The last week of September in 2017, I went on my solo journey to Iona, Scotland. I chose to attend a week-long retreat at The Abbey because of the theme that drew me: "The Pilgrimage of Life." I joined with thirty-nine others from around the world to look closely at how life is a journey--and … Continue reading The Inner Journey of Pilgrimage
Baby Boomer Getting Divorced
Focusing on the Goal: Camino Bound
Last Friday, I stepped forward and made my deposit for the eighteen day, Portuguese Coastal Camino trip. I'll go with a group of ten with the company Prayerful Path https://prayerfulpath.com---headed up by Mary Maddox from the Atlanta area. It will be in August instead of June, as I originally posted. Looking at the calendar, I was … Continue reading Focusing on the Goal: Camino Bound
New Year’s Eve: Looking Back, Looking Forward
It's New Year's Eve, a time for looking back. When I see 2023 in Review, I ask myself these questions: What did I learn-- about myself, about others? What were my greatest challenges? What did I accomplish, and what didn't I accomplish that I'd set out to do? What were the greatest events in my … Continue reading New Year’s Eve: Looking Back, Looking Forward
Holiday Home: Christmas Past and Present
It's finally here, or already here, depending on your age and how you look at it; today is Christmas Eve. Whatever decorations we wanted to display, and presents we intended to purchase, are surely taken care of by now. Since I wasn't in the process of moving this year, I've had more time to decorate … Continue reading Holiday Home: Christmas Past and Present
Making Holiday Memories: Still a Family
Just a week until Christmas. The excitement was building last Friday night for my three-year-old grandson, Parks and five-year-old grandson, Baker in the midst of the Durham Bull's Baseball Stadium. That was where we went for our holiday outing to the Wool E's Winter Wonderland. The field was transformed by colorful flashing lights, a huge … Continue reading Making Holiday Memories: Still a Family
Late Bloomers
I've been to two 50th High School Reunions in the past month: mine and John's, my boyfriend. Before each, I've looked at the annuals for our senior year. There were so many similarities in that any page of class pictures looked very much alike because we shared common hair and clothing styles in 1973. Like … Continue reading Late Bloomers
Special Times: A Grandmother’s Tale
This week I had a new experience with my grandsons: keeping them for an extended time while their parents were visiting friends in Seattle. I kept Baker, who is now 5, and Parks, who is 3, for two days a week for over three years. So, I'm familiar with their routines from all those hours … Continue reading Special Times: A Grandmother’s Tale
An Irish Path
One year ago today, I was flying with my cousin, Kim from Edinburgh, Scotland to Dublin, Ireland. We'd just completed a six-day Rabbie's bus tour into the Outer Hebrides on the west coast of Scotland. There, on the wondrous Isle of Skye, Kim had scattered her mother's ashes--her final request, to honor her mother's McDonald … Continue reading An Irish Path
Feeling Fragile: Finding a Network of Support
Over the past week, there were three consecutive days when I felt the fragility of life, the impact of growing older. On Tuesday night, I went to the Blues Jam at the Blue Note Grill in Durham. I've been going there to dance since last November. Over that time, I've found the people to be … Continue reading Feeling Fragile: Finding a Network of Support
Herons on the Shoreline
It's the first of April and springtime is apparent everywhere with dogwoods in full bloom, tulips and irises at their peak, and new buds making the trees look like a study in green. I'm waiting on the bluebirds to come to their new house and feeder in my garden area, but so far, only cardinals … Continue reading Herons on the Shoreline
Connie Rosser Riddle 