11/12/2024

a.m.

Today is going to be a 

good day! 

We're off to my niece's 

wedding rehersal. So special 

when I get to marry family.

Wedding on the morrow . . .

two whole days of getting

out, seeing family, simply

enjoying.

Methinks I've died and 

gone to heaven . . . sooooo

NOT kidding!

Surely, good reports soon

to follow . . .

p.m.

Oh, it was so good to get

out in the sun! Sooooo

needed it!

Such lovely people in my

family . . . the bride so

gorgeous and her mom, 

one of my dearest cousins.

So impressed with the bride's

entourage. Lovely people,

very friendly.

Methinks seeing their love 

was just what I needed to get 

my mojo back!

11/11/2024

Sooooo, what's to be done

with depression?

Trying to think here . . . 

been so down, I've not 

been able to do so properly. 

Spoke to my daughter yester-

day and that helped a great

deal. Friends came over and

brightened the mood. 

But really, where do we go

from here? 

-Perhaps it's time to lose 

the murder mysteries I enjoy 

both reading and watching.

-Too dangerous out there 

to take a ride . . . maybe 

find a scenic show to watch.

-The answer has to lie in 

sitting by the fire. Might 

even indulge in an eggnog.

Something's got to give. 

Not a place I want to be in

much less live in . . .

Help! Drowning here . . .

11/10/2024

"The dark does not destroy

the light; it defines it. It's 

our fear of the dark that casts 

our joy into the shadows."

~Brené Brown

Just when I'm feeling over-

whelmed w/an early winter,

33" of snow and fear of the

unknown, I read this bit of

wisdom.

I've always enjoyed Brené 

Brown. She seems to be able

to capture the depth in the 

simple in a way that amazes

me.

I need to remember that light

follows dark and hope is ever

present in despondency.

And, tomorrow is another day

after all . . .

 - - -

Brené Brown is an American

professor, lecturer, author and

podcast host. Wikipedia

11/09/2024

Alas, sooooo not coping;

where do I go from here?!

I swore to myself that I

wouldn't use my daily

column as a gripe site . . .

yet here I am.

Still, I find that by sharing

my sorrows here allows 

me deal with my plight

somewhat better.

Obviously, I get that one

cannot change this winter

weather, the outcome of an 

election, and other things

that are off putting.

Sooooo, methinks sitting

by the fire with a spiced

eggnog might just distract.

This bit of brilliance was

suggested by my lover.

Feel free to send your

suggestions . . . I'm all ears!

11/08/2024

"Some of the brightest

lanterns are held by those

who have known darkness.

Brave beacons of hope for

others to find their way."

Sunlight and Shadows

Alas, 'tis that time of year

when I just want to curl up

and die. The good thing is

I know it's not real and I'm

ever learning how to cope.

The thing I consider best

out of my SAD months, is

the empathy one feels for

others in the same space.

So, what I want to learn 

from this would be how to

encourage those suffering

from Seasonal Affective

Disorder.

As I wasn't diagnosed for

years, there may be people

in the same situation I was.

Knowing is coping!!!

Bottom line, if you suspect

you might have SAD, get

properly diagnosed. Find 

a group to talk and share.

'Tis most likely the reason

I'm still alive today . . .

11/07/2024

"Dance before the music is

over. Live before your life 

is over." Hippie Zenlighten

Methinks this dear heart 

was sending a message 

straight to moi!

I've ever and always had 

my own secret dances . . .

and I have lived, oh how

I have lived!

Having said that, I find

aging can tend to move 

one's self into a more 

contemplative mode.

Right or wrong, I tend to 

do my living in front of 

the fireplace, in the pages

of a good book, in the

glory of a fab meal and

drowning in delight in

wondrous conversations.

Obviously, there's naught

wrong with that. Still, not

to forget dancing whilst

living in any manner one

chooses . . .

 . . . there are, after all,

many kinds of dancing!

11/06/2024

"Hardships often prepare

ordinary people for an

extraordinary destiny."

~C.S. Lewis

Obviously, we all have

experienced and endured

hardships of different kinds.

We know what it's like to 

be out of work, have a half

empty fridge, suffer illness,

lose a loved one.

