It's been seventeen years since I took my solo journey to Jekyll Island, Georgia. That trip followed a triumphant visit with my oncologist. I'd made it to that important five-year mark post triple-negative breast cancer. I'd also made it to my fiftieth birthday and the trip to Jekyll was my gift to myself. I'd learned … Continue reading Return to Jekyll Island
Butterfly development
In Our Daughters’ Footsteps: Mission Completed
We've anticipated this trip since August of 2019-- when Kim asked me to join her in bringing her mother's ashes to Skye. At that time, I said I was honored that she'd asked me, but inwardly, I wasn't sure how it would work for me to travel with her at the planned time--one year later, … Continue reading In Our Daughters’ Footsteps: Mission Completed
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?
Write Your Story
I started creating stories when I was in 6th grade; I was a playwright. My teacher, Miss Thomas encouraged me and even allowed my 'drama club' to perform those plays. Miss Thomas would have been fired if it were 2022; our class scores would have suffered on the end-of-grade testing that wouldn't include items on … Continue reading Write Your Story
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
Return of the Heron
We're three weeks into 2022, the New Year's celebrations now becoming faded memories. For some reason, it seems my old Big Blue Heron friend keeps showing up at the nearby ponds. He reminds me of this time last year and the post I wrote New Year, New Beginnings: "I remember again the lone blue heron standing … Continue reading Return of the Heron
A New Thing Springing Up in 2022
Last April, when I was feeling in a low mood and finding it hard to see any progress in my life, I came across a verse of scripture I'd written on a notecard: "Forget the Former Things Do Not Dwell on the Past See, I am doing a New Thing Now it Springs Up: Do … Continue reading A New Thing Springing Up in 2022
Happy Divorce-ary
It's been one year since our divorce was granted. Recently, when I was looking through greeting cards at Walgreen's, it occurred to me that there are no cards for acknowledging that benchmark in your life. There are Happy Anniversary cards that celebrate another year of making it in a marriage-- but nothing to note the … Continue reading Happy Divorce-ary
Taking a Risk in Kentucky
Lately I've been remembering my solo journey in 2016 that was the longest I've ever taken. That year I traveled to Kentucky, to a rural area that was an hour, northeast of Lexington. There I attended an artist's residency at Artcroft, a program that provided living quarters and studios for artists-- including writers. I'd learned … Continue reading Taking a Risk in Kentucky
After the Darkness — Light
Last week I left us in a chrysalis-- staying in our dark cell as we developed to maturity before emerging, fully formed as a colorful butterfly. I returned to the book I've been rereading, Sue Monk Kidd's, When the Heart Waits. She has become my mentor during this Lenten walk. I draw heavily upon her … Continue reading After the Darkness — Light
Connie Rosser Riddle 