02/29/2024 - Leap Year

One of my favest days ever . . .

 . . . Leap Year simply feels 

like pure magick!

Perhaps it has something 

to do with only coming every 

four years. Maybe it's all about 

those fantastical tales told out 

of school.

For me, it's a day of healing.

How so?

Some things in our personal

lives are so hard to deal with;

we put them on a back burner

and try to forget all about them.

Somehow, when this special

day rolls around, we gather up

our courage and face some of

those difficult things.

Having not looked at them in

ever so long, perhaps they no

longer matter. On the other 

hand, we face them. Take a

long, hard look and deal.

I have rarely been hurt by a

friend, praise god! But, there

are a few times and oh how it

hurts. More so perhaps, as I've

been nursing the pain for years.

Leap Year gives me the courage

to let it go . . . or at least give it

a try. Still hurts, but I shouldn't

allow the pain such a prominent

place in my life.

Sooooo, here's wishing us all a

phenomenal day. And, let's give

healing a chance . . .

02/28/2024

"One with nature, one with soul."

~Angie Weiland-Crosby

I will be forever grateful to my

parents for rearing me with a 

love for Mother Nature.

Every weekend picnics, rides 

and hikes. Sometimes others 

would join us, most enjoyable!

My fave times would be a picnic

up on Glade Park, followed by a

hike. Then the surprise would

appear.

Daddy packed all the camping 

equipment without us knowing.

The tents in those days were a

piece of work; make no mistake.

It took all of us holding corners

while daddy put in the poles and

staked the edges. My brother and

I were simply overjoyed. 

We camped so much that my

parents had an organized system

for putting everything together.

Dad would do all the cooking as

mom always said she cooked at

home so he could cook whilst

camping.

I especially loved roasting 

marshmallows and storytelling

at the end of the day. Bottom

line . . . 

 . . . I love that my parents gave

us so many fond memories.

02/27/2024

"Life is short, break the rules.

Forgive quickly, kiss slowly.

Love truly. Laugh uncontrollably

and never regret anything that

makes you smile." ~Mark Twain

I've been reading Mark Twain

since I was six years old . . .

Why, oh why, have I never seen

this quote until now?! Sage advice.

So wish I had captured this bit of

wisdom in my soul about a hundred

years ago.

Looking back, not sure I would

really change anything. Might lose

that pesky gift of guilt though.

So loved my 20 years in Mexico.

My 40 years of teaching. The births

of my children and watching them

come to fruition. 

These elder years have their issues,

but they sure beat the alternative. I

really don't mind being in my early

70's, I mean 100's. I'm living and

enjoying.

Now, if I can only keep my head on

straight . . . but, not too straight!!!

02/26/2024

"Keep your eyes on the stars

and your feet on the ground."

~Theodore Roosevelt

Came across this bit of wisdom

yesterday. It really touched me.

As an extremely unbalanced

Libra, methinks I could use

this as an everyday guide.

Truly, part of me is ever and

always in the heavens and 

the other, firmly rooted in the 

ground.

The thing I most appreciate is

that this honors both sides of

the brain, of life, of moi . . .

Perhaps the lesson I need to 

learn is to be accepting of both.

Honor both. Enjoy both.

Never thought I'd be learning

bits and pieces of wisdom from

a long departed Republican 

president.

I am both wowed and grateful!

02/25/2024

Oh, I do so love awaking at 

o' dark 30 and taking a peek 

at the full moon!

This one, appropriately named

Snow Moon, was a humungous

bright, bright yellow. I swear, 

I felt tears cloud my eyes.

Anyone who knows me also

knows I'm more than a bit of 

a moon fan. Okay, make that

moon fanatic!

As I've shared before, one

of the things I love about the 

moon cycles, they keep me

focused on personal growth.

From the new moon, as it

grows daily towards the full

moon, I am reminded to work

on those things I wish to add

into my life, i.e. meditation,

exercise, good eats, etc.

Then, from the full moon, as

it diminishes daily towards

the new moon, I work on the

things I wish to lessen in my

life, i.e. overeating, drinking,

depression, etc.

Ms. Luna, old, old soul that

she is, doesn't necessarily

attract one and all. Still, most

people enjoy that quick peek.

For moi, it's all about keeping

me on my path for daily growth

and personal joy . . .

