10/31/2024 - Samhain

"Samhain is the third and final

harvest festival of the Wheel 

of the Year that signifies the 

midpoint between fall equinox

and winter solstice. Starting at 

sunset on Oct. 31st and ending 

at sunset on Nov. 1st, this day

marks the end of summer and

beginning of winter on the old

calendar. It was considered an

important time for giving gifts

to the dead and communing." 

Spirit Nest

Fam and friends often ask about

Samhain, hence the above. One

of the things I love about Latin

America as well as Samhain, is

that space in time for recalling

our loved ones who have passed.

Obviously, not everyone feels

this way; might even see it as

morbid. But for me, there is a

need to celebrate mine who've

passed before.

Wishing us a wondrous Samhain

and you a glorious Halloween for

sisters and brothers all are we . . . 

10/30/2024 - Samhain Eve

Samhain is a Gaelic festival

on November 1, marking the

end of the harvest season and

beginning of winter or the

darker half of the year. It is

also the Irish language name

for November. Celebrations

begin on the evening of Oct

31, as the Celtic day began

and ended at sunset. Wikipedia

Not exactly certain as to why,

but in all celebrated holidays,

I always prefer the eve over

the day. Might just be because

there's always a tad of mystery

to the dark of night.

This evening I see us sitting

by the fire, perhaps enjoying

a tad of eggnog and thanking

the divine for the gifts of love

from those who have gone

before.

Pray, may we each appreciate

and enjoy these next four days.

May our hearts and minds be

inundated with sweet memories.

Indeed, we are so blest . . . 

Happy Samhain eve!

10/29/2024

Celebrating my 75th,  

I planned seeing fam 

and friends every day 

of this month. Fun do's,

and some fun don'ts as 

well. Glorious eats, to 

say naught of secrets 

shared.

But, today 'tis the first 

day I have nothing on.

Can't help but wonder 

how the day'll progress. 

Will anything exciting 

happen?

I know one shouldn't 

plan every iota of life. 

Room must be left for 

surprises, for the un-

expected. 

I'll just have wait and 

see what happens . . .

10/28/2024

I know . . . perhaps I've ever

known . . . I am rich beyond

measure!

The first friend I made in US

when I returned from 20 years

in Mexico, came to visit from

afar last night. 

We talked, reminisced, laughed,

cried . . . sooooo glad we were

well into our brewskis as neither 

of us recall this early a.m. just 

how much we shared last night!

She comes not often as she hales

from far, far away. But, when she

does, she brings treats, I put forth

the naughties and we eat Mexican

food until we're speaking Spanish.

One of the things I most value

about a special birth year, is the

celebration of friendship. Frankly,

arriving alive and well at 75, and

living all over Kingdom Come . . .

leaves many a memory to share.

So, last night we solved all the

world's problems and this morn,

we started all over again. Alas,

methinks those in the upper

eschelon of our world today, never

think to ask our opinion . . .

Oh well, 'tis their loss!!!

10/27/2024

'Twas a most glorious day . . .

My annual mole making, at

last shared with a friend. 'Til

now, family only and sworn

to secrecy.

I remember my son asking

quite nicely, if he could 

share the recipe with his best 

friend and I said, "NO! And, 

don't forget you promised!"

Methinks, just might have 

something to do with being

at the other end of aging. A

tad closer to the other side,

as it were.

     Day 1: deseeding.

     Day 2: four hour boil

     Day 3: blending, sieving

     three times over

     Day 4: herbs and spices

     Day 5: eat, drink and be 

     merry

Make no mistake, I am so

looking forward to the whole

Day 5 part of this magic! I

just bet I eat myself sick!

Salud . . .

10/26/2024

Just keeps getting better and

better . . .

Early a.m. coffee w/two of 

my besties. Dressing up and

hitting an amazing restaurant

usually denied to the likes of

us. Unbelievable! No wonder

we only go ever five years!

Coming back for afters . . .

Two kinds of cake, two kinds

of ice cream. two kinds of

presents. If this b-day month

doesn't end soon, I'm going

to weigh 200 lbs and won't

fit in either the cabin or my

clothes!

Best gift ever though, is such 

incredible friendship. We talk,

really talk. Seems we never

run out of topics to discuss,

things to share, a comparison

of points of view.

I know not everyone has such

friendships. My heart bleeds . . .

Ever, ever so grateful . . .

10/25/2024

Best birthday ever, this whole

turning 75. I've so enjoyed

celebrating one special person

each day.

