05/30/2024

"It's okay that you don't know

how to move on. Start with

something easier . . . like not

going back." ~Unknown

Methinks, maybe, just maybe,

I'm finally drumming up the

courage to recognize, to accept

that I am indeed an ole dame

these days!

Praise God from whom all

blessings flow, I am still straight

and walk a strong stride!

But, that pesky little nag that I

don't recall something?! Does

it mean I'm losing my memory?

Don't cook much any more. 

Just open the fridge and see 

what falls out, right?!

Don't like to go out much . . . 

so enjoy when people come by.

It's spring, finally! Let's sit out

front and have a beer or three!

I like what Ms. Unknown said

about not going back . . . Still,

one can't do so anyway so might 

as well get on with that whole

acceptance bit! 

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

05/29/2024

"You are not responsible 

for the versions of you 

that exist in other people's 

minds." ~shrinkchicks

I imagine we all wonder 

from time to time what 

other people think of us.

I know I do.

Alas, if you ask someone,

it's likely they'll think you

are seeking compliments.

If they take you seriously,

you might just get more

than you bargained for.

Every now and then, you

will hear the odd thing 

about yourself. Might just

be in for a surprise.

Shame we couldn't go to

our own funerals . . . see

who's there and what's

said. 

Might be so amazing you

would want to go back. 

Or, so god awful, you need 

to go back and haunt them!

Methinks 'tis not worth the

fuss! Just be nice and call

it a day, already!

05/28/2024

"Release & let go of every

thing that is toxic to your 

being. Cleanse your soul." 

~muses from a mystic

Methinks, I've always been

more about accumulating

than letting go. Rather makes

it hard to cleanse one's soul.

I tend to think of these things

like a filing system. Keep all,

keep filed, look back when

needed. Doesn't do much for

cleaning out, does it?!

Can't help but wonder if one

could do about half and half

rather than cleaning out all?!

Maybe it's rather like cleaning

house . . . dust, mop 'n glow!

And while you're at it . . .

   a) put away

   b) give away

   c) throw away

I like my version of letting go

much better!

05/27/2024

A walk down friendship lane . . .

When I came back from my 

20 years in Old Mexico, I 

was hired to teach in a middle

school in Commerce City.

Interestingly enough, a woman

just returning from a similar

stint in Canada was hired at the

same school, same time.

Obviously, we became fast 

besties! And, one of the things 

I love about the Universe would 

be friendships such as this.

Thirty five years later and we 

still card, letter and e-mail. We 

get together for lunch and a 

catch me up from time to time. 

We share tales out of school

and chuckle over our growing 

old together.

Methinks 'tis Valentine's Day

every time I see her . . . 

 . . . ever so grateful!

05/26/2024

"I lay my words down 

on paper to understand 

the weight of my soul." 

~janine tamis

Never been one to actually 

keep a diary . . .

I keep a Book of Shadows,

a BOS, that's somewhat a 

cross between a diary and 

a scrapbook.

I work in it and on it when 

the mood arises. Some days, 

hours, others, minutes.

I suppose I have a dozen or 

more that I've chosen to keep. 

Others I've burned over the

years for privacy reasons. 

So enjoy looking through 

them from time to time.

This particular indulgence 

is ever so dear to me. Rather

makes me wish all good souls

could do so . . .

 . . . 'tis never too late!

05/25/2024

"Today, soak in what's real

and what's real is unhurried.

The ground. The air. The

exhale. The planted seed. 

The shift. The season."

~Victoria Erickson

This really touched me. We

tend to get boggled down in

our everyday lives, forgetting

the absolute glories of Mother

Nature.

Not able to walk as far as I

once did, still just sitting out

in my yard and beholding the

vast forest above me tends to

do the trick.

Taking a long ride up forest

ridden hills and valleys is yet

another treasure.

I grew up taking rides . . . 

gas prices being quite different 

than they are today. But, every

now and then, I'm able to brow

beat my guy into a short one.

Absolutely breathtaking!!!

Today we're doing this, taking

a ride. I can hardly wait . . .

. . . and then, we're ending up

at our daughter's! Great fun!

05/23/2024

I much enjoy our cabin life,

in an 1876 tiny place it may

be. 

Having said that, just love it

when company comes, albeit

our kids, old friends, new

neighbors.

We have no actual next door 

neighbors, so it's always a

surprise when some unknown

knocks on the door.

Last night, 'twas a couple of

teens asking to buy our old

pickup. Wish my guy would

just sell it, give it away and/

or be done with it, but he 

wants to keep it.

