Considering the weather, drizzly and cloudy, and the age of my grandson, five rambunctious years old, the dreaded “what do we do today?” hung heavy in the moist and dismal air the morning we sat bored, on the well-worn couch in the living room of my working daughter, as we contemplated the long day ahead. …
Category: Relationships
Life with a Dog
“The dog is the perfect portrait subject. He doesn’t pose. He isn’t aware of the camera.” Patrick Demarchelier The adorable pulchritude of a furry golden retriever regally relaxed in the chair, knowingly staring into the lens with an air of passionate sincerity, ears forward, gazing innocently with coal-black pools of endearment. In the fullness of…
On the Road Again
January 2nd: We have packed up the necessaries and the dog and are departing on our Winter 2017 cross country trip to see the Grandson who will be one January 17th. Much has happened in the past year with lots of travel but these are my favorite trips. Camping types in the RV sites are…
The Demographic
The Demographic As a Baby Boomer, I have always been part of the gargantuan bubble drum rolling through the chaos of the past decades. Continuing to move through life’s developmental stages with many of the other now 60 plus year old aging hippies is no different. As senior citizens, we are in abundance. Ironically the tasks of our development…
Today is the last day I will be thinking of that sweet little boy as my baby. Tomorrow night we will be sharing our last meal in Los Angeles, with his fiancé. The next day 150 people will descend on Los Olivios, CA for his wedding. How does time move along so steadily to stages…
Progressively Falling Apart
Are we progressively falling apart, or less dramatically, is the more significant question “what really is aging?” In the last year I have had three surgeries that required anesthesia. Friends of mine have had breast cancer, melanoma, falling incidents, accidents, and broken bones. Harrumph…is this what getting older is all about? Progressive frailty is a reality…
Making Lefse
I am not Norwegian. Just so that is said upfront. My family by marriage is and very proud of it. Lefse is a Norwegian traditional bread. Don’t mistake Lefse (bread usually eaten with butter and sugar) for Lutifisk (fish dried in lye with a strong odor, and tastes just awful). Here is our family matriarch at…
Wednesdays
I began to work many years ago and my job involved interactions and sometimes very stressful conversations and lengthy discussions with people, employees, government officials, and unhappy folks. At that point in my life, I pretty much gave up idle chatter. Therein lies one of the challenges of retirement — there are no colleagues…
Dad
Today is a day to remember fathers. Not all are created equal and some did not choose to be fathers or stick around to finish the process. Many have and will continue to be nurturing, supportive, and loving dads. My dad was not a perfect man. He was a good man. Born in 1911, he…
Life Gets Better 