Last night, my bestie came in

from far, far away. We lit up

the place with candles, ate fun

foods, and talked so long and

hard that we were constantly

interrupting each other.

What a gift of life I have been

given! Such shame in thinking

of the times I gave up, didn't

wish to live any longer. I'm

ever so grateful I'm still here.

It's going to be fun actually

finding out just how long I'll

be given. Must be time to 

start telling tales out of school.

Well actually, my friends tell

me that I'm not already doing

that, but I'm telling some of

them over and over. Damn

embarrassing if you ask me!

So, here I am . . . loving life,

adoring my fam and friends

and finding myself somewhat

overwhelmed!

10/24/2024

Sooooo loving my age

and some of the things

that go with it . . .

Exercise - up and down

the stairs all hours of day

and night.

Groceries - once a month

or so; don't like to go out

much.

Meals - open the fridge

and see what falls out.

Oddities - ice cream for

breakfast, living in the

bedroom, no phone. 

Time spent - books and 

movies, visiting w/friends, 

writing e-mails and letters.

Trips - none of late; most

likely, it'll stay that way.

TV - good for watching

old movies. Don't watch

it otherwise.

Almost wish I had been

born this age . . .

10/23/2024

We were gifted a sweet

surprise last eve. Friends

from the neighborhood

surprised us with a visit.

A tad chilly, so my guy 

lit the fire. Not only did 

it add to the ambiance, it

truly warmed the cockles

of our souls!

We talked and shared a

couple of brewskies. Best

of all, our kid came home

from work and not only

brought a fab b-day gift,

he dressed up for us in 

his Halloween costume.

Taken several weeks to

put it together, 'twas

phenomenal. Scared me

just to look at him.

It's been so cold here at

night. To think we were

able to sit out by the fire

for a couple of hours is

simply incredible. Still,

'twas just what the doctor 

ordered!

Methinks I need to adjust

my attitude regarding fall.

I'll enjoy the days I can

and just have issues with

winter. Ha!

10/22/2024

I awoke this earl morn with

sweet thoughts of yesterday.

The gods blest me as I was

able to spend time with one

of my dearests and bests.

I can only imagine the smiles

our angels must have shared 

as we sat and talked, talked

and talked.

Obviously, there is much to

share when getting together

from afar only once a year.

Then, slowly but surely, once

the news is caught up on, true

conversation begins.

There is naught in this world

to compare to this kind of

friendship and sharing. My 

heart is full, my mind reeling 

and I feel fulfilled.

Alas, at one point, I needed

rest and thus ended our sweet,

perfect day. I will admit, I

wept as she drove away . . .

10/21/2024

I believe in the magic of 

each new day; absolutely 

essential in order to keep

going on!

The days are shorter, 

the dark longer. Not quite 

sure how I'll survive or

even if I will.

I pray you do not suffer

from SAD, Seasonal

Affective Disorder. Not

something I would wish

on my worst enemy if I

had one.

It's like being taken out

of time and place. All you

can see or sense is dark.

Cold and dark. It's much 

like being caught in a child-

hood nightmare and there's

no way out. And, there's no

daddy to come to the rescue.

Already taking precautions;

time outdoors daily, meds,

meditation and prayer . . .

Oh my God . . .

10/20/2024

Oh my God . . . I don't think

I've ever had so much fun in 

my life as turning 75 . . .

I'm just about partied out.

Didn't even know that could

happen. 

Five friends showed up

yesterday with picnic in tow

and I just sat there . . . felt

about a hundred. 'Twas a ball.

Best part, Michael serenaded 

us with both a six string and

a 12 string. He is phenomenal.

You've probably heard him at

one of my guy's Gypsies in

July.

Today, I'm blest with a visit

from my past. Old friend and

student coming over for Sun

margs after church. Now a 

PhD, a bigwig in education,

one my favest people ever!

One of the greatest gifts of

being a teacher, would be all

the incredible students one is

blest with. Watching the adults

they turn into is pure magic!

Methinks 'tis one of the best

b-day pressies E V E R !!!

10/19/2024

'Tis morn of the day after and

I'm feeling my age . . . I don't

know if it's psychological or

maybe I've partied too hardy!

For me, the day after has to 

do with gratitude. Before I 

was diagnosed with SAD, 

Seasonal Affective Disorder, 

I wasn't long for this life.

Knowing the issue, meant

being able to cope. My guy

has been phenomenal in

helping me deal with those

dark days of fall and winter.

