I once knew a woman who told me she took away her son’s cell phone to punish him – and then ended up having to buy a new one because she couldn’t remember where she hid it. I thought it odd at the time; after all, how could you possibly misplace something as valuable and important as a phone? Until I did it myself. I lost my cell phone and didn’t find it until…well, it’s kind of embarrassing, … [Read more...] about The Freezer That Rang (and Other Tales of Memory Loss)
Musings
Boston and Our Children
We baby boomers had relatively peaceful childhoods, with a relatively so-called optimistic view of the world. Of course, there are always those who might have had volatile home or other lives,...but I'm not talking about that. I'm referring to our overall feeling of security and peace. I'm sad for our children, and their children. (I don't want to go beyond this, because I'm trying to be … [Read more...] about Boston and Our Children
Will Arguments Never Cease: Stay-at-Home or Working Mother?
A quick prologue: When my boys were just entering their teens, I started taking writing workshops. While at a two-week intensive, I met a widely-published author I grew to respect. "I'm so envious of your success," I admitted to her after our wrap-up meeting lasting longer than it was supposed to. She paused, then threw me a look of what I remember to be a mixture of anger and regret. "And I envy … [Read more...] about Will Arguments Never Cease: Stay-at-Home or Working Mother?
Midlife Crisis? Strike That Phrase From the Dictionary.
Now that I’ve had a few years to settle into my so-called midlife, I have some bones to pick. There are those two words…so common to the boomer generation…that stick in my craw. (Okay, that expression should be struck, too.) I’ll admit there are some words that deserve to live together eternally. Like “King” and “Queen;” “Odds” and “Ends;” “Bread” and “Water.” “Wrinkles" and … [Read more...] about Midlife Crisis? Strike That Phrase From the Dictionary.
Who Needs Friends? We All Do – And Why.
My friendships have always sustained me. Even though I was quite a shy kid, I always managed to surround myself with good friends. In fact, good friends rank as high on the importance scale as do my husband and children. Yes, a lot of energy goes into my friendships—yet I have no doubt that this is a near-universal experience. It's no wonder Aristotle said: "Without friends no one would choose … [Read more...] about Who Needs Friends? We All Do – And Why.
Ma’am? Who You Callin’ Ma’am???
I don't know about you, but when I look in the mirror I see the same face that I saw ten, twenty, even thirty years ago. Maybe that's one advantage of compromised eyesight: it puts a lovely, gauze-like film over whatever you're looking at. The effect is somewhat poetic and dramatic, though subtle: an image awash in just a bit of haze, enough to make it look dreamy and quite lovely. And then, … [Read more...] about Ma’am? Who You Callin’ Ma’am???
Shouldn’t We Be HEALTHIER Than Our Parents Were??
I like to think that every generation learns from the prior generation and steps things up when it's their turn. This one thing is for sure: I always thought that we knew more about being healthy than our parents did. C'mon, look at us! We're the gym-goers, healthy eaters, obsessed with our input as well as our output. We're the healthy generation, the enlightened ones who know a thing or two … [Read more...] about Shouldn’t We Be HEALTHIER Than Our Parents Were??
Email Makes Me Cranky. And Stressed-Out, Too.
My first-born child turned 27 yesterday. TWENTY-SEVEN. How did that happen so quickly? The details of his labor and birth - a three-plus day affair (from the Friday night my water broke to the Monday night when he finally decided to finally show up) - remain crystal clear; I can even recall the smell of birth - yet the last 27 years are sometimes tough to sort through and remember with the same … [Read more...] about Email Makes Me Cranky. And Stressed-Out, Too.
I Can’t Meditate. But I Can Still Relax (and so can you).
I know a lot of people who can duck out of life's stresses by meditating. They look all peaceful, with colors floating all around them. Kind of like this picture. Me? I can't do it. That's not for lack of trying. In my travels to various spas - one of my very favorite ways to relax and learn about what's new in exercise, diet and healthy living - I've come upon, and experimented with, … [Read more...] about I Can’t Meditate. But I Can Still Relax (and so can you).
7 Secrets to Being Happy-Happier-Happiest
Having just emerged from a year filled with disappointment, loss, injury, sadness, pain and more disappointment, I'm determined to make 2013 a better year. Silly me to think that it's that easy. As if these things were under my control. A girl can wish, right? Not to be deterred, here's what I decided is under my control. And I want to share some things that are definitely more realistic:, not … [Read more...] about 7 Secrets to Being Happy-Happier-Happiest