02/24/2024

"No more thoughts, just vibes."

~Unknown

I like it; I get it . . . but how the

hell do you turn your mind off?

Don't know if it's because I'm a

Libra? A woman? An elder? But,

I bloody well know I can't seem

to shut my brain down.

Even when I try to go to sleep 

at night, can seem to find the off

button.

I'm out and about with fam and/

or friends, and guess what? Mind

in full rev!

Then there's the fact our brains

have two sides. In my case, it 

means I have thoughts on one

and vibes on the other. No get 

out of jail free card.

Can't help but wonder if this is

the moment when I simply say,

"It is what it is . . . fuck it!"

I'm sooooo tired . . .

 - - -

"The most vital thing in spiritual

life is to be able to watch your 

own mind, so that the mind is not

controlling you." ~Eckhart Tolle

02/23/2024

"The privilege of a lifetime is 

to become who you truly are."

~Carl Jung

Methinks we spend our entire

lives becoming . . .

Part of that may be intentional, 

even with good results. Another

part happens simply via that

natural osmosis that occurs in

everyone's life. 

Perhaps as we grow older, we

are granted the ability to face

these things and act w/greater

intentionality.

Or maybe, the gift of age is

that we are finally driven with

the need to become . . . become

who we truly are, should be, 

want to be.

I find myself at this point even

as we speak. Time to grow up,

to become, to be . . .

Wish me luck . . .

02/22/2024

Just heard on the news that

today is National Margarita

Day. I'm actually surprised

they just didn't call it . . .

ld's Day!

My fave drink; make no

mistake! I've spent a lot of

years perfecting my own

recipe. Some say I use too

much tequila . . . not sure

there is such a thing.

I've gotten a kick out of

tasting different margs

wherever I go. By that, I'm

speaking of the original.

Not really into different

flavored margs. Rather

seems like a bastardization

of perfection somehow.

Some use Triple Sec, some

do not. Some make their 

own base whilst others buy

one of the many choices at

the liquor store.

I think perhaps my own

secret is using loads of lime.

Not thinking there is such  

a thing as too much lime!

Such fun! I hadn't planned

on having a tipple today, 

but as it's National Margarita

Day, methinks I have no choice!

Salud!

02/21/2024

"The world will judge you 

no matter what you do, 

so live the life you want." 

Empaths & Old Souls

I see real wisdom in the

above comment . . . yet, 

I don't really recall any

particular incidents where 

this has happened to me.

People I am attracted to

or are attracted to me,

come into my sphere of

living. Seems to me that

those who aren't attracted

simply pay me no mind.

Can't help but wonder if

we don't simply pay too

much attention to what

others think about us. 

Don't see how it really

matters.

If I were giving out free

advice to the younger set,

it would be the same as

many elders before . . .

Stop paying attention to

what others think and just

be yourself.

Get over it already! Just

be you!

02/20/2024

Black vs. dark . . .

I find myself in a vocab

quandary. Been reading  

a fun trilogy that uses the 

word black negatively.

Throughout the read, I kept

thinking to myself, "Why

doesn't the author use the

word dark rather than black?"

Black is beautiful! It's an

amazing color, my fave 

actually! And, it's the only 

color I wear. To say naught

about all my black friends.

Then, I start thinking about

the word dark. Dark is also

an amazing word. If you don't

believe me, just step outside

on the star-ridden night of the

full moon! Wow! Just WOW!

I like the dark of the moon,

first night of the blue moon.

I love dark chocolate! I even

enjoy the odd dark thought.

Sooooo, not sure where to go

from here. Guess both words

have their positive or negative

connotations according to use.

My apologies to the author . . .

p.s. I still love black!

02/19/2024

"You don't have to be positive

all the time. It's perfectly okay

to feel sad, angry, annoyed,

frustrated, scared or anxious.

Having feelings doesn't make

you a negative person. It makes

you human." ~Lori Deschene

Seems my entire life, I have

strived to be positive . . . and 

now I read this bit of wisdom!

We all have a myriad of feelings.

It's natural. Frankly, it's coping! 

Not sure when all this push for

positivity began. I know being

positive is dead important. But,

it's also important to honor all

feelings.

Maybe the answer is balance.