Hard to believe I was born

in my own time of undoing!

Go figure . . .

So, I am grateful . . . 

 . . . for sunlight that staves 

off SAD, for those who have

loved me in spite of my ills

and woes, for reaching this

incredible age, for glorious

years of teaching and the joy

found in loving my students.

I am grateful . . .

 . . . for coming to understand

those things that never made

sense, for learning new ways

to love and live, for life itself.

Indeed, I am grateful . . .

10/18/2024

O' dark thirty this early morn

brought me the most gorgeous 

moon I've ever laid eyes on . . .

Was it Mother Earth gifting me

a special Harvest Moon? Was

it a present for all born on this

lucky day? Did the entire world

swoon as I did when viewing

her beauty?

Indeed, I feel ever so blest! 

Feels like this moon was the 

bow on the package Life has

gifted me these 75 years.

Wondered how I'd feel?! I say, 

"I've finally arrived, guess I

can go now." No, these words

did not occur. What I'm truly

feeling is, "Let's see what 

Mother has up her sleeve from 

here on out!"

Looking in the mirror, I'm ever

surprised . . . "When did that

happen?" I think. See the beauty

marks on my arms? "When did 

that happen?" 

Nah, doesn't matter . . . I'm ever

so lucky to stand tall, firm stride,

no need for a cane just yet.

So pray I'm gifted yet another

few years . . .

Happy b-day to moi . . .

10/17/2024

"The richest people in the world

are those who have learned to

appreciate simple things in life."

~Samuel Bizimana

This spoke to me . . .

For me, 'tis proof that I've at 

last arrived! I love my age, my

understanding of life and its

various happenings . . . and I

love all sweet, simple things 

in life.

Methinks my only sorrow . . .

it takes nigh onto a lifetime

to reach this point. I finally

get it. Why, oh why can't we

understand this bit of wisdom

at a younger age?!

This month, glorious October,

has brought this home to me

over and over. Coffee with a

friend, an unexpected card,

a telephone greeting, the odd

e-mail. All are simple and all

have brought me joy!

I ask myself, "What simple

things could I gift to others?

That unexpected compliment

in the grocery store, dropping

a post card in the mail, taking

the time to write a proper letter.

Since turning 75 has been so

special for me, I'm going to

dedicate this year to gifting 

the simple. One small thing

a day . . . and I bet this will

benefit me even more than

any recipient!

Need to give this some thought!

10/16/2024

One of the things I enjoy about

celebrating my b-day an entire 

month rather than just a day 

would be all the fam and friends

I get to see.

Today, I get to enjoy my son.

He is such an interesting man.

Phenomenal artist, reader of the 

classics, gifted conversationalist,

simply a joy to be with.

There are times methinks I've

given him all my good points

and haven't saved anything for

moi . . . ha!

What a gift it is to have children

turning out to be glorious people.

Talking with them, enjoying their

points of view, their insights, even

their vocab usage . . . utter delight!

At the end of the month, I'll be

offering my gratitude for this 75th

birthday. I'm thinking of different

things I could do, but have yet to

decide. 

Ideas welcome . . .

10/15/2024

Sooooo excited . . .

I get to spend this early morn

with my younger daughter!

Alas, now that I'm about a 

100 years old and rarely leave 

the cabin, I don't get to see the 

kids as often as I would like.

On the other side of the quest,

these priceless visits warm my

heart to a slow burn.

One of the things I love about

this particular age, would be

seeing the children as adults

and watching them rear their

own.

I bless my x-wife for sharing 

her babes with me. She is an

amazing mother.

Today, my heart is full . . .

10/14/2024

"We are here to heal, not harm.

We are here to love, not hate.

We are here to create, not destroy."

~Anthony Douglas Williams

Methinks we all need a daily

dose of A.D. Williams; we need

reminding!

Alas, I fear we exist rather than

live and we do so without a great

deal of thinking on our part.

Today, I meet with my niece and

her fiancee for wedding planning.

Part of me trembles at the courage

a young couple must have in order

to join the matrimonial rat race.

Yet another part of me cheers them

on and wishes them well.

For me, October becomes a time

of pondering, rethinking time- 

honored practices and choosing to

deal with things a tad differently. 

May we all have a look/see and a

good think about how we proceed

from here . . .

 - - -

"We destroy life, and we pollute 

oceans and skies, yet we have the

audacity to call ourselves superior

beings." ~A.D. Williams

10/13/2024

Thirteen glorious days of

celebration so far . . . and

at 75, I'm more than a tad

worn out! Oh, but what 

fun it has been!

