11/30/2025

"A major part of inner

peace is realizing what

is genuinely within your

zone of control and then

letting everything else go."

~Yung Pueblo

Inner peace is something

I have ever longed for.

I actually don't believe 

inner peace is something 

easily obtained. Methinks

'tis the search of a lifetime.

I wonder, frankly, how it

is achieved. Obviously,

there's meditation, long

walks, critical thinking.

Again, the search of a life

time. I pray I am gifted

this achievement ere I die.

Blessed be . . .

11/29/2025

'Twas our first snow

last night. In fact, it

snowed all night long.

Sometimes lightly and

sometimes harshly.

'Tis the true beginning

of winter per my own

judgement. First snow,

first day of winter.

I so pray I make it thru

this winter. Saw my doc

on Wed and she gave me

my usual prescription for

SAD, Seasonal Affective

Disorder. 

I find myself scared with

this particular onset of

the dark months.

I pray angels abound! 

11/28/2025

'Tis morning of the day

after and I must say, we

had us a hell of a day!

So much fun!!!

Although invited to TG

with the children, we

decided to do a stay at

home instead.

We chose some fun flicks

to watch. Ate pure nonsense

in bed. Shared a bottle of

red. Took in the p.m. games.

And slept the sleep of the

saints.

Now just tell me, does that

sound like fun or what?! I

sooooo love being naughty!

Planning to be more so . . .

11/27/2025, TG Day

So love waking up and

instantly recalling 'tis

Thanksgiving Day!

It's 25° and we don't

have any plans . . .

Our hearts are with our 

children, all in different 

places. And as we each 

have four, that's a lot of 

 places!

Today, I find myself more

thankful than ever as TG

is a reminder after all.

   -our children

   -friends and fam

   -decent health

   -hearth and home

   -daily sustenance 

   -travel mode

   -memories ahoy . . .

We intend to spend the

day quietly. Await and

see what it brings . . .

Happiest of all TGs to

you!

11/26/2025, TG Eve

Ramblings ahoy . . .

I'd like to spend some time

thinking about the morrow,

what I am truly thankful

for.

Still, seems all I can think 

about would be this pending 

p.m. doc visit I have today. 

The term, one track mind 

seems somehow appropriate.

Actually, methinks the 

practice of daily gratitude 

is the most meaningful. 

And yes, I do appreciate 

the once a year reminder.

Right now, I'm grateful I'm

alive at 176 years of age 

even if it's only 17° outside.

Dying on the vine here . . .

11/25/2025

"What I want in my life

is to be willing to be

dazzled." ~Mary Oliver

Oh yes! YES! Y E S !!!

So love me some Mary

Oliver. She ever and 

always reminds us of

what needs recalling!

Adding to this sentiment,

one of the things I love

about being older is I pay

attention to small things

I may have overlooked

in the past. Or, maybe

simply taken for granted.

That cute bunny in my

yard. A thank you note

from my recycle guy

for the treat I left him.

Although a sleepless

night, grateful to be

alive rather than the

alternative!

Best word reminders . . .

Live! Be thankful!!

Enjoy the small things!!!

11/24/2025

"Life is all about balance.

Balance is not something

you find ... it's something

you create."

~muses from a mystic

If you know me . . . 

you know I'm fond of 

saying, I'm the most 

unbalanced Libra I've

ever met!

Indeed, Libra is all about

balance . . . the seeking

of it, the maintaining of

it, the keeping of it.

I've come to accept, over

the years, that balance is a

most unlikely achievement

for moi!

Therefore, a look-see into

the value of imbalance is

might just be important.

Imbalance gives a different

perspective. 'Tis a chance 

to experience the other side 

of those things we usually

seek.

Actually, experiencing 

that other side helps one 

to appreciate both in one 

way or another.

So yes, seeking balance

is important . . . but let's

not forget the other side . . .

Imbalance has much to

teach us.

11/23/2025

"Courage doesn't always

roar. Sometimes courage

is a quiet voice at the end

of the day saying, "I will

try again tomorrow."

~Mary Anne Radmacher

So love me those bits and

pieces of wisdom found

in odd and unusual places!

Always wonder if 'tis my

guardian angel sending me

just what I need to hear.

