Aging brings a subtle but growing need for harmony in relationships. Relatives and friends are still who they are, but peaceful coexistence in life is the primary goal for me. It is easy to accumulate stressful moments and life-changing events instigated by the most important people in our lives. The challenge is what to store…
Category: Retirement
Home Renovation Journey: From Remote Planning to Complete Transformation
Having moved into a house from across the country, sight-unseen, we had to have lots of work completed by picture sharing and text, and our new financial buddy…Zelle. When I arrived, the incredibly revolting arched mirrors with crown molding framing over the bed in the bedroom were all removed, as were the ceiling mirrors and…
Gentle Chair Exercises: A Senior’s Guide to Daily Fitness
Sustaining a healthy lifestyle is more than just an idea, it has to be a routine. I walk about 1 1/2 miles early. I needed more to keep me going through the day. As a senior, mature individual, I know that floor yoga is not an option. Foot, arm, and neck surgeries limit my exercise…
Shades of Blue: A Comfortable and Easy Clothing Style
To make my life easy, I stick to shades of blue. This makes clothing selection easy, and there is little anxiety when staring into the closet. I wear loose-fitting soft fabrics for my pants and a cool shirt for my top. Sometimes, I select a print, and other times, I coordinate shades of blue. In…
Managing Leisure Time in Retirement: My Journey with Reading – Is it a Waste of Time?
Since I retired, time has been there, hanging around and needing to be filled. Work organized my mind and my day; now, it is up to me. Never a slacker, I manage to over-organize my time and don’t waste it. Reading has been my passion and my friend since I was a young child. As…
Washington Post and Rights of Students with Disabilities: My field has moved back, not forward.
To say I was let down would be an exaggeration. I waited with great hopes for the Panel Discussion on the current chaotic state of the education of students with disabilities and the lack of implementation of the requirements of the IDEA (Individuals with Disabilities Education Act). The panel discussants were eloquent, polished in their…
Childhood Tale: Unveiling My First Crush in Fifth Grade
Confined to a parochial school for the first four years of school, through subtle but effective misbehavior (incessant chatter), I was asked to relocate to a public school (hahaha). In awe the first day, I entered fifth grade, not knowing what to expect. The class size was only 30, compared to 60 my prior school.…
Embracing Retirement: Overcoming Challenges and Rediscovering Passions
Retirement sometimes bring a strange mix of morning emotions. When I worked I woke at 4:45 every day with energy and a “can’t wait” approach to the day. I had long days, many challenges, and “work” friends I valued. Now, after 13 years of retirement, I awake and still wait for the “moment” of daily…
Getting too old for a puppy?
Having lost my 14-year-old dog two years ago, I felt a strong need for loving dog companionship. When I mentioned this to my family members, everyone was skeptical. Most of them don’t live in my home except my spouse. My veterinary daughter was supportive but also expressed some concerns and raised many issues. My other…
Parental Affection Across Generations: A Personal Reflection
Did your parents hug you? A lot? Never? Only on special occasions? After spending the weekend with my 8 year old grandson I realized that he was okay with hugging me. As a Grammy I want to be hugged repeatedly and in a hard embrace. This is new to this generation, from my experience. I…