Sooooo, today I'm going

to enjoy a b-day present 

I received, an absolutely

delicious book. Can not

wait to get into it.

Actually, I may be in a bit

of a mood as I read all nite

last night. Methinks I feel 

a nap coming on at some

point today.

Right now, I find myself 

overwhelmed with a great

deal of gratitude . . . 75?!

Wow! Just WOW!!!

Add in the visits, outings,

fun mail, cards, and these

feelings of thankfulness

are quite understandable.

My heart just feels all tingly!

10/12/2024

"I am pieces of all the places

I have been, and the people I

have loved. I've been stitched

together by song lyrics, book

quotes, adventure, late night

conversations, moonlight,

and the smell of coffee."

~Brooke Hampton

This may just be the loveliest

sentiment Brooke Hampton

ever wrote. Even, without her

customary four-letter words!

In truth, her words so define

who one is, and/or becomes.

I think of being reared in a

small, beauty of a right-wing

town, going away to school

in the desert at 15, Mexico 

for the following 20 years

and back to the US to end

my 40 year teaching career.

Today, I am honored to spend

some of my birth month time

w/two of the dearest friends

I have made here in the US.

I can only imagine the fun we

will share, memories hashed

and new ones made.

I swear, this whole turning 75

caper is an absolute blast!

10/11/2024

Simply can not believe that 

a third of my birth month  

is celebrated and gone. And, 

oh what fun I've had already!

We'll be a birthdaying today!

Towns to see, beers to try out,

antiques to be wished over, 

delish foods to test.

First look-see was a phenom

antique store. Wow! Ever so 

glad I had no shekels with 

which to spend non-existence

life inheritance or I would've

had none left over!

Next, we hit a 2nd hand store

of an unbelievable nature. I

came home with 10 baskets,

which I collect.

Lunch will surely have ensured 

my own fat regime for the rest 

of my life.

Yet having said that, an amazing

FAC followed . . . in 2 places.

Did I ever comment on just how

much I just love b-days?!

Having said that . . . turning 75

is the best . . . lookin' towards

my 80th already!

10/10/2024

"When you dance, let your soul

lead. Your body will follow." 

muses from a mystic

Just ruminating . . .

Growing up in a religious home,

I never learned to dance. Doesn't

mean I didn't danced anyway. 

And alas, I find I'm not much for

dancing these days.

Now, October is playing my song 

and I find my soul dancing, if not

my feet . . .

Autumn days are passing . . .

Friends visiting, drinks hoisted 

and toasts made. And yes, my 

soul is dancing.

Strange about friends . . . 

 . . . some from far, far away 

and others from right next door.

And, ever so many less as we

age, move away, and grow apart.

I find, as I muse and ponder, 

that I am ever so grateful for 

those who have stayed the 

distance . . .

10/09/2024

How I love Wednesdays!

Alas, must not betray my 

own secrets, but love me

my Wednesdays and ever

will!

Today, I'm celebrating with

my guy by setting us up for 

fave Beau Jo's Pesto Pizza. 

Yikes! Can't help but wonder 

what I'm adding to the ole

waistline this October?! Just

doesn't bear thinking about!

I'll be thinking of my crazy

pal as she celebrates her own 

b-day today. She'd be better 

off w/me and pizza, but she

insists on working, go figure!

 - - -

Raising a glass and a piece

of pesto pizza to Heidi and

my other October babes . . .

Anna, Barb, Clemen, Colleen, 

Corina, Dennis, Esther, Fran, 

Francis, Greg, Heidi, Jennifer, 

Joyce, Karen, Maria, Nancy, 

Pam, Rebeccah, Sarah

10/08/2024

Today, a day by the fire

and all that comes with . . .

So looking forward to this.

Truly there's naught like it.

It's like time slows down,

somehow. 

Sitting in silence, holding

hands. Chatting quietly,

from time to time, is sweet.

No need for anything else.

Imagine the day may bring

an old movie, maybe some

music, something to eat. 

All wondrous! All glorious!

Find myself moved by the

sweet happenings in life.

Rather wish I had learned 

to slow down long before

retirement and elder years.

Although, I suppose one

does what's necessary to

get through life . . .

Still, loving me my elder

years!

10/07/2024

So looking forward to

today . . .

Get to spend time with

the first friend I made

when I came to the US.

She has just published a

new book, available at

amazon.com

Witch Way, Stannie?