Funny, it's worrisome when

strangers come by . . . this 

particular visit seemed a bit

off.

So glad I have my guy; he

makes me feel safe!

05/23/2024

"Your thoughts are energy."

~Panache Desai

Alas, I keep forgetting this bit

of wisdom . . .

Methinks those of us who tend

to watch our tongues, feel free

to indulge in thoughts. At least,

'tis the way with moi.

Good thoughts, bad thoughts,

sad thoughts, any thoughts!

Never even occurred to me

they needed watching.

Might just be that our thoughts

can be a mine field for creating

many a thing we actually wish

to avoid?!

Obviously, there are things that

need thinking about. Having 

said that, perhaps one should

look at a menu of thoughts and

choose, rather like a dish at a

restaurant or cafe.

All of our mental meanderings

cannot necessarily be positive.

Nonetheless, choosing carefully

rather than giving negativity

free rein, might be a good idea.

I'll think about it . . .

05/22/2024

"I feel like I'm constantly

worrying about the next part

of my life without realizing

that I'm right in the middle of

what I used to look forward to"

~Taisha Makainai

Perhaps this is a new way to

look at, "Live in the Now" . . .

I saw the above statement this

early morn and it wowed me. 

I've always had issue with

living in the now. But, never

once had I thought about this.

I'm living now for what I once

wished for.

This truly gives one pause! Add

in the fact that I'm soon to turn

75 and get where my mind is at.

Think I'll ponder this for a bit

and find whatever gratitude is

lurking around . . .

-fam and friends

-hearth and home

-decent health

-just enough shekels

Frankly, what more could one

want?! Just got to make the

effort . . . Live in the NOW, 

 . . . a now I dreamed of in 

yesteryear.

05/21/2024

"I have been many different

versions of me, but even in the

darkest of days, I keep coming

back to the same heart, same

passion, same purpose, and 

same soul, just a little bit more

weathered and a little bit wiser."

~janine tamis

Methinks 'tis rare to find such

wisdom in one so young . . .

Might just have something to

do with the things she's gone

through in her life.

And perhaps, that would apply

to all of us. We each have our

journeys, our stories to tell, our

endurance to be proud of.

In my own life, I would confess

I haven't always come out on

top. But surely, survival counts

for something. I'm here, nigh

onto a hundred years old and

still trying, still growing. 

Good days and bad days, but I 

swear on all that is holy, I'm

going to go down fighting; make

no mistake!

05/20/2024

Learning many a life lessons

from my guy, but perhaps the

most important is all the ways

he says, "I love you" w/o the

words.

He never said the words. If I

did, he would say, "me too."

And, he would say them to 

his children ending phone

calls.

Then, little by little, I began

to notice . . .

"I'm going downstairs, 

can I get you anything?"

"I know you hate it, but

I need you to buckle up."

"While I was at the grocery

I got you the salad stuff you

like."

"Here, let me help you with

that."

Obviously, I'm ever so glad

I've come to understand his

way. Can't help but wonder

if there aren't other gals out

there who haven't sussed

out the code yet?!

It's how I've come to think

of it . . .

05/19/2024

"Kind hearts guide faded 

flowers to soul gardens, 

and sit with them until 

they regain their color."

~janine tamis

So enjoy Janine Tamis! Wise

beyond her years; make no

mistake!

Looking at my sweet friends,

those who have hung in there

with me all these years, I see 

them in the above verse.

Friends who have cried with

me, laughed with me and sat

with me . . . oh how I honor

them, love them, cherish them.

'Tis quite amazing how friends

find each other. Methinks it is

written . . . I do know I'm alive

today because of the love and

caring of special friends.

One of the most fab things I've

found in life is that some of my

greatest friends reside right in

my family circle. Maybe I was

a fab mom because I look at my

children and see true friendship.

May we all be the friend to others

we wish to have in our own lives.

05/18/2024

"If only our eyes saw souls

instead of bodies . . .  how 

different our world would 

be." ~Lauren Jauregui

Methinks all we need is a

closer look! Most people

wear their hearts on their

sleeves anyway . . .

We spend way too much

time being distracted by

beauty instead of enjoying

personalities, intellect and

humor.

There is naught wrong with

beauty. But, it is not the be

all, end all. There has to be

something behind the facade

to make the person interesting.

So enjoy listening to a person

of decent intellect. All said in

conversation captivates me.

Some are beautiful and some

not! Seems to me, they don't

pay any attention to looks.

