08/31/2025

"Your purpose isn't to gain

the approval of the world,

but to be a light in it."

Ancient Pagan Roots

Having taught high school

for 40 years, my heart just

hurt when I saw most all of

the young people following

the crowd, trying to fit in.

Obviously, there were a few

different crowds on could

try to join . . . the stoners,

the athletes, the cools, etc.

But, there was usually one

who fit no where, sat alone

in the cafeteria and most

likely rued his existence. 

With all my heart, I wish

we could teach our children

to simply be themselves!

Blessed be . . .

08/30/2025

"Solitude isn't loneliness.

It's a kind of communion -

with self, with land, with

life itself." WW Sisterhood

Indeed solitude is priceless.

Yet I would have to say, it's

a bit difficult to lay hands 

on. Today's world is busy,

busy, busy!

Perhaps every generation

feels the same. Still, I find

said phenomenon when we

go out. Walk into a grocery

store, a Walmart, and I just

want to make a run for it.

Conclusions, snag every

moment you can. And, if

there are none to be found,

plan!

Seems a bit rich to plan

solitude time, but if that's

what it takes, so be it!

08/29/2025

"The best time to call

me is a text message."

~CWpoet

Saw this . . . soooo 

made me laugh.

I really only us my

phone four times a

month . . . to call my

daughter at the weekend.

I've shared before . . .

-First phone, a party line,

when I was ten and not

allowed to use it.

-Second phone, at 40 

when I returned to US.

No need to repeat any 

more deets. It's simply 

that I never was in a

position to get used to

phones.

Don't know whether to

laugh or cry when I see

people driving, dividing

their time 'twixt that and

their cell.

My old phone is a flip,

so best way to get me is

via e-mail. That's about

as far as my techno-know

how goes . . . 

alas . . .

08/28/2025

"I hope to arrive to my

death late, in love, and

a little drunk. ~Atticus

Crazy as it may seem, 

we oldsters do ponder 

the inevitable in our 

latter years.

I know it drives our kids

and younger generations

a bit crazy. Still, bears

thinking about a tad.

I would have to confess,

I fall into this category 

of pondering my future. 

-Can't help but wonder

if there is an afterlife?

-Is there per chance a

return to this life with

better chances this time

around?

-Is there a heaven and

a hell?

One can ponder, believe,

hope. But bottom line,

it is what it is and we'll

just have to wait and see.

Bright blessings . . .

08/27/2025

"I am a quiet wild.

Few will ever see 

the madness in me.

Like a wildfire on the

dark side of the moon."

~A. Shea

Looking back over the

years, I can see those

different sides of me . . .

. . . the teenage persona,

the loving mother, the

responsible teacher, the

fun FACer, the risk taker.

So, here I am at a hundred

years old, retired, living

in this tiny, tiny cabin . . .

. . . I'm trying to ascertain

who it is I've landed in my

old age.

I like our lives here in the

woods, the sitting outdoors,

sipping the naughties and

quieting my soul.

I can't help but wonder 

if this is all there is and 

if indeed, I am content.

Learning to live in the

moment is what I'm up 

to now. Not as easy as

it sounds . . .

08/26/2024

"One of the most important

things you can do on this

earth is to let people know

they are not alone."

~Shannon L. Alder

I so bless those who bother . . .

the odd card in the mail, a

quick note on e-mail, a call

on the phone, a visit!

During our working years,

we see people everyday. 

There's FAC after work,

lunch out, notes and calls.

Thinking particularly of

retirees, there's adapting to

be done. Unless you're a

goer, you rarely see people.

I'm one of the lucky ones.

Friends visit at the weekend,

daughter calls every Sunday,

son visits twice a month.

Not everyone has this . . .

So remember, make that call,

send a card! 'Twill be more

appreciated than you can ever

imagine!

08/25/2025

Last night I dreamt . . .

I was living in my old

home, taking care of my

mom. 

Feeling exhausted beyond

belief, it was a true pleasure 

to be invited by my bestie 

to go on a special outing.

She insisted that I be home

and she would pick me up.

She arrived, coming up my

driveway in a moped. I was

beyond tickled pink!

