09/04/2025

Walking down memory

lane today . . .

Having grown up in

yesteryear, we always

started school on Sept.

fourth.

Exciting times for us,

make no mistake.

Our school was small

enough that we had two

grades in each room. 

And, how we loved our

teachers!

Coming in from recess,

we'd put our heads down

for 15 minutes and then

we'd sing along with our

teacher as she played the

piano.

I learned so much at this

school, I was able to do

high school in three years.

Fab times . . . and . . .

fond memories!

09/03/2025

"I honor who I was, but I

don't live there anymore."

~Mark Hollenstein

One of most interesting

things about aging is

looking back.

Obviously, is not a place

to live, but taking a good

peek now and then can 

be quite revealing.

I've spent time looking 

back. I see a life well

lived, plenty of messes

I made from time to time,

and many a glorious 

moment.

But, to quote Jesse Stuart,

"the thread that runs so true"

is still there. I honor the

growth, the changes, but

make no mistake . . . I see

that ld path throughout

these many years.

Hopefully, I will continue

to grow, right to the end.

But know this . . .

 . . . I wouldn't change a

single thing!

09/02/2025

"When you stop being

somebody, you can dance

with life instead of racing

through it." ~Allan Watts

So wish I could have seen

this quote when I retired.

Methinks we all look 

forward to retirement . . . 

and then it happens. It 

takes some getting used 

to, make no mistake.

What to do with one's time?

Work, rest or both? Rules 

to follow? Schedules?

I believe the answers lie 

in fully embracing this 

phenomenon. Learning 

to enjoy this sweet time

is such a gift.

Best of all . . . ice cream

for breakfast . . . right in

bed!

09/01/2025

Love me my reading, 

make no mistake . . .

Not a lot of time to 

do so during the day, 

but from time to time, 

I pull an all nighter. 

'Tis 4:30 this early 

morn . . . just finished 

reading two books. 

So fun! 

I'll admit I may pay for

it today . . . but, isn't

that why naps were

invented after all?!

During my 40 years of

teaching, I longed to

turn all of my students

onto reading.

I think the secret lies

in allowing the student

to read what they like . . .

funny books, romances,

humor, classics, sacred.

Frankly, there are so

many genres that kids

can pick and choose.

Sooooo let's read guys!

08/31/2025

"Your purpose isn't to gain

the approval of the world,

but to be a light in it."

Ancient Pagan Roots

Having taught high school

for 40 years, my heart just

hurt when I saw most all of

the young people following

the crowd, trying to fit in.

Obviously, there were a few

different crowds on could

try to join . . . the stoners,

the athletes, the cools, etc.

But, there was usually one

who fit no where, sat alone

in the cafeteria and most

likely rued his existence. 

With all my heart, I wish

we could teach our children

to simply be themselves!

Blessed be . . .

08/30/2025

"Solitude isn't loneliness.

It's a kind of communion -

with self, with land, with

life itself." WW Sisterhood

Indeed solitude is priceless.

Yet I would have to say, it's

a bit difficult to lay hands 

on. Today's world is busy,

busy, busy!

Perhaps every generation

feels the same. Still, I find

said phenomenon when we

go out. Walk into a grocery

store, a Walmart, and I just

want to make a run for it.

Conclusions, snag every

moment you can. And, if

there are none to be found,

plan!

Seems a bit rich to plan

solitude time, but if that's

what it takes, so be it!

08/29/2025

"The best time to call

me is a text message."

~CWpoet

Saw this . . . soooo 

made me laugh.

I really only us my

phone four times a

month . . . to call my

daughter at the weekend.

I've shared before . . .

-First phone, a party line,

when I was ten and not

allowed to use it.

-Second phone, at 40 

when I returned to US.

No need to repeat any 

more deets. It's simply 

that I never was in a

position to get used to

phones.

Don't know whether to

laugh or cry when I see

people driving, dividing

their time 'twixt that and

their cell.