I find courage in the most

unusual places. Sometimes

witnessing acts of courage

inspire my own.

Bottom line, look and see!

There are moments of valor

out there that need to be

witnessed.

I fear we come to a point

where we look without

seeing . . . oh, what a loss!

11/22/2025

"Start where you are.

Use what you have.

Do what you can."

~Arthur Ashe

Methinks these words

are perfect! Simple,

doable, achievable!

I often tend towards

the complicated, the

complex. Heaven

forbid I should ever

go for the easy!

Pondering here . . .

Actually, I have a good

idea that I've spent my

entire life looking for

ways to complicate

things.

Is this simply a human

malady or is it an ld

thing?! One way or

another, bears thinking

about!

11/21/2025

"Be too much. Be extra.

Live large. Smile big. 

Laugh hard. Celebrate

yourself. Open your heart. 

Express your emotions. 

Use your words. Giggle.

Dance. Soak in the sun.

Breathe deep and love

your life. You only get 

one." ~WWS

These daily reminders

are indeed priceless. 

Not quite certain why 

the written word impacts

me so much, but it does.

There are times when I

think I should read this

particular post at the

beginning of each and

every day!

Scary to me how easy it

is to simply exist rather

than actually live! These

words, these precious,

precious words, remind . . .

Don't just exist! Live!!!

11/20/25

"Don't get stuck on the

one thing that ruins your

day. Life is too short to

waste on negativity."

~Quote Remedy

Can't help but wonder

why we tend towards 

the negative anyway?!

I've known some peeps

who are so positive I

just want to tell them 

to tone it down a tad!!!

On the other hand, I've

known those who are so

negative, I've had to say

the same thing to them.

Can't help but wonder

which category I tend 

to fall in?!

Think I'll just work on

being a tad more upbeat . . .

Let's party 'til it's over!!!

Right?!

11/19/2025

"Positive people are not

ignoring the darkness of

this world. They have

dragged themselves

painfully into the light &

are choosing to share it

w/you." ~Donna Ashworth

So love me this sentiment.

Just what I needed to start

the day!

Truly making the effort 

down Positive Lane. Alas, 

there are days and times 

when I still fail to rise to 

the occasion.

Nigh onto a hundred years

old here, I do know that not 

all days are filled with love 

and light, as it were. Need

to accept whatever presents

itself, one way or another.

Still, I know it matters to

strive for the positive. I try

to tease myself out of my

own dark side. Obviously,

I have much to be thankful

for.

Today, I am grateful for . . .

   -life and limb

   -my children and friends

   -my mind hanging in there

Must ever and always make

the effort to remember . . .

11/18/2025

~!@#$%^&*()_+?/`\

Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr . . .

What a day! Sooooo

NOT kidding!!! I'm

obviously on a rant

here. You'd do well

to just scroll on by!

Drove to Hell and back

to get my meds and

they wouldn't give them

to me.

Turns out my doc is

moving back to Canada

and wasn't there so I

was you know what

out of luck!

Had to choose a new

dos, make an appt and

leave w/naught!

Home Depot was next.

Unbelievable! They

were charging just shy

of $500 for a screen

door to replace the

broken one. No can do!

Got lost on the way

home! Still made it.

Sooooo need to lose

and/or forget yesterday.

11/17/2025

Sooooo enjoy being here . . .

aches and pain no matter!

Love seeing and sharing

with fam and friends;

make no mistake!

What I'm finding hard 

to deal with is many of 

my partners in crime are

passing onto the better 

life.

Part of me says, "Why 

so young?" And, another

part of me says, "Why

didn't you take me with

you?"

Ever so glad they didn't

as I'm not ready to go

just yet.

Said goodbye to a dear

one this early morn . . .

Most wondrous that she 

is returning in a couple 

of months.

I need a respite from

all the death and doom

for at least a forte night.

11/16/2025

"She may have a wild soul,

but she's a lover of simple

things and quiet places."

~Goddess Love

Caught my eye . . .

Days were when indeed

my soul was wild, make 

no mistake. But now . . .

 . . . as the missive says, 

I've always loved simple 

things and quiet places.

Perhaps 'tis as it should

be, the wild in the early

years, the quiet in the

elder years.

