickly learned to ad-lib throughout the entire program. Great lesson and fond memory.

July 4 1975 parade appearance

Favorite Sponsor/Gift: The jazzy Fiat X19 from Sexton Motors in Nashua was a phenomenal gift, as I am certain every other Miss New Hampshire feels about the car that is provided for the year. And wardrobe gifts also provided great confidence and added to many memories.

After emceeing 1992 Miss NH Pageant, with the beautiful winner, Rachel Petz

But I think one item stands out as particularly special because I have owned it for decades. From a store that no longer exists in New Hampshire I was gifted a stunning Lane Hope Chest. The idea of a hope chest may seem antiquated in this day in time, but it was a superbly high-quality piece of furniture. Inside, a young woman would collect items for when she got married. These might include trousseau articles or goodies she was making for her future home.

With my 1975 Miss America Pageant sisters at our 20th reunion in Atlantic City

What are you doing now? After retiring from an eclectic career path that wove through broadcast journalism, marketing, bank organizing, and telecommunications, I chose writing as my retirement career. With over 20 published books now, genres range from cookbooks and nonfiction to comedy and fiction.

Backstage at the 1995 Miss NH Pageant with reigning Miss America Kimberly Aiken and my fabulous Mom Glenna Burnham, an annual, beloved hostess for the State contestants

My latest endeavor has been into historical fiction, and the third part of the “Destiny” trilogy will be released late this Fall, concluding a story that tells the hauntingly meaningful tale of the Armenian side of my family. I also try to post something positive daily to my www.GoodLiving123.com website and on social media.

Anything else?
I gleaned the title of one of my non-fiction works while covering the Miss America Pageant in Atlantic City back in the 1990s. I was beside the famed Convention Hall runway with my videographer and heard a couple of guys quipping about the contestants who were on stage rehearsing. “What a bunch of bimbos,” the man beside me laughingly said. “Yeah,” I butted in. “But these bimbos have brains.”
“Huh?” They looked confused. I couldn’t help myself, so I replied, “They are smart, poised, talented, and expected to answer impromptu political, environmental, and life-changing questions in front of 25,000 people… questions that baffle even world leaders.” My later non-fiction life lessons book focusing on relationships got gleefully named The Bimbo Has Brains… and Other Freaky Facts. (Yes, indeed… available in paperback, digital, and Audiobook formats.)

August 19^th is World Photography Day. 2023’s theme is Understanding Clouds. Well, that could fill volumes… er, uh… voluminous.

Whether they bring screeching sunsets, welcome shade, various shapes for cloud gazing, storms, or delightful whisps, I love taking photos of clouds from the ground, air, or water. Share yours, too!

#World Photography Day, #Clouds

July 27, 1776, is when New Jersey became the 3rd state to join the Union. New Jersey’s location was vital during the American Revolutionary War, and it saw more battles than any other state. In that light, the state hosts one of the nation’s largest numbers of historical museums.  Henry Hudson first colonized the area and initially named it New Netherlands. When the British took over, they renamed it after the UK’s Isle of Jersey in the English Channel.

Known as the Garden State, New Jersey is famous for its tomato crop but also boasts blueberries and cranberries. It also has 4 national parks and 130 miles of shoreline. For a few little-known facts, New Jersey hosted the first drive-in movie theater and the world’s first submarine launch.

More cars are stolen in Newark than in any other US city. Princeton is where cheerleading got its start in 1869.  Beemerville, New Jersey is home to a dormant volcano.

The Monopoly game includes actual streets in Atlantic City, home to the world’s longest boardwalk.

Home to the most diners in the nation, it also has the nation’s highest population density, with 1300 people per square mile. 90% of the population lives in an urban area. In fact, all 21 counties are classified as metropolitan areas.

Photo by Christopher Kuzman

Speaking of people, many famous folks were born in New Jersey. Consider astronaut Buzz Aldrin, US General Norman Schwarzkopf, US Supreme Court justice William Brennan, publisher Malcolm Forbes, and editor Steve Forbes. Plus sportscasters Dick Vitale and Chris Wragge, NFL coach Bill Parcells, quarterback Joe Theismann, NBA great Shaquille O’Neal, and boxer Marvelous Marvin Hagler. And there is news anchor Bret Baier, film critic Leonard Maltin, author Fran Lebowitz, comedians Lou Costello and Flip Wilson, and illusionist David Copperfield.

Stepping into the music world we find bandleaders Count Basie and Nelson Riddle, Frank Sinatra, Bruce Springsteen, Frankie Valli, Dionne Warwick, Ricky Nelson, Connie Francis, Gloria Gaynor, Sarah Vaughan, Jon Bon Jovi, Whitney Houston, and Queen Latifah. New Jersey also rocks the acting world with household names including, John Travolta, Meryl Streep, Jack Nicholson, Jerry Lewis, Joe Pesci, Frank Langella, Michael Douglas, Sam Coppola, Bruce Willis, Judith Light, Roy Scheider, Ray Liotta, Nathan Lane, and Danny DeVito.

Way to go, New Jersey!

If we were fortunate as children, we rode a merry go ‘round when a carnival or fair came to town. Delightful memories often get relived as adults.

Surprisingly, the carousel started as a sort of war training. Early merry-go-rounds date back to the 12^th century, when knights used them to test agility and jousting skills as they galloped around the carousel. Children became enamored with the skill games and developed make-believe carousels with wooden horses.

Circles were pulled by humans or horses before steam engines and electricity. Music was also an entertaining addition. While all galloping horses initially, today’s children can ride in various seats, cars, and a full array of critters.

We humans are slow to evolve. While harmony is difficult to achieve, it remains a worthy goal. Recognize progress toward becoming a racially peaceful society, as we continue the long trek toward it… along with dealing with our discrimination based on religion, sex, age, etc., etc., etc.