Last week I posted about my plan to go trick-or-treating with my grandsons-- as we'd done for three out of the past four years. I imagined meeting at their neighborhood clubhouse where folks gathered for picture taking before heading down the streets. I envisioned the houses and garages that were made into mini-haunted houses and … Continue reading Memorable Moments: Halloween 2026
life
Old or Young: Dance Like No One’s Watching
Last Tuesday afternoon around five o'clock, my son, Ross called on his drive home from work. "What ya' doin'?" he asked. Between mouthfuls of turkey burger and salad, I told him, "Eating dinner." "Oh, you're eating early like a senior citizen," he said. I could hear a lightness in his voice and imagined him smiling. … Continue reading Old or Young: Dance Like No One’s Watching
Finding Grace in Self-Care: Lessons from a Hard Week
Last week I didn't publish my blog post. I'd had a hard week and initially thought I'll just write about that and about self-care. But then it occurred to me; what I needed in that moment was to take care of myself. I've been disciplined with producing my posts once weekly, even in those initial … Continue reading Finding Grace in Self-Care: Lessons from a Hard Week
The Bittersweet Passing of Time: A Grandparent’s Perspective
This week the passing of time has been my preoccupation. One afternoon, I noticed a landmark house that was once a stately Victorian on a corner of Hwy 64 and the next morning it was gone. Behind the remaining pile of boards I could see the edge of the machine that had obliterated that part … Continue reading The Bittersweet Passing of Time: A Grandparent’s Perspective
Labor Day: From Farms to Freelance
On Monday we'll celebrate Labor Day in the United States. It was made an official holiday in 1894 to honor workers. It was during the Industrial Revolution when workers faced long, unsafe hours (per Wikipedia). The length of the day and standards have greatly changed since that time. I was a child growing up on … Continue reading Labor Day: From Farms to Freelance
Doing Things the Hard Way
Last Friday I had a conversation with a friend about our mothers. "There were questions I never got to ask her," she said. "Me too," I said. We had experienced the slow death of our mothers to dementia. I had no idea that Mama would lose her ability to communicate. She really enjoyed conversations with … Continue reading Doing Things the Hard Way
The Wisdom of Aging Well: Happy Birthday Mama!
Yesterday would have been Mama's birthday. She was born in 1923 and lived to be 96. I think back on how she exemplified some of the habits that are known to help maintain vitality -- no matter your chronological years. Mama enjoyed learning new things. When she was in her sixties, she started taking painting … Continue reading The Wisdom of Aging Well: Happy Birthday Mama!
Preserving the Past: “The Black Snake Story”
Last February, I did a presentation at the Lee County Enrichment Center for a class on "Telling Your Life Story." My focus was on the process of writing my memoir. The participants shared about their projects that included delving into family history and collecting objects from their lives to share with their grandchildren. Listening to … Continue reading Preserving the Past: “The Black Snake Story”
Three Discoveries during Cancer Treatment: Remembering after 26 Years
Last Monday June 22 was twenty-six years since I heard my doctor say, "You have cancer." Nobody forgets that moment. After those words, you can't hear anything but the repeating thought, "I have cancer, I have cancer . . ." In the years that followed, each follow-up visit to the oncologist was accompanied by a … Continue reading Three Discoveries during Cancer Treatment: Remembering after 26 Years
Solo Journey: Brass Ring at Oak Bluffs
Recently, I celebrated 9 years since my first blog was posted on this site May 31, 2017. That entry was about the beginning of taking Solo Journeys with that first trip to Sedona, Arizona after breast cancer treatment. Since that time, I've written 515 more and many have been about the 18 journeys that followed. … Continue reading Solo Journey: Brass Ring at Oak Bluffs