For now, I am loving

this quiet time of my 

life. I pray I have several 

more years of the same!

Bright blessings . . .

11/15/2025

One of the things I love

about being a hundred

years old is watching

our children!

They wow me every

single day, make no 

mistake! By having 

and sharing our eight, 

we get to see the world 

from so man different

perspectives.

   -artist, musician

   -bravery, wisdom

   -entrepreneur, fab dad

   -wise beyond her years

   -trying new things

   -change in life style

   -serving his country

   -mom, life, worker

Frankly, I'm so proud

I could spit . . . my

absolute highest accolade. 

Doesn't this mean I had

to have been a phenom

mom?!

11/14/2025

"Gratitude is the key that

unlocks the doorway to

happiness." ~Chunyí Lín

Methinks herein lies the

secret to everything . . .

There are days I am so

overcome with gratitude.

Others, I'm so annoyed

with life's little mishaps

I forget to be grateful.

Actually, I've come to

believe that 'tis gratitude

that makes the difference

in our lives.

I swear, I'm going to make

it a point to recognize all

my blessings, be grateful

for them and forget any

thing else I seem to think

I need.

   -fam and friends

   -hearth and home

   -food and margs

Who needs anything more?

And yes, I am grateful . . .

11/13/2025

"Whenever you are creating

beauty around you, you are

restoring your own soul."

~Alice Walker

Sooooo love beauty . . . 

Still, I imagine my view is

quite dif from that of others.

-that off sunset I didn't expect

-a mom being patient w/kids

-an unforeseen card in the mail 

-a phone call from my babes

-shekels found on my dresser

In fact, I rarely stop to think

of facial or bod beauty. Can't

help but wonder if it doesn't

have something to do w/age.

Bottom line . . . we are all

beautiful at different points

in our lives. 

We have that rare opportunity 

to see it in others and feel

inspired.

So love me some inspiration!

Don't you?!

11/12/2025

"Cherished moments

with your favorite people

is one recipe for a joyous

life." ~Anita Opper

I've only just experienced

this once again . . .

Been sick as the proverbial

dog since the weekend. I've

received thoughtful e-mails, 

phone calls and even a visit

from my neighbors.

Trying not to hold my breath,

but I pray today or tomorrow

begins the healing process,

the end in sight.

Haven't a clue where this all

came from. I haven't even

been naughty! My loss . . .

11/11/2025

Hello, sun

in my face.

Hello, you who

made the morning

And spread it

over the fields...

Watch, now,

how I start the day

In happiness,

in kindness.

~Mary Oliver

Already longing for

Mr. Sun and the heat

of the day. 

Why is it that winter

begins even before fall

ends?!

Methinks, having SAD,

Seasonal Affect Disorder

I've earned the right to 

be ever so naughty.

Perhaps this winter, I'll 

get even by misbehaving!

Several things come to

mind.

I'll let you know so you

can join me in fun and

games . . . Ha!

11/10/2025

Alas, methinks aging is

finally catching up w/me.

Whole bod aches, demands

attention, but not sure what

to do. May have to break

down and take some pain

meds. Damn!

Going to the doc this morn.

I think she may be 16 and

most likely will just take 

me out back and shoot me.

Maybe our final years are

all about smiling whilst

enduring. 

Yikes . . .

Please note: avoiding all

other expletives!!! Prob

ready for sainthood by

now!

11/09/2025

"The highest for of

knowledge is empathy,

for it requires us to

suspend our egos and

live in another's world."

~Plato

Empathy is an amazing

gift . . .

The life of an empath is

not an easy one. Feeling

others' pain, helping all

who come their way. It

has to be exhausting both

mentally and physically.

The most difficult thing

for an empath is to turn

off those feelings derived

from others. Alas, 'tis an

achievement I've yet to

learn.

Today I wish to honor my

sister empaths. It's a hard

journey and one you didn't

ask for.

In times of doubt, just recall

you've helped ever so many . . .

11/08/2025

"We don't see things as

they are, we see things

as we are." ~Anais Nin

This is a thought I have

never really considered . . .

It makes sense if you

think about it. Methinks

needs some pondering.

Come to think about it, 

I don't see it matters if 

I look at things from my

perspective. 'Tis the space

where I live, after all!