My old phone is a flip,

so best way to get me is

via e-mail. That's about

as far as my techno-know

how goes . . . 

alas . . .

08/28/2025

"I hope to arrive to my

death late, in love, and

a little drunk. ~Atticus

Crazy as it may seem, 

we oldsters do ponder 

the inevitable in our 

latter years.

I know it drives our kids

and younger generations

a bit crazy. Still, bears

thinking about a tad.

I would have to confess,

I fall into this category 

of pondering my future. 

-Can't help but wonder

if there is an afterlife?

-Is there per chance a

return to this life with

better chances this time

around?

-Is there a heaven and

a hell?

One can ponder, believe,

hope. But bottom line,

it is what it is and we'll

just have to wait and see.

Bright blessings . . .

08/27/2025

"I am a quiet wild.

Few will ever see 

the madness in me.

Like a wildfire on the

dark side of the moon."

~A. Shea

Looking back over the

years, I can see those

different sides of me . . .

. . . the teenage persona,

the loving mother, the

responsible teacher, the

fun FACer, the risk taker.

So, here I am at a hundred

years old, retired, living

in this tiny, tiny cabin . . .

. . . I'm trying to ascertain

who it is I've landed in my

old age.

I like our lives here in the

woods, the sitting outdoors,

sipping the naughties and

quieting my soul.

I can't help but wonder 

if this is all there is and 

if indeed, I am content.

Learning to live in the

moment is what I'm up 

to now. Not as easy as

it sounds . . .

08/26/2024

"One of the most important

things you can do on this

earth is to let people know

they are not alone."

~Shannon L. Alder

I so bless those who bother . . .

the odd card in the mail, a

quick note on e-mail, a call

on the phone, a visit!

During our working years,

we see people everyday. 

There's FAC after work,

lunch out, notes and calls.

Thinking particularly of

retirees, there's adapting to

be done. Unless you're a

goer, you rarely see people.

I'm one of the lucky ones.

Friends visit at the weekend,

daughter calls every Sunday,

son visits twice a month.

Not everyone has this . . .

So remember, make that call,

send a card! 'Twill be more

appreciated than you can ever

imagine!

08/25/2025

Last night I dreamt . . .

I was living in my old

home, taking care of my

mom. 

Feeling exhausted beyond

belief, it was a true pleasure 

to be invited by my bestie 

to go on a special outing.

She insisted that I be home

and she would pick me up.

She arrived, coming up my

driveway in a moped. I was

beyond tickled pink!

Just putting on my shoes, 

my little bro stepped outside.

She asked him if we were

going out today and he said

no.

Obviously, he was referring

to himself. I dashed outside

just as she was turning 

around and speeding away.

My grief was so intense I 

was completely unable to 

stop sobbing. At some point

she was there, trying to

console me, but I simply

could not contain my grief.

When I awoke, my heart

still hurt . . . what could

this dream been trying to

tell me?

08/24/2025

Outside last afternoon

with our pals, when all

of a sudden, deluge . . .

It all began with marble

size hail. The thing is, it

literally pounded hail out

of the sky and it didn't 

end 'til the ground was

literally covered in white.

No land to be seen, only

a carpet of hail.

Then it began to rain. I

really should say pour. It

rained so hard it was more

than a bit scary. Again,

neither of us had ever seen

it rain so hard and for so

long.

We have little rivers all

over the yard and parking

area. Mother Nature sure

pulls it out from time to

time.

I'm ever in awe . . .

08/23/2025

A sweet invite to sit in the

sun . . . and a special red

to go with. Bless his heart!

Whilst wine was breathing, 

he apologizes for having

been in such a bad mood.

He goes on to tell me he's 

been suffering from a bad

headache all day.

We share a small glass and

begin to enjoy the afternoon

watching our pet critters hit

the pond and scamper about.

At some point I asked him

how his headache was faring.

He growled back that he did

not have a headache, never

had one and didn't know 

what I was talking about.

Oh the joys of aging . . .

Let the fun begin!