Yesterday at the gym while stretching post-workout, I overheard two women talking about Bruce Jenner's recent announcement that he was transitioning into a woman. (I wasn't exactly eavesdropping; if you saw the small area devoted to stretching, you'd understand why it isn't easy to ignore nearby conversations.) "Why do you think he waited so long to come out with that?" asked one. (I had often wondered that myself, but was pretty sure I understood the possible answer.) I was already getting annoyed. She lifted one leg effortlessly into a yoga-like pose, adjusted her stance slightly, then { Read More }
When Nothing is Sure…Everything is Possible
Yesterday, I eavesdropped on Dame Judy Dench and Maggie Smith. “How many new lives can we have?” asked Ms. Dench. She answered her own question with the best five words I’ve heard in a long time: “As many as we’d like.” Lest you think I hang out in such royal company, I don’t. That question comes from the movie, The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel. Have you seen it yet? I haven’t – my efforts yesterday were thwarted by some circumstances beyond my control – but I can’t wait. In preparation for sequel, Alan and I watched the original, The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, on Netflix last Friday night. I { Read More }
Gotta Dance!
Do you like to dance? If you do, when is the last time you danced? Dance was a childhood passion that came to a pause long ago. As a young child, I was passionate about ballet dancing. The more lessons I took, the more I loved it and the more I excelled until my local teacher, Judy, recommended that I pursue more serious dancing at a more serious-type dance studio in New York City. I guess I was that good. That's not to say I had the chops to become a professional dancer; though I suppose I'll never know, will I? That's kind of where my ballerina dreams ended. My mother worked full time and { Read More }
Defining Moments
We all have defining moments. Do you think they chart the course of our lives? Yesterday, like on most other days, I startled when my alarm went off at 7:00 AM. And like on most other days, I routinely made my way to the bathroom, shuffled into the kitchen, pressed the button on my coffeemaker to brew myself my usual dose of caffeine. Stirred in the half and half. Waddled into my office. Carefully set the steaming hot cup down on my desk, where I checked my emails and scanned the news headlines. But then, just as suddenly as I’d jumped when my alarm went off, I paused, and my morning’s { Read More }
Is Surrender and Acceptance the Same?
Seems that in this so-called midlife I've been fighting surrender on a lot of fronts. But lately, I’ve been at the losing end. For instance, I have a bum left knee. I first realized something was wrong a little over ten years ago, while visiting Paris. It was my first European trip and I was determined not to let anything ruin it. Not the torrential rain we had. Not the record cold temperatures. Nothing. Not even the fact that we went to the Louvre on the one day it was closed. A few days into the trip, my knee gave me a sudden, sharp jolt midway down a steep set of subway steps. And it continued { Read More }
Saying Goodbye to All That
There are two different schools of thought regarding so-called aging. Those who say they hate it... they're also fond of saying things like: Aging is not for sissies Aging out-and-out sucks Aging is tough Aging is a @^*!% struggle. And then there are those who: Embrace Aging Celebrate Aging Recite a prayer of thanks each morning they wake up Show off Aging Say Aging beats the alternative Me? I fall somewhere in between. I can't actually decide. One day I embrace it...then, poof! It hits me right in the gut. Sometimes, I can get a bit grumpy about it. My knee aches (is that osteoarthritis or { Read More }
Do You Embrace Change?
I always thought I did. I was fond of saying things like: I need a change Life's more fun when you have new things happening all the time Things get so boring when they remain stagnant And I happen to think that over the years, I've embraced typical so-called changes pretty well. The empty nest? An opportunity for me and my husband to catch up with one another; as well as a natural progression for our sons. Losing a parent? None of us escapes death, and my father lived a good, long life. Menopause? After losing two dear friends who never made it that far, I'm lucky to be here to feel those hot { Read More }
How Moving Keeps You Young
It's been ten whole days since we moved from our house to our new apartment. We're making progress - we're down from 175 cartons to about 20. I call that getting closer to finally exhaling. But I still can't find my: Can Opener Favorite Blue Shirt Phone Headset Garlic Press All in time, I suppose. Each time I unpack a carton, it's like a great mystery is unveiled. Yesterday, hubby found the little tin box of ashes from my dearly departed Bichon, Chloe. The house now feels like home. Moving has been invigorating and exhausting all at once. Although I'm utterly spent at the end of each day - { Read More }
Selling the Family Home: Step by Step
Here's a snippet of what Long Novels, Exhaustion, Worry, Stress, Anxiety, Insomnia, Doubt, Mood Swings and Tears are made of: Realizing your children are never moving home again and your house is too empty, too big, too lonely, too expensive and too much work to justify staying in it. Making the decision to sell the house. Scheduling appointments with four real estate brokers to find the "ideal" one. Deciding on a price that is both realistic and fair while trying not to reminisce about how much money you've poured into the house over 17 years and trying not to take it personally when the { Read More }