They enjoy learning, reading,

forming their own opinions

and sharing in conversations.

Just who I want to be when

I grow up . . .

05/17/2024

"The ache for home lives in 

all of us. The safe place where 

we can go as we are and not be

questioned." ~Maya Angelou

There are days when I so long

for home. Not quite sure where

it is anymore . . .

The closest I've ever found is

here in my tiny 1876 year old

cabin. I so love being here. It's

like living in a bit of history.

I've come to understand that

home isn't just a place where

we feel comfortable. It also

has to do with those who are

with us from time to time.

There are those who lend a

sense of home wherever they

are. An interesting quality;

make no mistake. My gran

was like that. 'Twas a comfort

simply to be in her presence.

Can't help but wonder if we

don't somehow carry a sense

of home with us?!

05/16/2024

"My body isn't a temple,

it's a haunted house. It

needs a lot of work, makes

mysterious creaking sounds,

and contains the spirit of a

creepy old lady that's always

mad about something."

~Wild Woman Sisterhood

This entire aging thing is

amazing, mysterious, crazy!

No way to figure it out, just

endure. I always consider the 

alternative and find I'm just

fine with being somewhat an

elder.

I know I'm lucky . . . straight

and tall, a good stride, no cane.

But, I could so do without the

knee pain and saggy you know

whats! 

Funny, I still don't think of

myself as elderly, older,  in

my dotage. I feel the same

inside . . .

 . . . and am simply amazed

when I look in the mirror!

Go f---ing figure!!!

05/15/2024

Every night when trying to

fall asleep, I silently murmur

Live as I breathe in and Exist

as I breathe out.

I do so partially to fall asleep

with good vibes in my soul,

as well as focusing on living

rather than simply existing.

Today was errands day . . .

hit taxes, Social Security, 

water, Safeway and the 

liquor store. We treated

ourselves to pizza as our

chef seems to have left us

in the lurch.

I'm exhausted, fairly broke

and want naught more than

a nap . . . here's hoping my

fairy godmother leaves me

something under my pillow

tonight! I deserve it!

What I like about days such

as today, other than getting

things done, is the reminder

that living is ever so important.

Still, one must note . . . existing

has its place. Bills must be paid,

taxes filed, water picked up, etc.

These tasks in the existing field,

make living ever so much more

lovely after all!

05/14/2024

"It's important to find people

who make you realize there's

nothing wrong with being 

who you are." ~Unknown

Nice one to wake up to . . .

having ever and always been

the weird one in the crowd.

Can't remember it bothering

me, even when I was a kid.

I belonged to daddy and he

was an eccentric so I didn't

think anything of it.

There are gifts found in the

cauldron of eccentricity.

Meeting the most interesting

people . . .  absolutely fab!

Conversations that amaze

and sustain. Finding the

fascinating anywhere you go.

And no, one need not be an

eccentric to possess these

qualities. There are a great

deal of fascinating people

out there.

Let's all simply enjoy each

other. It's important; make

no mistake!

05/13/2024

"The sole purpose of human

existence is to kindle a light

in the darkness of mere being."

~Carl Jung

I've been a fan forever and 

a day! Such wisdom . . .

I get that he has been been

controversial throughout the

decades of his life. Still, he

does hit on certain important

points. And, I like this one.

When all is going well, we

tend to forget that there are

others to are struggling to

the point they may not even

wish to go on.

Seems to me, it's only when

we're down and out that we

tend to remember the

suffering of others. Maybe,

this is one of the whys we're

allowed the downs!

If we're in a good place,

let's hark back to the dark

times and shine a light for

those who aren't doing so

well just now.

Could make all the difference

in the world to them.

05/12/2024 - Mother's Day

This early morn, I find my 

mind listing towards those

special ones who are not 

thought of as mothers.

-I know an amazing nurse

who has saved many a child

and is much revered.

-Aunts with listening ears 

to whom our teens go to talk

are sheros; make no mistake.

-Teachers who spend their

days with troubled teens

surrogate moms to many!

-And there are those gals who

care for animals, wildlife and

gardens.

-Mother Teresa, my shero . . .

mother of thousands.

-And have you even thought

of the dad moms? So many

fathers filling in after their

wives passing. They simply

shine!

I pray we all honor our moms

today, but never forget those

who are a different kind of 

mothers.

Happy Mother's Day!

05/011/2024

Today we moms find ourselves 

halfway 'twixt and 'tween Día 

de las Madres Mexicanas ayer, 

and Mother's Day tomorrow.

