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.
Relationships
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???
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.
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
My Top Thirteen New Year’s Resolutions (Hint: They’re not for me)
Happy New Year, dear faithful readers! Thanks for visiting, because without you, there would be no blog. This blog is my way of having a conversation with like-minded people (and even if you're not like-minded, I like to hear those opinions, as well). And if you enjoy reading it, can I impose on you to do a few things? Tell your friends about it. (The way I see it, the more, the … [Read more...] about My Top Thirteen New Year’s Resolutions (Hint: They’re not for me)
The Newtown School Shootings: A Most Unfortunate Way to Reconcile a Death
As I sit here this Monday morning, it's so hard to make sense out of my emotions, which are flip-flopping through my crowded mind, competing for attention. I am grieving the death of my father, who passed away on Friday. But on top of that, I'm also grieving – along with the rest of the world – the 20 young children who died that same day in Newtown, just 30 minutes from my home here in … [Read more...] about The Newtown School Shootings: A Most Unfortunate Way to Reconcile a Death
On Not Being Somebody’s Child
I've managed to live this long - 58 years - still being someone else's child. I may be an adult child...but nonetheless, there's something strangely comforting about being in your 50s and still having a mother and a father. And although I may be fooling myself, being someone else's child makes me feel less like an adult in this so-called midlife, and more like a (somewhat) young … [Read more...] about On Not Being Somebody’s Child
Ho Ho… Ho?
Please don't call me a Scrooge (okay, go ahead if you must), but since the holiday hoopla started just about the time Halloween was winding down, I'm really tired of it by now. The endless catalogs cluttering my mailbox; the flash sale pop-ups each time I turn on my computer - they're like those pesky black flies that keeping dodging the swatter and are impossible to kill! - the commercials at … [Read more...] about Ho Ho… Ho?
I Don’t Get This Whole Texting Thing
Okay, I need to get this off my chest at the risk of sounding old. And a little cranky. But hear me out. I think it's just a bit strange...no, not strange...maybe a better word is sad...that the younger generation (Oh, I hate sounding like this! But what else can I call them??) can't make a simple phone call when they want to ask someone out. I was recently having a conversation with a … [Read more...] about I Don’t Get This Whole Texting Thing
Valuable Lessons Learned from Aging
I have friends of all ages, ranging in age from 20-somethings to 80-somethings. I enjoy them all; time together is always time well spent. When I'm with the younger ones, I feel like the wise old(er) woman, experienced enough to impart some of my hard-won wisdom upon them. (I never volunteer unless asked. I hate the thought of coming off as pushy or as a know-it-all. That makes me shudder. But … [Read more...] about Valuable Lessons Learned from Aging