Just putting on my shoes, 

my little bro stepped outside.

She asked him if we were

going out today and he said

no.

Obviously, he was referring

to himself. I dashed outside

just as she was turning 

around and speeding away.

My grief was so intense I 

was completely unable to 

stop sobbing. At some point

she was there, trying to

console me, but I simply

could not contain my grief.

When I awoke, my heart

still hurt . . . what could

this dream been trying to

tell me?

08/24/2025

Outside last afternoon

with our pals, when all

of a sudden, deluge . . .

It all began with marble

size hail. The thing is, it

literally pounded hail out

of the sky and it didn't 

end 'til the ground was

literally covered in white.

No land to be seen, only

a carpet of hail.

Then it began to rain. I

really should say pour. It

rained so hard it was more

than a bit scary. Again,

neither of us had ever seen

it rain so hard and for so

long.

We have little rivers all

over the yard and parking

area. Mother Nature sure

pulls it out from time to

time.

I'm ever in awe . . .

08/23/2025

A sweet invite to sit in the

sun . . . and a special red

to go with. Bless his heart!

Whilst wine was breathing, 

he apologizes for having

been in such a bad mood.

He goes on to tell me he's 

been suffering from a bad

headache all day.

We share a small glass and

begin to enjoy the afternoon

watching our pet critters hit

the pond and scamper about.

At some point I asked him

how his headache was faring.

He growled back that he did

not have a headache, never

had one and didn't know 

what I was talking about.

Oh the joys of aging . . .

Let the fun begin!

08/22/2025

"Dream until your dreams

come true." ~Red

I wonder sometimes if we

oldsters either forget to

dream or give up on dreams.

Methinks our entire lives

are spent dreaming, making

dreams come true, dreaming

both night and day.

So, when was it we actually

stopped dreaming?

Was it when we turned 70, 

75, 80? Did we ask ourselves,

"What's the point? Life is

almost over for me anyway."

Dreaming can be healthy for

the soul. If we've given up

on dreaming, start small.

-Dream about a dish you'd 

like to taste again . . . and

make it! 

-Dream about someone you

miss and would like to see.

Invite them over for drinks

and snacks if you're too 

tired to cook.

-Dream about somewhere

you'd like to visit and go

there. It need not be far.

Then, as you relearn to enjoy

these smaller dreams, maybe

go for slightly bigger!

Dream on . . .

08/21/2025

"it takes courage to grow 

up and become who you

really are." ~ee cummings

One of the great loves of

my life . . .

I found him and fell in love 

with him when I was 10ish. 

We lost him when I was 12. 

Rather broke my heart.

Even as a little kid, I got such

a kick out of his dislike for

capital letters and his refusal

to use them. One of the tales

told out of school was that he

bashed them in on his own

typewriter.

Now that I'm about a hundred

and 75, I understand what he

says in the above quote. If

anything in this life requires

courage, it would be the

courage to become.

Bright blessings . . .

 - - -

ee cummings was an American

poet, painter, essayist, author

and playwright. He wrote approx

2,900 poems, 2 autobiographical

novels, four plays and several

essays. 1894 - 1962 Wikipedia

08/20/2025

"Light is an invitation to

happiness. That happiness,

when done right, is a kind

of holiness, palpable and

redemptive." ~Mary Oliver

Sooooo loving the summer

sun! 'Tis as if the Universe

itself is embracing us.

I find spending afternoons

outside is one of the most

healing things I've ever come

across. And I am grateful!

I probably shouldn't say this,

but that yummy marg in my

hand is awfully nice as well!

08/19/2025

"I remember the story of 

the old man who said on 

his deathbed that he'd had a 

lot of trouble in his life, most 

of which had never happened."

~Winston Churchill

God in heaven, why, oh why

do we do this to ourselves?!

It's like we worry before,

during and after! And, I'm 

as culpable as anyone else.

Sooooo wish I could learn 

to live in the moment and

not worry about things until

they actually happen!

Another thing I don't get, we

know this and still fall into

the trap of worry.

I keep saying I want to learn

something new . . . how about

learning not to worry unless

absolutely necessary!!!