Perhaps, I'll select some

brushes and paints from 

my satchel and see if I

can paint my world even

more aka Linda-Dale . . .

11/07/2025

"Your bravery is beyond

beautiful, but it is sad

how often you need it."

~A. Shea

All of us know what it is

to try to be brave in hard,

hard times! I also know

this pertains to both men

and women.

There is a part of me that

wishes I hadn't needed to

be brave so often in my

own life. Or, well pleased

that those hard times indeed 

have made me stronger.

We all need to be strong,

stay strong . . . all the time!

But, there's a part of me

that wishes for a time out,

as it were.

I'd simply like to rest for

a little while . . . what? 

You too?! I sooooo get it!

11/06/2025

 Alas . . .

 . . . no can do sleep!

I've finished my book.

I'm oh so comfortable

in my fave bed w/my

sweet guy.

And still sleep eludes

me . . .

My dad used to tell

me that on sleepless

nights my angel was

most likely trying to 

give me a message. 

He suggested it might

be best were I to sit

up, go into my state

of meditation and

see if the message

would come through.

Even tonight, dad's

words come to mind.

And, it's not that I'm 

a sceptic. It's just I

haven't talked to my

angel in a long time.

Bears pondering;

make no mistake . . .

11/05/2025

"In fifteen minutes it'll

be tomorrow." ~S & S

So love me this silly

quote!

Night after night, I lay

awake, trying my hardest

to doze off. Never seems

to happen 'til around mid-

night . . .

. . . Hence, I find myself

recalling this quote.

An aside . . .

. . . Rather wish someone

would kick me out of bed

and tell me to go read a

book or something!!!

Guess that would be . . .

wayyyyy tooooo easy!!!

11/04/2025

Sooooo, who the hell

am I now?

   -I remember the sweet,

little child. The one who

lived to help her 'lil bro.

   -I recall the student, so

many years in the making.

Loved ever minute of it.

   -I love the mother in me.

Oh, my beautiful children!

All eight of them!

   -I honor the teacher in me.

41 years of pure joy. Best

career choice ever!

   -Even proud of caring for

my mom for three and a 

half years. Hardest job I

ever did; make no mistake!

But, who am I now? Now

that I'm retired, living in a 

tiny 145 year old cabin and

nearly that old myself?!

I've lost me somehow and 

I need to get her back . . .

My heart hurts!

11/03/2025

November always catches

me out . . .

Goes from Days of the 

Dead to honoring our 

thankful hearts on TG.

I need to take a look at

anything happening in

between.

So looking forward to

Wednesday . . . 'tis to be

the biggest and brightest

full moon of the year! 

And here's moi, a lunatic

to end all loonies!!!

I also like to honor Vet's

day. Coming from a military

fam 'tis within my preview.

Can hardly wait to see what

else comes along!

11/02/2025, Honrando a los Adultos Difuntos

Tal vez se supone que 

el día de hoy es un tanto 

menos difícil que ayer. 

Claro, siendo que cuando

menos los adultos hayan

vivido sus años. Los nenes

no tuvieron la oportunidad.

Para mí, el día es difícil

porque celebro a mi padre,

el gran amor de mi vida.

Le debo a él todo lo que

he sido o he ganado en 

esta vida.

Por otro lado, sé que es

importante que recordemos

a nuestros amados. Y claro

sé que no solo el día de hoy

les recordamos.

Mañana guardaremos los

altares, entre lágrimas y

recuerdos. Espero en Dios

que nuestros antepasados

descansen en paz . . .

11/01/2025, Honrando a los Niños Perdidos

Hoy para mí, es aún más

triste ya que celebramos

a los nenes que hemos

perdido.

Mi propia familia también 

ha perdido . . .  desde el 

fallecimiento de mi carnal

Samuel hasta mis nietecitos. 

Obviamente, hay mucha

tristeza en el tribu Latino.

Lo que me conmueve mucho

es el valor con que enfrenten

sus pérdidas. Y, hasta celebran

sus vidas.

Claro que honro a nuestros

niños perdidos. Pero hoy, 

también honro a las madres

y los padres que han sufrido

estas pérdidas tan difíciles.

Ruego que haya consolación

para todos . . .