So love that we merit these

celebratory days. Fun memes

and fab get-togethers.

On the other side of things, 

now that I'm nigh onto a100, 

I'm making an effort to think 

of my own mother most days.

As we disagreed on all things

philosophical and I cared for 

her three and a half years in 

quite difficult circumstances, 

I found myself riding my high 

horse and dis-remembering 

more important things.

I'm so proud of her for 30

years at the Atomic Energy

Commission. Proud that five

of her bosses flew in from 

parts unknown to honor her.

She wowed me in the way 

she cared for my special, 

blind brother Sammy and 

was very involved in his 

school and activities.

She took time for me as well.

I remember all the amazing 

things she did for our 8th grade 

class, one special field trip, or

activity per month.

Today, as I honor her, I am

determined to let go of any

remaining negative feelings

and celebrate the amazing

woman she truly was.

Thank God I always treated 

her with great respect.

Diez de Mayo, Día de las Madres

El día de hoy recuerdo a todas 

las bellas madres que conocí 

en los viente años que viví en 

México.

Juguetonas, querendonas, serias, 

felices, orgullosas . . . para con

sus hijos. Me parece que nunca

he visto igual en ninguna parte.

Una familia en particular me

conmovía. Cristina, reina de la

misma, una madre sin igual. Al

pasar los años, sus hermanas . . .

fantásticas. Todavía recuerdo a

la doña madre de ellas. Ha de

haber sido la madre del siglo

para tener hijas tales.

Bien me acuerdo de mis vecinas.

Desgraciadamente, les faltaba

educación y bienes, pero al igual,

amaban a sus hijos.

Mi hija, siendo tan bella Mexicana,

ha sido una madre fabulosa . . . y

ahora abuela. Espero ansiosa ver

su papel en la misma en los años

venideros.

Felicidades a todas ustedes . . .

amigas, vecinas, cuñadas, hermanas.

Las adoro a todas . . . 

05/09/2024

"i'm aware that i am rare."

Mother/Maiden/Crone

I remember hearing a certain

comments as a child from time 

to time  . . .

"He's an odd duck." or "She's 

a bit of bother."

I always knew my dad was an

eccentric . . . and ever longed 

to be just like him!

I do know that I was fortunate

to be reared by a man who was

so utterly himself. He always

encouraged me to be my real

self, follow my inclinations

and not worry about the crowd.

This gift, given to me by my 

dad, has brought such amazing 

people into my life. I worship at

the feet of my fellow unusuals.

Frank conversations, personal

beliefs, own way of dress . . .

oh how I admire these brave

souls!

Let's celebrate our differences!

Let's lose that whole cookie 

cutter nonsense, ever and always

seeking to be our true selves.

05/08/2024

"I have loved the stars too

fondly to be fearful of the

night." ~Sarah Williams

I so identify . . .

Alas, I find fear takes over

to some degree. Living out

here in kingdom come, I

worry the bears are going 

to get me. They've come 

strolling up our walk just a

few . . .

I suppose, living in the city,

one could fear the baddies.

Rather boils down to having

to make a decision to live in

spite of whatever maladies

exist in one's world.

So looking forward to hot

summer eves, star lit nights, 

perhaps even a cold beer to

go with . . .

 - - -

Sarah Williams was an English

poet and novelist. 1837 - 1868,

30 years of age. Wikipedia

05/07/2024

"If you could erase all the 

mistakes of your past, you 

would also erase all of the

wisdom of your present. 

Remember the lesson, not 

the disappointment."

Empaths & Old Souls

Phenomenal bit of wisdom . . .

One of the issues I find hard

about being a lopsided Libra,

I constantly worry about my

errors of the past rather than

celebrating wisdom gained.

What a shame to have spent

so many years concentrating

on the lost; I could have been

enjoying found.

Universe only knows how

many months or years I have 

left at my disposal. But, one

thing I do know, I wish to

spend whatever time I have

left; in the positive, the joys,

the delights offered by mine

own.

Pray, I be gifted with the

courage to change. My the

last times of my life be spent

in the joyful rather than the

sorrowful . . .

05/06/2024

"You are not the darkness you 

endured. You are the light that 

refused to surrender."

~John Mark Green

My niece, Jamie, posted these 

most wondrous words this early 

morn.

Just the reminder I needed . . . 

SAD time is over! Outdoor time

has arrived. Feels like the longest

winter ever! I know. I know. I say

this every year.

