08/13/2021 - Friday the 13th

I have always gotten such a kick 

out of Friday the 13th! I can hardly 

wait to see what surprises the day

will bring! 

For starters, I'm having coffee on

by the pond with my bestie. I'm

also seeing an old friend I haven't 

laid eyes on in years. 

For me, the  best part of the day is 

I'm getting my 12th wild cat tattoo 

this afternoon . . . only one more 

to go and I'll have my 13 cats.

I have another two and I like them

but the 13 cats is my dream come

true. I'm trying to decide if I'll go

for Libra Scales. Not sure . . .

As Friday the 13th usually brings

a surprise or two to the table, I

have every intention of keeping 

a close lookout.

I sooooo feel the elation of the

day coming on!

what can this day bring

most as fun as halloween

pure trick or treat

08/12/2021

Survival mode is supposed to be a

phase that helps save your life. It

is not meant to be how you live.

~Michele Rosenthal

We've all been in survival mode

since the plague began. I'm at that

point of asking, "Will it never end?"

Alas, I fear we will become sooooo

accustomed to living the Covid way

that we'll never again embrace our

pre-pandemic days! 

Baby steps! I'm thinking along the

lines of getting out just a tad more.

Mask on and careful, but still . . .

I want to put the fear behind me

and learn to live, rather than exist,

once again.

So, maybe we don't hug in greeting

any more, and how I miss those hugs,

but bumping elbows, knuckles, is

important too. 

I swear, I'm not going to let Covid

win! I'm not going to allow it to

affect my entire life any more. I'm

going to return to life . . . 

 . . . albeit carefully!

trying to return

not sure i can find my way

asking directions

08/11/2021

I confess, I stalked her in the grocery 

store: her crown of snowy braids held 

in place by a great silver clip, her erect 

bearing, radiating tenderness, the way 

she placed yogurt and avocados in her 

basket, beaming peace like the North 

Star. I wanted to ask, "What aisle did 

you find your serenity in, do you know 

how to be married for fifty years, or how 

to live alone, excuse me for interrupting, 

but you seem to possess some knowledge 

that makes the earth burn and turn on its 

axis." But, we don't request such things 

from strangers nowadays. So I said, 

"I love your hair." ~Alison Luterman

From an early age, our parents have

counseled us not to talk to strangers,

as I did my own children. Yet, right

or wrong, I find myself saying more

to strangers than I ever did before.

I seem to feel freer to do so in my

elder years than I ever did when I 

was younger.

I suppose you could say that my

comments and remarks are along

the lines of compliments . . . "Fab

beard, stunning ring, great hairdo."

And once in a while, I'll go so far

as to say, "You have such a sweet

countenance." 

Seeing a kindness, I make an effort

to compliment the person. I find

people are often pleased with my

odd remarks. I sorrow that we can't

have more of the sweet and less of

the sour. 

Alas in today's world, we have to

be somewhat circumspect . . .

im the odd one out

no cookie cutter for me

come join in the fun

08/10/2021

How are you all faring with initials

communication? Try these examples

on for size. I don't know any of them!

1. ROF Rolling on the floor laughing.

2. STFU Shut the freak up.

3. LMK Let me know.

4. ILY I love you.

5. YOLO You only live once.

6. SMH Shaking my head.

7. LMFAO Laughing my freaking ass off.

8. NVM Never mind.

9. IKR I know, right.

10. OFC Of course.

I understand that texting is made faster

and easier with the use of initials. But,

what happens if you don't understand

them? IDK what I'd do! Guess I'd have

to text back and ask for a translation.

But then, I'd need to know how to text!

I have friends who end their e-mail

missives to me with LOL. I always

thought this meant Lots Of Love. Now,

I learn it means Laughing Out Loud.

Not quite sure why one would end a

missive with laughing out loud rather

than lots of love.

I can't decide if this has more to do 

with saving time on messaging or

distinguishing a difference between

the youngers and the olders.  See, I

can make up words too!!!

lets chat up sometime

language texts lingo nuance

communication 

08/09/2021

Which is more important," asked Big

Panda, "the journey or the destination?"

