Yesterday we had our Smith Family Reunion, Mama's family that had eight children and twenty grandchildren. We were lucky that all but one of the eight-- three daughters and five sons, lived in North Carolina and we saw them regularly when we were growing up. I have fond memories of Grandma Smith's farm house bulging … Continue reading Family Reunion: A Gathering of Loyalty and Love
being a grandparent
What do I need now?
Lately I've been thinking a lot about how to navigate this chapter of my life. As I mentioned in my post, Really Retired, I've finally ended my career as a nurse. Last week, I let go of taking care of my grandson two days a week which I've been doing for over three years. As … Continue reading What do I need now?
Cultivating Our Lives: From Seeds to Harvest
Today, I talked with my younger son, Ross who's thirty-five. Over the past year, I've watched his growing interest in land and eco systems, specifically the history of types of indigenous trees and plants that grew on my childhood farm, purchased by my great-grandparents in the 1800s. For the first time, Ross has planted twenty … Continue reading Cultivating Our Lives: From Seeds to Harvest
Real and Imagined
Back in the fall, I was walking to the park with my three-year old grandson, Baker. A bird flew passed us and Baker said to me, "Grammy, birds are my friends." I looked at the delight on his face, watching the bird headed to a nearby branch of a crepe myrtle tree. "How do you … Continue reading Real and Imagined
Ghosted: Online Dating
I started this online dating journey a year ago. I've taken note of all the guys I've encountered on this path. Some I've only messaged on the site; some I've known through phone conversations and texting; others, I've met in person for coffee, hikes, dinner or drinks. So much about this new way of dating … Continue reading Ghosted: Online Dating
A Life Without Regret: Embracing the Journey
This past week I had the privilege of being with a long-time friend who is dealing with an incurable cancer. She's been treated with every chemotherapy available but still the cancer returns. I consider it a privilege because she included me in the limited time she has as her life is narrowing in. She's getting … Continue reading A Life Without Regret: Embracing the Journey
My Market Value: Online Dating
It was a typical Tuesday morning at the neighborhood playground. I'd loaded my three-year-old grandson, Baker into the wagon and we arrived before the sun could heat up the sliding boards. He was now confident enough to come down the slides without me on the one next to him. A man with a young boy … Continue reading My Market Value: Online Dating
Bring Me Your Warts: Online Dating
John texted me on Thursday evening and said he'd be coming to Raleigh on Friday to take his daughter to dinner. Could I meet him before that? We'd already talked about a convenient restaurant where we could have drinks and meet for the first time. There'd been two phone conversations and I wanted to meet … Continue reading Bring Me Your Warts: Online Dating
Bittersweet Change: Time to Stretch and Grow
There are times when change is inevitable but hard to accept. We settle into the comfort of the familiar forgetting that life is not stagnant. When our children are young, about the time we know how to handle a phase, they move into the next and put us at another loss, scratching our heads and … Continue reading Bittersweet Change: Time to Stretch and Grow
To Grow Older
I've been thinking a lot about growing older because tomorrow's my birthday; I'll be sixty-six. Does anyone ever believe the age they are? When you're 14, you can't believe you're not at least 16. You say to yourself, "I must really be sixteen because I feel like I should be. I'm ready for sixteen!" When … Continue reading To Grow Older
Connie Rosser Riddle 