Kristen Drum Media Photographer

03/28/2026

03/11/2026

My Poppy always told me, the day I was born, was the day he decided to retire. He raised 3 boys, and now his first grandchild was a little girl. He was ready to spoil me, and he did for the rest of his life.

We were in NJ, and he was in NY, but we were together often and countless times he would wake up before dawn and drive to NJ to pick me up and bring me back to their house for the weekend. Sometimes we did all the things, and sometimes we did nothing. And I have so many great memories doing both.

One thing about Poppy is how tech savvy he was. The man loved recording movies on TV and burning CDs for us. He had no idea what an Ashlee Simpson was, but one day I mentioned I liked her song, and the next day he had it for me on a CD.

He loved music. 30’s-50’s music always playing in the house or car. Singing until his last days. Always singing! When I was little I rolled my eyes, but eventually it became one of my favorite sounds. So much of my
love for music came from him.

Photography too. He was always taking pictures, mostly of his family. When I was 5 he gave me my first camera. It was a polaroid and I couldn’t put it down. Almost 30 years later it is still my favorite toy. He was so proud of me.

I want everyone to know how much I felt his love, but I also want everyone to know how much of just a genuinely good guy he was. No matter who you were, he would treat you with kindness, to your face and behind your back. I rarely heard him say anything about anyone, even in private. If you wanted the tea you had to go to Grandma! 😂

Grandma and Poppy were perfect for each other. Truly unconditional love. Married for 71 years until we lost her in January. After that, I knew we weren’t going to have him much longer. We have plane tickets and we were planning on visiting him this weekend. Instead it will be for his service. My hearts been shattered, but it was his time. 91 years old. Man, I am so lucky to have had you❤️

01/30/2026

Anytime I donate blood I imagine it going to a stranger far away. Never did I expect to be lying in a hospital bed, tangled in wires, watching a stranger’s blood get pumped into my baby boy’s body.

A few weeks ago our sweet Remy was sent to the hospital and tested positive for pneumonia, RSV, and Flu B. We brought him home and the fever subsided, but he was still very pale and tired so we tested his blood. As it turns out, his illnesses mixed with a low iron diet, made his blood levels dangerously low and he would need a blood transfusion.

30 hours of holding my baby, confused and begging to “go home”, as they poke and prod him. 30 hours of praying this was working, praying nothing else is wrong.

It worked. We’re home. We’re incredibley grateful for the amazing staff at and feeling genuinely blessed this was not much worse. We were on the children’s oncology floor. Those families are living a parent’s worst nightmare, and we got to go home thanks to a stranger’s blood.

Please, if you are able, consider donating blood. Visit to find a location near you.

www.redcrossblood.org

01/20/2026

And just like that… she’s gone. It’s crazy how the world keeps moving, even when yours comes crashing down. 91 years old. My grandma. My babies’ great grandma. Dad’s mom. Her family came from Italy and opened a butcher shop here. She would tell me stories of her and her siblings walking to it after school.

Married to my poppy for 71 years. She had the best homemade dinners and cookies (duh-Italian🤌). Once I was diagnosed with celiacs, she turned all my favorite recipes gluten free, and spent literally the rest of her life perfecting them (even though they were perfect the first time)

She was a school nurse. A breast cancer survivor. I could write a book with the memories she’s given me, and how she raised the perfect dad. I’m so grateful for the memories my kids were able to make with her too. Facetime play dates until the very end.

God she was strong as hell, and the one person on earth I was too afraid to argue with - so it’s over for the rest of you 😂

She was just at the doctor last week, everything was fine. She was supposed to move into assisted living with my Poppy this past weekend. We are devastated.

Love you so much Grandma. Thank you for everything❤️

01/02/2026

✨NYE✨ with

12/29/2025

112 concerts/events in 2025 - A career record! A real live job, helping to support a real live family? Someone please go tell 15 yr old Kristen we did it🥹

Special thanks for keeping me busy this year
and more!

10/09/2025

and I would like to direct your attention this month’s issue of where you can read all about the beautiful gala hosted by at the ! It was an honor capturing Selma and this event benefiting the fight against brain disease.

09/30/2025

Marvelous 3 plays Nashville for the first time in over 25 years to a very !!

08/28/2025

@311 for

06/19/2025

SURPRISE!