"The company." said Tiny Dragon.

~James Norbury

My cousin posted this bit of wisdom

today. A great message and a good

reminder! Indeed, we do tend to get 

so wrapped up in our daily do's and

don'ts that perhaps we forget that 

the company is the most important 

part of our journey!

I have ever and always delighted in

family and friends and honor those

who make the effort to stay close.

It's hard in today's world as we all

live so far apart. And we, the elder

generation have those issues with

travel.

Older ways of communication such

as Christmas cards, greeting cards,

hand written letters, have been re- 

placed with e-mail and smart phones.

And indeed, there's nothing wrong 

in growing with the times, as long as

we make the effort to stay in touch.

love you from afar

sending missives to your heart

ever missing you

08/08/2021

Days off and days on . . . isn't that what

retirement's all about?!

I prefer hitting the town for groceries,

gas and drinking water once a month. 

I prefer even more, going out for a meal 

afterwards! And, once in a great while, 

a cold one after putting all the gros away.

What I love about the remainder of days

is seeing friends, sitting outside, telling

tales out of school . . . a life worth living!

And never, ever forget the reading of a

delectable book!

The above mental meanderings through 

my easy days remind me of just how

much I enjoy life . . . especially the

aforementioned daily delights!

I need to find a way to not only recall

these joys, but to hang onto them at

every dark moment. Me thinks perhaps

'twill keep the baddies at bay!

remember the joys

forget the tribulations

pray live don't exist

08/07/2021

"Methinks, the lady doth protest too much."

~William Shakespeare

In pondering the thoughts on my blog spot

yesterday, I found old Willy whispering in

my ear. And indeed, I do tend to go on . . .

Maybe the trick to this life is, simply live

it, get on with it, stop obsessing about

every little thing! Me old dad used to say,

"You can ponder until the cows come 

home and it still is what it is!"

So, on the verge of 102 here, perhaps I

can learn this lesson yet! Just let life be

and get on with it. Obviously, one doesn't

have to dissect every little thing. Are you

listening, Linda-Dale?!

Another thing I've learned in my decades

is that one always reverts to type. You 

can make as many New Year's resolutions

as you like, but days later, 'tis same ole,

same ole!

It takes real, and I mean REAL, dedication

to change one's thinking and the habits of

a lifetime! I would like to learn this little

trick before I pass on to the better life!

Here's toasting analysis paralysis . . .

get out of my head

it dont pay to think too much

hold on to that thought

08/06/2021

It's ever and always the day after, 

isn't it?!

Summer is here; SADS should be over.

And, we've had such lovely times in our

yard, both with friends and on our own.

I've had the day from hell . . . so anxiety

ridden I could barely cope. I have to ask,

"What's this all about anyway?" I get it

when it's the dead of Winter, but so not

when it's, "summertime and the living is

easy!"

I am making an effort . . . Dale Carnegie's

Power of Positive Thinking, meditation,

eating and drinking even more carefully.

And, even nightmares are plaguing me!

I've about decided that I haven't sinned

enough to pay this price, sooooo . . . 

Who's up for some serious naughty?

I'm open to new ideas as well. Can't 

you just tell how angry I am?! I swear

I would blackmail the gods if I could!

Grrrrrrrrrrrrr . . . ~!@#$%^&*()_+ 

come sing me a song

rock a bye baby might work

color me wretched

08/05/2021

There is naught quite like enjoying ones'

adult children! It's rather like winning the

lotto or the sweepstakes! Gloating isn't

quite enough!

Hark back to those tender years of rearing

the children and all that this entailed. You

are trying to do the absolute best you can 

by your children. I am reminded of the old 

proverb . . .

"Train up a child in the way he should 

go and when he is  old, he will not 

depart from it." Proverbs 22:6

Yesterday, we shared tales out of school

over a bottle of red. My daughter-in-law

made the best Chili Rellenos and rice 

ever! I'm pretty persnickety about my 

rice, and it says a lot that I had two 

helpings.