I'll give you that being positive

deserves first place whenever

possible. But, my dad died and

I'm grieving. Lost my wallet 

and I worry about my credit 

card. Not sure I can make it 

on my half retirement; makes 

me anxious!

Thinking it through, as long 

as they're valid, I will honor 

all feelings . . . being as positive

as possible, of course.

 - - -

"Lori Deschene is the founder of

Tiny Buddha, an online community

that enables participants to share

their experiences and insights to

help themselves and others. Since

launching the site in 2009, she has

helped over a thousand writers tell

their stories, attracting more than

three million monthly readers."

Goodreads

02/18/2024

We had a lovely Valentine's 

Day four days ago! But, my 

guy decided we hadn't had 

enough Valentine time yet!

So yesterday he surprised 

me with a day of pure delight. 

After chilled champagne in 

bed, the fun began. Cold 

strawberries dipped in sour 

cream, then rolled in brown 

sugar. Oh my God! Takes 

yummy to whole other realms. 

Not to forget chocolate hearts 

for afters!

I think the thing that moves

me the most is that we've had

24 years together. I hark back

to our childhood . . . same

German grandmother caring

for us at three. Elementary 

and Jr. High together. That

first kiss and a summer of

dating . . . all leading to our

now.

I so love our story . . .

02/17/2024

"I want to leave my mark, but I

want to make it with my heart."

~A Shea

Casting my mind back to 40 years

teaching, 17 in Mexico and 23 in 

US, I wonder if I left my mark.

It's rare to hear from an old student,

or to find oneself honored by the

school district in which one served.

Maybe it comes down to simply

honoring oneself, cherishing one's

own memories and being grateful

for having been there, done that.

I have always felt I was chosen 

to teach. I fully intended to follow

nursing. Thank God, we were given

tests for Cognitive Abilities or I'd

have followed the wrong path.

Bottom line, I have loved teaching,

adored my students and ever so

thankful I was given the opportunity

to follow my path.

Fond memories . . .

02/16/2024

"What a difference a day 

makes." ~Jamie Cullum

Methinks I've had this 

lyricist in my head all day!

We do the odd bit of sleep-

ing in as we're retired, not 

today. We were off to buy 

drinking water at the crack 

of dawn. Next bank, deposits, 

notary, signatures, followed 

by FedEx.

Did you know it costs just 

over a $100. to send a FedEx? 

Wow! And to think one can 

buy a case of almost anything

for a hundred bucks!

One of the things I like about

being an elder is that we only

go to town once a month. Not

sure I ever liked to shop, but

I'm not sure.

So, here's a thought . . . when

one has died on the vine of

shopping, surely one deserves

an FAC! Right?! In fact, what

are neighbors for if not for a

good old fashioned FAC from

time to time?!

02/15/2024

Morning of the day after . . .

Yesterday was glorious! Lovely

reminder of what life could be 

like if we all tried hard enough!

Seems of late, I keep tuning in

to this sort of thing.  Might, just 

might have something to do w/

being about 100 years old.

So what? Maybe I simply need

to admit that I want to go out

better than I did coming in.

What does this sentiment mean?

Particularly for moi? Methinks

it might have something to do 

with choosing a couple of things

to work on and just blow off the

rest.

Not sure if I'm capable of the

above, but I'm going to give it 

a try.

So, I'm going to stop trying to

lose weight and rather use my

energy, or lack thereof, to doing

a better job of staying in touch

with fam and friends.

Think I'll leave worrying about

how I dress now that I'm retired,

and better spend my time going

thru my coats for the homeless

in winter.

Abandoning my joy in reading

murder mysteries, think I'll start

gifting some of my 7000 books.

And no, I'm not kidding!

That was way too easy. Am going

to think up some other of my sins

that need shining up . . . 

02/14/2024 - Valentine's Day

"Consider soulmates to also

be in the form of friends and

animals, wind, tides, plants, art

and the moon. Great love lives

everywhere." ~Victoria Erickson

One of the things I loved about

Valentine's Day in Mexico was

the fact it's called Friendship Day.

And, methinks Victoria Erickson

has the right of it.

I also enjoy how people pull out

their inner happy, greet each other

and tend to recall what love is all

about!

Sooooo, be happy today! Greet

each other!! And remember . . .

 . . . "Great love lives everywhere." 

