Sandra Bornstein

Welcome

Unlike other websites that are narrowly focused on one or more related topics, you have landed on a website that mirrors the unpredictable nature of life. Life can, at times, be messy. Throughout this website, Sandy Bornstein shares many of the lessons she has learned while adapting to these unanticipated events. Sandrabornstein.com is also the anchor for Sandy’s two books, May This Be the Best Year of Your Life: A Memoir and 100 Things to Do in Boulder Before You Die.

Since travel opportunities were limited during the pandemic, Sandy decided to focus her attention on one of her favorite places in Colorado—Boulder. Many COVID related obstacles were encountered while researching and writing 100 Things to Do in Boulder Before You Die. In concise vignettes, Sandy showcases a cross section of places that will appeal to locals, visitors, college students and their parents.

May This Be the Best Year of Your Life highlights Sandy’s once in a lifetime expat teaching adventure in Bangalore, India, and how she learned to cope with an assortment of unimaginable events and unrelenting culture shock.

In conjunction with marketing her first book, Sandy began publishing lifestyle and travel stories on this website as well as other places. To gain more traction, she launched a second website, The Traveling Bornsteins. This site exclusively showcases Sandy’s travel writing since 2016.

When people reach the empty nester years, they often encounter a host of medical and family issues. Some popular stories include tips on how to overcome these midlife challenges.

In July of 2020, Ira, her husband, was diagnosed with glioblastoma, an incurable brain cancer. After countless hours researching the best options to combat Ira’s terminal diagnosis, Sandy added a For Glio page. The stories posted on this page are created to inspire other people facing a terminal disease to embrace life and not cancer. In the future, Sandy hopes to write a book that will share in more detail what she has learned during Ira’s glioblastoma journey.

Sandy and Ira, divide their time between the Front Range, the mountains, and traveling. Whenever possible they spend time with their four adult sons and their families which includes 6 grandchildren.

If you always stay in the security of your home environment, you will never see what the world is all about. So, take a few moments and join Sandy on her latest adventures. Reach out to Sandy—sandy@sandrabornstein.com

Book Trailer For Memoir

May This Be the Best Year of Your Life

“Sandy takes us on her personal adventures in India, with all the ups and downs and uncertainties of the unknown. She confronts social, family, and professional challenges with refreshing openness, vulnerability, and determination. I was right there with her, sharing both the anxiety and the joy… every step of the way.” – Rita Golden Gelman
author of Tales of a Female Nomad and more than seventy children’s books”

 

Latest Work

The Traveling Bornsteins’ Motto for 2022: Keep Moving-No Regrets

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Another year has gone by. As I reflect on 2022, I continually hear Ira’s motto—Keep Moving; No Regrets. From January to December, we rarely stopped. We were skiing, spending time with family, exploring places in the US and abroad, raising money for the National Brain Tumor Society, sharing our experiences at the ASTRO Conference in Texas, and promoting 100 Things to Do in Boulder Before You Die.

We remain grateful for every day. Ira continues to enjoy the things he loves. I am extremely fortunate that my b’sheret has grit and rarely complains. Many glioblastoma patients balk at what needs to be endured. Instead of focusing on Ira’s cancer, we have lived our lives to the fullest in 2022. We plan to continue an active lifestyle for as long as possible. Read More

Recapping 2022 Events: 100 Things to Do in Boulder Before You Die

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Sandy Bornstein Promoting 100 Things to Do in Boulder Before You Die

Wow! What a year it has been. In January, I put the finishing touches on 100 Things to Do in Boulder Before You Die. After submitting the manuscript and images in early February to Reedy Press, I took a big sigh of relief. Writing a guidebook during the pandemic while coping with Ira’s craniotomy, chemotherapy/radiation, and chemotherapy treatments was extremely challenging. Ira and I spent the spring and summer exploring different parts of the world and celebrating life.

The release date was September 15. Reedy Press asked me to delay my launch until mid-October. From mid-October to mid-December, I had the good fortune to arrange 20 onsite appearances, participate in a couple of media events, receive a few book reviews, and publish five stories showcasing Boulder. Miraculously, Ira accompanied me to each book event. Some of Ira’s doctors did not believe it would be possible. Even when sales were pitifully slow, Ira found something positive to say. Read More

How Skiing and Travel Have Enriched Ira’s Glioblastoma Journey

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Sandy Bornstein skiing at Keystone Resort, December 5, 2022

“When we learn how to become resilient, we learn how to embrace the beautifully broad spectrum of the human experience.”
― Jaeda Dewalt

Yesterday, Ira and I experienced our first 2022-2023 ski day at Keystone Resort. For most people on the slopes it was an average overcast December day. The day took on a totally different meaning for us. After a summer 2020 diagnosis of glioblastoma, we were ecstatic that Ira could experience the start of his third post-glioblastoma diagnosis ski season.

Skiing at Keystone Resort December 2022

Ski conditions were better than many previous early December days. While only a small percentage of runs were open, we fortunately did not run over any rocks or obstacles. The snowpack was adequate. We gleefully traversed on a handful of black,  blue and green runs. It was great to ski once again. Skiers and boarders always appreciate the thrill of the first day of skiing on the slopes.

While Ira was emphatic that he could beat the odds, neither one of us could predict how he would respond to his standard of care treatments. Without a magical crystal ball, it was impossible to know if Ira’s resiliency would prevail. Ira’s positivity coupled with excellent medical care at UC Health and our lifestyle choices have made it possible to fulfill Ira’s desire to live longer than most glioblastoma patients who pass away within 12-18 months of diagnosis. Being an outlier was only part of the equation. Ira insisted that his active lifestyle, which included skiing and hiking in the mountains, had to remain intact. Each year, Ira’s positivity has been enhanced by his ability to do the things he loves. Read More