Over the eight years that Mama lived at Parkview Retirement Village, I saw many of my high school classmates when they were visiting their mothers. One of them was my classmate-from-first-grade, Bragg Cox. That friendly guy with the blond hair and easy smile was attracted to another one in our first grade class, my friend, … Continue reading Remembering Ms. Pauline
life
Artist’s Residency: 14 Days in a Farmhouse
Nine years ago, in the summer before my retirement as a school nurse in March 2017, I decided my journey would be to an artist residency at Artcroft in Paris, Kentucky. I'd read about their community for artists of different genres. It was located about an hour east of Lexington on sixty-six acres of farmland. … Continue reading Artist’s Residency: 14 Days in a Farmhouse
Messages from an Illness
Today I had a "phone visit" with my cousin -- one of those conversations that lasts like a visit, drinking coffee at the kitchen table while settled in the warmth of family connection. I'd called to check on him as he recovered from pneumonia. I'd waited to make the call until I thought he'd have … Continue reading Messages from an Illness
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
Change Your Location, Change Your View
When I started taking fiction writing classes, one of the books that was recommended as a classic, must-read was Writing Down the Bones by Natalie Goldberg. One of the book's take-aways was the value of writing in coffee shops -- like she did in Santa Fe. It helped the sometimes lonely work of a writer … Continue reading Change Your Location, Change Your View
Decade in Review
In one month, I'll enter my seventh decade of life; that feels unreal. While I was snowed in this week, I worked on a submission for my writing group. I made a Big Goal ( see2025: One Big Goal )this year of finishing my sequel memoir to follow the initial work, He Heard My Voice that … Continue reading Decade in Review
Valentines: Characteristics of a Lasting Love
Today is Valentine's Day and the time of year I go back to Mama and Daddy's letters to remind me of their special relationship. I love pulling out the box of letters and seeing their handwriting as they maintained their steady flow of communication in the late forties. It wasn't easy to pick up a … Continue reading Valentines: Characteristics of a Lasting Love
2025: One Big Goal
Last week I ushered in 2025 with the post Intentional New Year. I described my use of a new inventory to evaluate 2024 that I'd found on the Mel Robbin's podcast. Reviewing my answers to that tool, I started thinking about what I wanted to accomplish this year. I realized that completing the Camino journey … Continue reading 2025: One Big Goal
Preparing for the Holidays: Take Good Care
This week I found myself bumping into challenges, wondering how much of what I was feeling was related to growing older. My nature has been to push forward, no matter what, because that's how you make things happen, how you achieve your goals. While I've been retired for over two years, no longer with the … Continue reading Preparing for the Holidays: Take Good Care
Connie Rosser Riddle 