FACs outdoors, eating at the

picnic table . . . even warm walks

to the mailbox and library . . . Ha!

Ever so grateful for the return of

Mr. Sun, his warm rays entering

my trembling soul. 

Pray, stay for a long, long while!

 - - -

Seasonal affective disorder (SAD)

is a type of depression. It happens

most often in fall and winter. It is

thought that shorter days and less

daylight may set off a chemical

change in the brain leading to

symptoms of depression.

Johns Hopkins Medicine

05/05/2024 - Cinco de Mayo

"There is always, always, always,

something to be grateful for."

~Rhonda Byrne

And today, it is for the birth of

my daughter . . .

My mother was born May 5th.

As we were living far, far away

in Olde Mexico, we wanted to 

give her the greatest gift she'd

ever received.

Much planning, fun guessings,

and our dream came true! My

doc liked to say, "her first half

'twas born on Cinco de Mayo,

Mexican, and her second half 

on the sixth of May, US. He

even gave us two birth certs

representing the two dates.

Rather makes me think she

coulda, woulda, shoulda been

a Libra.

Today, US will be partying.

Mexico will be having very

serious marchings, speeches

honoring this vast historical

significance . . .

 . . . Hopefully, my dear, sweet 

daughter will be celebrating 

her heart out!

Feliz cumpleaños hijita!

05/04/2024

"Moonlight is music for the soul."

~Rumi

So love me our Lunar Lady!

Each night as I wend my way 

down the stairs, I peek out the

window for a look-see.

I love watching her journey

across the sky, changing just a

tad each time I see her. Matters

not whether she's full, new or

in between. Simply, beauty of

the highest order!

Sometimes, she peeks out from 

behind the trees; others, she is

framed by the clouds. Every 

now and then, she has the skies

all to herself . . . pure magick!

My guy is all about the sun, 

rather the same way I'm all 

about the moon. But, I just love

how sometimes he awakens me

and demands that I go down and

see the moon.

He's right, of course. There are

those times when she is so

magnificent, that sleep is of no

consequence.

Lunar Lady, shine on me . . .

05/03/2024

"No amount of money, oil, or gold

is worth more than the bees, trees

and clean water." ~David Wolfe

I enjoy reading David. Sometimes,

he's a bit out there for moi, but per

se, he makes a great deal of sense.

Might have something to do with

how I was reared.

Still, bottom line, we seem to have

forgotten those precious few that

truly matter. People and houses are

replacing land once inhabited with

animals, birds and fauna.

I sob when reading . . . 

"Lying between CA and Hawaii, 

the Great Pacific Garbage Patch is 

three times the size of France and 

is the world's biggest ocean waste 

repository, with 1.8 billion pieces 

of floating plastic which kill 1,000s 

of marine animals each year." 

Wikipedia

What can be done? What can each 

of us do? Again, methinks it all 

boils down to doing our bit in our

own space. Branch out as age and

health allow. Sign ballots and

complain in the right places.

Alas, I fear Mother Nature will be

running out of patience any time

soon . . .

 - - -

"David "Avocado" Wolfe is an

American author and conspiracy

theorist. He promotes a variety 

of pseudoscientific ideas such as 

raw food, alternative medicine,

and anti-vaccine sentiment."

Wikipedia

05/02/2024

"Earth is my church; Nature 

is my spirituality." Pantheism

I am so fortunate to have been

reared by a man who loved the

outdoors, Mother Nature in all

her essence.

I remember drives, exploration,

hiking, climbing . . . precious,

precious memories.

Frankly, there is naught in this

world that can compare to her.

Our mother, Mother Nature,

Mother Earth, is amazing . . .

beyond amazement!!! Make

no mistake!

She brings us gifts of beauty,

the seasons, the sun by day, 

the moon and stars by night.

She provides us with the most

incredible home.

My gratitude knows no bounds . . .

05/01/2024 - May Day

May Day has finally arrived!

With it, comes longer days,

a brighter sun, warmer temps . . .

finally summer peaking its 

head out.

I'm beginning my celebration

early . . . 

 . . . Having my early morn

caffeine fix in the form of coffee

ice cream, in bed no less! 'Tis my 

intention to cook and then friends 

are to come over.

Today marks the beginning of

my usual No Alcohol May, as 

I like to take Jan/May/Sep off

from drinks. I swear, the lengths

one must go to . . .

So, here's hoisting my coffee

ice cream cup to you. Have a

most wondrous May Day, a

phenomenal Beltane . . . as 

you weave your very own 

May pole!