We all have experienced

joy as well . . . that 

unexpected raise, a long-

awaited pregnancy, a small 

lotto win, our children's 

achievements.

So I would ask, why is it

human nature to focus on

our hardships rather than

our wins? Surely, the least

we could do would be both!

Think I'm going to go all

out and make that supreme

effort to focus on my wins.

Wish me luck . . .

11/05/2024

"They who dream by day 

are cognizant of many 

things which escape those 

who dream only at night." 

~Edgar Allan Poe

I may as well admit it . . . 

as everyone already knows 

this about me. I am indeed 

a daydreamer.

I remember as a child . . .

my father would say, "Get

your head out of the clouds,

Linda-Dale."

My parents would have to

call me more than once as 

I tended to be off in Never,

Never Land.

Not sure if it's a personality

trait, a coping mechanism 

or a place I simply like to be.

My guess would be, probably

a bit of all three.

Methinks daydreaming is a 

gift from the gods. It allows

one to escape uncomfortable

situations. It's fab for planning.

Maybe even a different use

for the mind.

Obviously, 'tis not a place to

live. It's important to live life!

But, daydreaming has its place

and I indeed visit quite often!

11/04/2024

"We are mosaics. Pieces of

light, love, history, stars. Glued

together with magic and music

and words." ~Anita Krizzan

Any time I'm feeling down,

all I have to do is read some

Anita Krizzan. Be that the case, 

I should have one of her books

in every room!

Obviously, life isn't quite that

simple. There are genuine 

reasons for the downs, as I

tend to call them. Winter being

the obvious one for moi as I

have SAD.

So, adding insult to injury, my

guy tells me we got 8" - 10"

inches of the s-word last night.

I'm going to try and be brave!

I'll look out the window and 

say, "Praise God, we needed

the moisture!"

And it's true! We desperately

need the moisture and I am

going to try and be braver

this winter! SAD be damned.

Wish me courage . . . Where's

Anita when you need her?!

11/03/2024

"Shall I cook, clean or  

do the grocery shopping? 

Okay, reading it is."

Crazy Book Lady

Once Days of the Dead

have passed, I like to think 

of November as a month

all about gratitude . . .

And indeed, I'm certain I'll

have my days as such. Still,

I'm feeling all wintery. And

yes, I do know it's autumn. 

So, how to cope? Dealing

with the cold and dark days,

snowy weather, reading it is.

I find moi treating myself to

old faves. Then I try a few

new ones on for size. I like

reading all the books I have

by one author and then going

on to another.

Should the gods ever ask me

how I made it through winter

without killing myself or any

one else, the answer will ever

and always be . . .

 . . . by reading!

11/02/2024, Día de los Muertos, Adultos Perdidos

Today, I honor my ancestors.

The altar is beautiful, these

old framed black and whites

of my parents, grandparents,

and greats are ever so sweet.

I recall stories told by my 

father. He loved his gran so

much. I know I too, was 

ever so lucky to have known 

all my grands. Lucky as well, 

to have heard dad's tales of 

the greats.

I like looking at the photos

as I place them on the table.

Old style, of course. Small,

black and white and not

taken as closeups. Still, I 

see magic there.

I know I am ever so lucky

to have spent 20 formative

years in Olde Mexico. So

love me the many traditions

taught me. Still, some of the

absolute best surround the

Days of the Dead.

Most wondrous . . .

 - - -

November 2nd is dedicated

to those adults; family and

friends, who have passed

before us.

11/01/2024, Día de los Muertos, Niños Perdidos

Just imagine, today all 

Latin American countries

will be celebrating The 

Day of the Dead.

These sacred days begin

on October 31, Samhain.

November 1st will honor

those small children we

have lost to Mr. Death.

You will find our homes

with decorated altars . . .

Marigolds are a must and

might just explain all the

colors of orange found.

Photographs of our much

morned children, as well

as gifts of food and coin

will adorn the altars.

Some will find jocularity

questionable. Know that 

has to do with mocking

Mr. Death. We turn our 

fears into rising to the

occasion and laughing 

in the face of he who has

caused us such pain.

Stories will be told, many

a tear shed . . . But know

this, We love our children

lost and pray they are safe!