This Sunday will mark the second in the season of Advent and the Faith candle will be lit. For me, the Christmas story of Mary and Joseph on their sojourn to Bethlehem, is mostly a story of faith. The practical reason for this trip was to pay taxes. But the overarching story is to fulfill … Continue reading Walking a Path of Faith
Baby Boomer Marital Separation
Rites of Passage: Divorce
Last night I resumed my binge watching the series Nashville on Netflix. I'd enjoyed that show when it first came out in 2012 until it ended in 2018. I liked the drama around musicians and was familiar with the city of Nashville, where my younger son went to college. Now, I can slip into a … Continue reading Rites of Passage: Divorce
Keeping Our Dreams Alive
Last Saturday, I attended a birthday lunch for my brother-in-law, Winslow who was celebrating his 75th. Reference was made to it being his "3/4th of a Century Birthday."; that really put it all in perspective. I'm about four years behind him and have had many conversations with my peers about life passing by so quickly. … Continue reading Keeping Our Dreams Alive
HUGS FOR FREE: A Crazy Idea?
It was in June of 2023 -- not long after the pandemic lockdown. I was in Charlottesville, Virginia with a friend walking around the downtown area. It was a casual Saturday, people eating brunch at the sidewalk tables and browsing the crafted goods of artisans. Heading for a coffee shop, I almost ran into a … Continue reading HUGS FOR FREE: A Crazy Idea?
Invitation to a New Year
This is my Birthday Eve. At 2:10 a.m. I'll roll over into a new year and a new decade of my life. I've been preparing for this, reading and pondering what it means to be seventy. The book that's been most instructive is Ageless Soul: The Lifelong Journey Toward Meaning & Joy by Thomas Moore … Continue reading Invitation to a New Year
Letting Christmas Go
I sit at my dining table looking out at my patio garden that is bare--except for the scattering of leaves I need to rake. Birds fly to my feeder, grateful that I just loaded it with a rich blend of seeds and peanuts, something to suit the taste of multiple species and the squirrel who … Continue reading Letting Christmas Go
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
What You Focus On
Over the past few years, since I re-entered the dating world, I've become a student of relationship coaches. I've watched Youtube videos, listened to podcasts, and read email newsletters with varying topics. One of the pieces of wisdom, that seems appropriate for me after being used to the same partner-- my husband of forty years, … Continue reading What You Focus On
Opening the Door to a New Beginning
Last Thursday I took another step to move toward the next chapter of my life: I closed on a townhouse. I've never bought a home by myself. Unlocking the door for the first time, felt like having the golden key to my new kingdom. I was moving out of the muddy river of the in-between-time … Continue reading Opening the Door to a New Beginning
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
Connie Rosser Riddle 