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

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

Book Signings for 2nd Half of November

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Sandy Bornstein Signing 100 Things to Do in Boulder

Thanksgiving is usually the main focus for the last half of November. While I did take the week off to celebrate Thanksgiving with Ira, our family, and also finish a few stories before deadlines, I scheduled five book signing events into the other two weeks. All five—Tangerine, In Motion Running, Ramble on Pearl, Boco Life, and Beleza Coffee Bar  will be highlighted in this story.

Tangerine Book Signing

Sandy and Ira Borntein at Tangerine Book Signing in North Boulder

Alex Schuler, the owner of Tangerine, a breakfast/lunch restaurant in North Boulder was a wonderful host. He set aside a table in the middle of the restaurant so I could sell books during the late morning and early afternoon rush.

I spoke with an assortment of people who were eager to learn more about 100 Things to Do in Boulder Before You Die. I recently wrote about this restaurant and four others.  Are you looking for  yummy breakfast/brunch options in Boulder?  Check out this story—Travel Awaits—5 Fabulous Places in Boulder for Brunch and Breakfast. Read More

Continuing to Promote 100 Things to Do in Boulder Before You Die

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Sandy and Ira Bornstein at Avanti F & B Book Signing and Fundraising Event in Boulder
Sandy and Ira Bornstein at Avanti F & B Book Signing and Fundraising Event in Boulder

After the first week of promoting 100 Things to Do in Boulder Before You Die, I am comfortable with my routine for book chats and book signings. Each presentations is created to align with the particular needs of the intended audience.  From college students to senior citizens, I am enjoying the opportunity to talk about the writing and researching process as well as the contents of my book. With several slide presentations, I can talk on numerous topics.

Overview

I initially was scheduled to have three radio interviews. However, only one actually happened. One was abruptly and rudely cancelled at the last minute. The other was tentatively scheduled too close to the Avanti event. I look forward to speaking with the latter broadcaster after the elections. I enjoyed talking with Ross Kaminsky (KOA Radio). We hav some commonalities. Both of us had lived in Chicago and had also been in India. He started the interview talking about India. What a wonderful opportunity to share information about both books.

Ira and I squeezed in a quick 2-night trip to San Antonio, Texas. We were asked by Novocure to share our experiences with doctors and nurses at the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) 2022 conference. I brought along a few books and sold a couple. Now, I will bring books wherever I go.

Our TV interview with Danny New, the Positivity Reporter for Denver’s Channel 7 News, was broadcasted on the morning of the Avanti F & B event. Ira and I set our alarm for 6 AM. The segment aired at 6:30. It included a shout out to 100 Things to Do in Boulder Before You Die. However, the taped version, which appears on the TV Station’s website, only includes our positive approach to coping with Ira’s glioblastoma diagnosis. Hopefully, this broadcast will encourage others facing a terminal disease not to give up. Perhaps, a future interview at another TV station can focus on the book. Read More