Happy Valentine's Day!

p.s. Guess who just brought chilled

champagne in bed? I am one lucky

dame!

02/13/2024

"Knowledge rests not upon

truth alone, but upon error

also." ~Carl G. Jung

This brilliant bit of wisdom 

is one I tend to forget from

time to time!

And, didn't we all grow up

with that pesky phrase, trial

and error?

Often times, I can look at 

a given thing and suss out

right away the right and

wrong of it. But in other

cases, no clarity comes to 

mind; hence, that whole

trial and error adage. 

Alas, I probably fall in that

self-deluding category. "I'm

just not quite sure, think I'd

better try that on for size!"

(Ice cream for breakfast the

third day in a row?!)

Oh, it's alright . . . I tend to

sin on that whole serious side

of nature. Just as well I can 

be naughty from time to time.

Forget the wine! Bring a tad

of ice cream when you come

by for a visit!

02/12/2024

"It's a wintry morning mix 

of coffee, caroling ravens 

and magical mischief." 

~Ann Marie Eleazer

Looking out the windows

early a.m. I see incredible

blankets of pristine white,

and even I must admit, pure

beauty!

Not sure for certain, but

methinks my child within

might even want to go out

to play . . . maybe make a

snow angel even!

Still, the ole dame this side

of the door, doesn't even

want to go out for the mail,

much less go to town for

supplies!

Part of me wishes the snow

would never be tarnished . . .

perhaps that child within.

But, the ole dame that is moi,

still awaits spring with bated

breath!

Now, bring me that magical 

mischief whilst I down my

coffee . . .

02/11/2024

"On the wall of the parlor

were pictures of John F.

Kennedy, the current pope

and the Sacred Heart of Jesus."

~Nora Roberts

This invokes in me long-ago,

long-forgotten memories . . .

My parents had paintings by

my gran and traditional Jesus

pics. My own children, fab

pieces of art. I have sepia tone

ancestors as well as some art.

Is this a generational thing?

Peeking back occasionally, I

do see differences in decor. 

And, I may prefer the now, 

but mostly I enjoy how every

one does their own thing!

Can't help but wonder what's

on the walls of my heart? I

see pictures of my brother I

lost many years ago. So many

pictures of all my children at

every age of their lives. The

grans are featured, along with

my first great.

There are also special friends

and pages torn from the books

of my memories. What a gift!

Must be careful what I put up

there!

02/10/2024

"Bad chapters can still 

create great stories. Wrong 

paths can still lead to right 

places. Failed dreams can 

still create successful people." 

~Cynthia Thurlow

Seems I needed this little 

reminder this early morn.

Frankly, don't know if it's 

moi or Libras in general, but 

I'm ever and always striving 

for perfection and upset that 

I don't get it!

Perhaps, I'll just repeat 

Cynthia's words of wisdom

until I'm utterly comfortable

in my own skin and my own

sins!

Methinks I'll just stay abed

today and ponder the savvy

of her point of view . . .

02/09/2024

"Ordinary is never beautiful . . .

To be beautiful, thou must be weird,

different, strange." Poetry Language

Actually, I do find beauty in the

ordinary. However, I simply adore

the weird, the different and the 

strange!

I remember well in high school, 

most of the kids made the effort 

to look similar, if not the same. 

I hung out with the different!

I can see us now . . . my friend

from Central America, a very short

Native American and his girlfriend,

a very tall Italian gal. Mr. Gorgeous

from Puerto Rico and moi . . . looks 

to me like we had the start of our 

own little United Nations!

Every now and then, I'll run into

an old dame that has herself tarted

up just right. I always compliment

and show my delight. Shame we

have to wait until we are old to 

become so bold.

I don't want to wait! I want to be

weird now . . .

(Actually, I did hear a rumor that

I'm thought to be quite out there!)

02/08/2024

It comes to mind that the best

way to deal with SAD is to see

friends!

I spent yesterday with a dearest

and best and I could simply feel

the healing! I am beyond grateful.

Today, I get to spend time with 

my son and tonight with my bestie.

Tomorrow, a pair of the best gals

ever and this weekend . . .

 . . . d) all of the above.

I didn't plan it this way, just sort

of happened. But, as an antidote

for sorrow, 'tis fab!!!