We returned home the long way 'round,

chatting all the while about what a great

time we had. My guy even commented,

"We need to get together more often; I

had such a good time and the kids are

wonderful!" Wow! Not bad coming

from a stepdad, eh?

oh children of mine

the greatest reward ever

you make my heart sing

08/04/2021

"Parting is such sweet sorrow."

~Shakespeare

Alas, today marks the annual departure of

my high school friend. We were fortunate 

enough to reconnect just a few years ago, 

long after we had been scholastically 

connected.

I have always loved, and even idolized,

the concept of friendship . . . truly a

gift of the gods and I cherish it. In fact,

I find the entire journey of friendship 

absolutely fascinating.

Looking back, those tightly knit groups

in elementary, middle, high school and

college . . . each somewhat different

and yet, somewhat the same. It stands

to reason that as we grow and develop,

our tastes evolve as well.

Still, I can see a pattern 'mongst those

I am drawn to. Being somewhat an

eccentric myself, I enjoy those souls

who do not adhere to the cookie cutter

standard! Give me different, unusual,

gloriously strange! Pray, see that 

hidden compliment herein!

So goodbye, dear friend. I'm already

looking forward to seeing you next

summer. I can hardly wait . . .

so love me my friends

finding myself missing you

we will meet again

08/03/2021

Remembering . . . today, lo these many

moons ago, the father of my children

and I celebrated our marital union.

This time period represents 20 years of

my life, 20 years in old Mexico, 20 years

of exciting mystery! I wouldn't have

missed it for anything!

My husband was an amazing man! He 

was the best teacher I've ever had, barring

none! An amazing musician, semi-pro

soccer player; didn't I just say, amazing?!

He gave me the two greatest gifts I have

ever, or will ever, receive, my son and

my daughter. They are the light of my

life, joy at every turn, reason for living!

Alas, me thinks most of us have a past

that in the rememberings, bring us both

joy and sorrow . . . sometimes, even

anger. Perhaps, this is as it should be.

My younger self tended to dwell more

on the sorrow and anger. My older self

is learning the lesson of acceptance.

All the feelings that can be dredged up

do not change a single fact of what was.

Hence, I'm making a stab at recalling

the joys, and yes, there was a great deal

of that!

I am grateful for this day in my personal

history. It has brought me ever so much

I wouldn't have had otherwise . . .

taking a peek back

a priceless experience

wouldnt change a thing

08/02/2021

Not sure where the last seven months

went, but I know I'm simply wowed 

that we're in August . . . and there's

still 30 more days to enjoy!

I always loved August, the last days

of freedom before school began. I

come from that era where school

began on September 4th come hell

or high water.

So, August was the do or die month.

Camping, slumber parties, long hikes,

backpacking . . . cramming everything

imaginable into 31 days of what we

called PRE-school.

Now that I'm a hundred years old, I

still find myself planning all of the

things I can squeeze into the weeks

ahead. Only this time, it'll be picnics

rather than camping, parties instead

of sleepovers and lugging a purse

around, not a backpack!

So loving this weather! Anticipation

still ahead! God, I can hardly wait 

to see what naughties I can come up 

with. Feel free to join me . . .

lets cram in some fun

so loving me some august

going back to school

08/01/2021 - Lughnasadh

Lughnasadh is a Gaelic festival

marking the beginning off the

harvest season. Historically, it

was widely observed throughout

Ireland, Scotland, Isle of Man.

Wikipedia

Twenty one wondrous, wild women

found their way to the Sacred Circle

yesterday to celebrate Lughnasadh.

I simply found myself in a state of

joy as I looked around at the sharing,

reconnecting and true friendship that

I observed. Would that all sisters be

thus!

I marveled at the drumming ceremony

shared within the circle. Pure magick!

I loved the prayer weaving organized

and gifted by yet another sister. And,

the foods . . . oh my Goddess, I must

weigh five pounds more than when I

started!

Some of you will not know of what I

speak in the above. Know that when

you visit the cabin, we can talk of the

mysteries over a lovely bottle of red!

And just think, only six weeks to the

first day of Autumn on September 21.

much celebrations

the joys of mother nature

love and honor her