Living in a community that is populated with what we now call more mature residents, few have dogs. Some family members do bring their dogs, especially the younger ones, and there are a few Millenials hanging about with pets. My three children counseled against getting a dog, especially the young and small puppy I was…
The Wind
The wind has taken over…three days of unrelenting gusts to 45 mph and what is euphemistically called a “windy day on the desert floor!” Living at the ocean had breezy days. Heavy winds occurred when there was a nor’easter, which was not all that frequent. Here, multiple warm, windy days can occur, often without warning.…
Back to My Organized Life
Unexpectedly, an opportunity to relocate from Ocean City, Maryland, on the east coast, to Rancho Mirage, California, on the west coast, emerged like a welcoming call to return to an area of my life that I thoroughly enjoyed. In 1972 I moved to Hermosa Beach and began an amazing and tumultuous period of my life…
On the Road Day #2
Some days the road is just that — a road. Made the travel journey on Route 58 from Davis Lakes, Virginia to Hope Mills, NC. Passing the cotton gins and cotton fields brought back visions of Southern movies. The Bluff Mill was built in 1841 and remained through out the Civil War and remains today…
The Traditional Summer Visit
Precious grandchild…a gift to enjoy as we age. Grandchildren are fun, no matter what the stage. Engaging through words and games, and hugs and kisses. The time we spend is never a strain. I wish for their lives, they stay forever young, Engaging, spontaneous, and seeking life. If only I could live to see their…
Maintaining a Long-Lasting Relationship
http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2022/02/11/well/strengthen-relationships.html Ever wonder how, even as we are in later stages of a relationship, love and life can remain filled with a living and vital love? As I have aged I wonder if this will be my last relationship and if so, how can I make it and me feel better. Long term relationships can…
Is Mistletoe Our Own Tradition?
Actually I never realized the ugly balls hanging off of the dead trees driving west were mistletoe balls. Walking through the desert, the mesquite was succumbing to clumps of mistletoe. All I ever knew of mistletoe was the tiny twig of greenery hanging from a light fixture or the center of the door frame at…
Holidays Remembered
The most wonderful time of the year! Yes, the reminiscences flow from the corners of our hearts. Our accumulated memories and treasured ornaments followed through many moves and lives. Each year we would gently unwrap each ornament, remembering what it symbolized, who made the family treasures, and the years of traditions, family, and friends. My…
Appreciating the End of the Day
Employment brings a treasured and well-earned end of a long day! Retirement requires a re-look at all routines and new way to value many aspects of life. Living at the beach has provided a much-appreciated beauty with changing sunsets, nearly every day and every season. It is a double entendre for our lives…as our life will be sun-setting…
Looking Back on Cherished Holiday Traditions
Always one to appreciate the many traditions of the season, decorating remains my most cozy memory with my family. As traditionalists we did not display or light the decorations until the Friday after Thanksgiving. Of course, we started with the outdoor lights, decorating the front bushes, and hanging lights along the gutters. Waiting until dark to adjust the…
Life Gets Better 