At the beginning of this year, my husband and I suddenly lost a dear friend we have had since high
school—John Mike Moccaldi. He was one of those guys you could call for anything, and he would stop what he was doing to come to help without hesitation. He would drive for hours to bring the racing crew much-needed parts; he would give a lift to a friend who didn’t have a ride; and he would be there to help a friend’s family when they needed him. It didn’t matter how long it had been since he last saw you; he was always the same hard-working man, the same goofball with a contagious laugh, the same John Mike who showed up time and again. This is who he was.
More recently, I lost another dear friend, Virginia Gates. When I started Our Town Magazine, Virginia was a huge supporter. I had no idea she liked to write, but I was happy that she chose to write for me. She shared her breast cancer story in the second edition, which can still be found online. More recently, she authored a piece we affectionately titled “The Recipe Box.” Virginia was all about family and letting
people know how much they meant to her. She told me several times how much she loved me and how grateful she was for our friendship. I think she made everyone she met feel that same way…special. I don’t think that she had any idea how much she meant to people in this community, or how much she was loved herself, as she was such a humble person. She fought so hard to stay with her husband and boys, but in the end, when her body became so tired, God called her home. Her beautiful smile will be
forever missed.
These two losses will stay with me, as I am sure they will stay with others who also loved and cared for them. Loss is never easy… Frankly, it sucks! I try to remember, though, the lives they led, and how they both would want their loved ones to carry on and make the most of their own lives. I can hear Virginia, now, saying: “Girrrrrrl, keep going! You’ve got this!” and this makes me smile.
To my knowledge, John Mike and Virginia didn’t know one another, but both were small business owners in our community, and both believed in supporting other local organizations. This holiday season, support our neighbors by shopping small. Take the time to be with family and friends, attend the local festivities, and enjoy yourselves and your loved ones. Remember to laugh a lot, eat all the goodies, and then go for a walk to offset some of those calories. Reflect on what really matters this holiday season, and let others know what they mean to you—you won’t regret it! No gift is more valuable than hearing that someone thinks you are special.
Thank you to all my readers, advertisers, writers, photographers, main staff, family
and friends for supporting me and Our Town Magazine. You are all very special to me
and make this publication possible.
Happy Thanksgiving and Merry Christmas!
We look forward to seeing you out and about in 2027!