~Marilyn S. Wells

Fab! Fab!! book! We'll

be discussing it today.

I like it so well, I've

already gifted six copies.

What is it about the gift

of friendship?! Methinks

'tis what keeps us going.

I would add that it's ever

so important to be friends

with our adult children.

This weekend, I got to

enjoy them. They are

phenomenal people. And

today, I'll see my first 

friend.

Time to celebrate? 

Hell yes!

10/06/2024

Methinks today came 

early. Might have some

thing to do with having 

gone to bed early! Ha!

Ever so lucky in that I

get to spend time with

one of my friends from

my old school district

today.

Sooooo love me some

birth months! The re-

connecting that happens

is both amazing and 

priceless. Plus, I love

the news updates as well.

I'm finding that I enjoy

these October days so 

that I hate for them to

end. 'Tis almost like I

try to draw them out to

the last second.

Can hardly wait to see

that this day, day #6,

brings!

Happy! 

     HAPPY! 

          H A P P Y !!!

10/05/2024

Today was simply packed

with wonder!

Three of my daughters

came for brunch; alas, 

the other two . . . one 

had a sick little boy and 

the other had work.

So, we four laughed and 

cried, told tales out of 

school, ate and waded thru

champagne and mimosas.

Then we met up with the

guys who had gone off to 

play pool and share some

brewskies.

A night time fire warmed

us in the evening. A long

day and simply filled with 

joy.

Turning 75 and celebrating

with my beloveds must be

one of the most beautiful

things to ever happen to 

me.

Much loved my kiddos as

babes, yet as adults, they

fill me with amazement . . .

10/04/2024

Back to lovin' me some Oct

days . . .

Had such a fab time with my

dearest and bestie Tommy

yesterday. 'Twas a bit chilly,

hence my first fire in October.

Do you have any idea what

it's like to drink a frosty beer

in front of a fab fire on a cold

day?! Such fun . . .

One of the best things about

a birth month is catching up

with fam and friends. Today,

I get to catch up with a friend

from my old neighborhood.

We even got to serve in the

same school district.

Sooooo looking forward to

seeing her. Bet we talk faster

than we can write.

Lesson learned from yesterday:

Don't try to get fat in one day!

You have the entire month to

lay on the pounds!! What's the

hurry, already!!!

10/03/2024

Never thought I'd be b-day'd

out in two days . . .

Got home from our fave café 

of yesteryear and told my guy

I thought a little nap was in

order. All good . . . and then

I woke up at 6:00 a.m. this

early morn.

I asked him if I had slept

straight through and he said

I had. Went down and got 

my two cups of buttermilk

as is my custom and began

writing this missive.

Turns out it was 6:00 eve,

NOT morn . . . How old

did we say I was?!

Still, had a great time w/

my son over tons of Mex

foods. I may never be the

same again!

Best of all, the gals came

out and sang me, Las

Mañanitas and gave me a

special dessert. Sweeties!

Feelin' fat and sassy . . .

now, which day is this?

10/02/2024

"Out of all Mother Nature's

colors, October is my favorite."

muses from a mystic

Speaking of my fave month,

yesterday was glorious, but

unbeknownst to me, surprise

awaited around the corner.

Our friends showed up in the

late afternoon/early evening, 

completely unexpected. We

sat around the fire pit, chatted

and 'brewskied' as the day

faded away into the dark. I'm 

talking pitch black. Such fun! 

Such cold!!

Today, we'll travel to our fave

café of yesteryear. We'll meet

my son for lunch. 'Tis a place

to get fat with delish foods and

memories in one fell swoop!

Sooooo love me my 75 years,

my favest son, falling leaves

and the month of October . . .

October 2nd celebrations

R O C K !!!

10/01/2024

October is here! Finally!!

Thought it would never 

come!!!

Gifted with turning 75, I'm

going to do something fun

each and every day of this

glorious month.

Today, my guy is treating 

me to breakfast in bed. But,

oh what a breakfast . . .

Champagne on ice (breaking

my 30 day fast) strawberries 

dipped first in sour cream and

then in brown sugar. Yum!

He tells me that later in the

day, he's taking me up the

mountains to see the fall

colors. Suggested I pack a

picnic. What fun!

I feel so lucky . . . 75 years

on this planet. What a gift!

Not sure to whom I owe my

thanks, but know this . . . I

am ever so grateful for the

gift of life denied to many.

Sooooo, let's celebrate!

Happy birthmonth to moi!