I find myself particularly grateful

that these angels visit me in my

abode as I'm not allowed to drive.

Wow! Just WOW!!!

So, today's missive is a thank you

note to the universe . . . my heart

is full and even the sun shines a bit.

02/07/2024

"Real is rare."

A much needed reminder!

Sometimes I think about all the

adjectives with which people

are defined . . .

 . . . beautiful, stunning, pretty

nice, lovely, ugly, hateful, boring,

caring, loving, gorgeous . . .

Still to me, real is best. I think

about its meaning . . .

-She's real; no artifice in her. 

-That old dame tells the real story.

-Give me real or give me nought!

Methinks we all understand real.

The problem is there isn't a lot of

it around. Rather makes me think

'tis our job to be real, strut our stuff

and show the world what real is 

all about.

Now that I'm on the other end of

life and finally sussing things out,

I'm going to go with real!

Now, if I can only remember that!

02/06/2024

"It's okay to miss someone you

don't want back in your life."

~Jaime Sullivan

I'm ever in love with Memory

Lane. I much enjoy walking

down its path late at night and

taking a peek at the people and

places I have been.

It's not that I don't want them,

or even the old me, in my life.

It's simply that I don't live there

any more. Doesn't mean I don't

like to remember.

Interestingly enough, I find I 

miss bits and pieces, here and

there, both of me and old friends.

I'll recall a special event or a

conversation, a party or a chat.

And in these, a moment in time

passes before my eyes. Some-

times, this causes a chuckle and

others bring the tears.

So yes, I'm all about missing . . .

I miss me, I miss my family, I

miss old friends, I miss my old 

home in the country I so loved . . . 

 . . . most of all, I miss my dad!

02/05/2024

Last water update . . . I promise!

Took my first shower this a.m.

Hardly any water coming thru

but one must start somewhere.

Bits of a black in the water 

along the lines of a pepper

shaker.

I'm usually a 3 - 5 min shower

person. Might have something

to do with the vol of water. This

one took me more like 20 what

with it's little dribble.

But let me tell you, after nigh

onto three weeks w/o water, just

might have been the greatest

shower I've ever had!

Sooooo, onto bigger and better

things for the morrow . . .

02/04/2024

"Water, water everywhere

and not a drop to drink."

~Samuel Taylor Coleridge

The dripping started yesterday

and I shared my joy, as you

must remember.

Today, a stronger drip . . . 

bright red, accompanied with

sludge. Methinks it might not

be long now.

I can remember when I used

to lust after other things, and

now . . . I dream of water, in

streams, in jugs, in brimming

cups. When I buy gallons of

the stuff, I buy many, many!

I'm halfway 'twixt and 'tween

begging the gods on bended

knee and shaking my fist at

them and demanding gushing

water!

Water! WATER!! W A T E R !!!

02/03/2024

Let there be . . . water!

Perhaps a very special

Imbolc gift to us. Some 

time during the night, cold

water returned, along with

a gynormous clump of 

mud that had been frozen . . . 

If I recall from last winter,

little by little, we'll be getting

both cold and hot in the jane.

Not sure I can even recall

what a shower felt like. Little

spit baths just don't quite do 

it for me!

I'm praying! I'm praying!

02/02/2024 - Imbolc

Can't help but wonder 

'bout me sometimes . . .

Today is Imbolc, halfway

'twixt and 'tween Winter

and Spring. So of course,

a dental appointment at

o' dark thirty; make that

7:00 a.m.

Stumbling through the ice

and snow, we make it to 

the car and on to the dentist.

Going on in, the gal says

to me, "Good morning,

Linda-Dale; what are you

doing here all bright and

early?"

Turns out, I didn't have an

appointment. My guy was

fab about it, but man!

Grrrrrrrrr ~!@#$%^&*()_+

02/01/2024

Welcome February!!!

Trying to think here why I love

February so much!

Partly because we further away

from Winter, I suppose. But, I

bet the real reason has to do with

Valentine's Day. One of things I

enjoyed in Mexico was the fact

it was called Friendship Day and

you honored your friends rather

than just your mate.

And, crazy gal that I am, I like 

to celebrate the entire month. You

know; cards, letters, packages.

Pure fun!

I do think that any of you caught

reading this column today, should

send me more ideas! What say you?!

Sooooo love me some February

days!