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 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 . . .