Life Should Never Be Boring
When we moved from the Sierra, Nevada foothills in California 25 years ago, we moved from the country, to the country. In California, we had 3 acres, an orchard, garden and chickens. When we moved to Idaho, we settled in a very small town, very small-population around 650. It was different terrain, but also beautiful,…
A Bit Tattered, but More Appreciative
When the announcement was made about a new, aggressive virus strain that had descended on the world, we were as confused and skeptical as anyone. We knew that every year a different strain of the flu arrives and takes its toll on the most vulnerable. We had taken our turn, like most, with each…
America, the Resilient
It’s been awhile since I last posted an article. I, like everyone else, have been in a state of confusion and incredulity. It seems like the world around us it falling apart, and lately in America (although it has spread to other countries), people are in an uproar. Is America doomed? The land…
Finding Peace In a Pandemic
2020 has been a difficult and very unusual time in history. We’ve gone from our routines and freedom, sprinkled with a false sense of security, to a place of uncertainty, isolation and anxiety. Life can seem reminiscent of a horror movie as we now hear of and for some, experience financial strain, illness and…
A Year Unlike Any Other
Was I dreaming, or is this really happening? That’s usually my first thought lately when I wake up each morning . Sometimes a few coughs or a tickle can make me overthink. Do I feel a tightness in my chest? What is that cough about? But then, I get up, get moving, take a…
Friends I Haven’t Met Yet
I was in the store I frequent the other morning chatting with the clerk who has become our friend. He is someone with a friendly, sunny disposition who is a bit older than myself. Me: “Ken, you’ve been here awhile. Do they have you working full time now?” Ken: “Just about! But it’s ok because…
Our Secret
The other day at the gym, I saw this handsome guy. He caught my eye because he was so confident, yet not arrogant. Several people walked by him, recognized him and started talking to him. He seemed friendly and at ease, never putting them off, even though he had previously been focused on his…
Pursue Your Passion
I find it very interesting that in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), one of the key principles is that emotions play a strong role in health. It’s believed that certain emotions can influence certain organs and that all organs have an interconnectedness with each other and with overall health. It is also believed that the…
The Perfect Outfit
I was in seventh grade when I got it. My mom bought me an outfit that made my heart patter and made me feel grown up. It was a red velveteen set, with a knee-length gaucho pant/skirt and a vest with cap sleeves and wooden toggle buttons. I had seen it in a store and…
Chowder and Fish Tales
Food makes me happy. Good food makes me happier. I admit, maybe a bit too happy, because I think about it a lot. The thing about food is you can’t just eat it once a month and call it good. As a wife and Mom, I’ve spent a good many hours of my life…
Time For a Power Outage
I was in line at Costco the other day, with stuff in my cart, along with many other people in line. Some people had their carts full and I had to chuckle at all of us. It had only been a few days since the holidays, after all the shopping hubbub, and here we…
Resolutions? How about these 5 doable things instead?
Somehow the very word resolution stirs up anxiety and stress in my mind. If I don’t accomplish my resolutions for the new year am I a loser or am I lazy? What if I only accomplish part of the list? I used to make resolutions when the calendar rolled around, and would usually work…
The Perfect Gift
It was almost the day of the 6th grade Christmas Gift Exchange. My mother took me to the store so I could select something that I could give to a classmate. She told me to pick out something under a certain dollar amount that would appeal to another 6th grade girl. Something that I might…
They Don’t Stay Little Forever
When you hold that tiny, soft sweet baby for the first time, you can’t possibly realize how much of your heart and life will be wrapped up in that 7 or 8 lb. bundle. At that moment, you don’t picture a 30-year-old woman or man, nor can you envision the worries, prayers, experiences and love…
Forgiveness is the Key
Betrayal is a strong word because it evokes strong feelings. Feelings of pain, anger, shock, isolation, disloyalty and even revenge. Nearly everyone, at some time in their life has experienced betrayal on some level. It can start as early as childhood and if experienced firsthand enough, can make one leery and distrustful. It might happen…
A Grateful Heart
“Gratitude turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos into order, confusion into clarity….it makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow.” —-Melody Beattie When older people are asked what they want for a gift, they often reply “nothing” or “I…
Brother, Can You Spare Your Time?
I read about an elderly lady who was so lonely, abandoned and in need of help that after being homebound for 7 years, she finally wrote a note and managed to put it on a neighbor’s door. In the note, she wrote how she was lonely, scared and needed help. It was a heart-wrenching story…
Teacher, Can You Help Me?
“Class, may I have your attention, please?” We’ve all heard that in our lives as students. It conjures up memories of all those teachers that we spent days and even years with; some good and maybe a few, we’d rather forget. Some teachers are inspiring, and life changing, and some of them are in the…
My Father’s Adventures
In honor of upcoming Veteran’s Day and my father who is 93 years young and a veteran of WWII. War veterans are everyday normal people, who becomes heros at war risking their lives for others. My dad helped drive amphibious landing crafts and was only 17 when he went to war and served on the…
The Monsters We Create
Almost everyone has heard of the story “Frankenstein”. Most people know that Frankenstein is actually the name of the creator of the monster and not of the actual monster itself. It’s a story set back in the late 1700’s, that was probably a shocking story for those days, especially coming from a woman author. My…
Family ties, or Slipknots?
I can remember when I was a girl, and later a teenager, we would occasionally have relatives come to town for a visit. One Grandmother already lived with us, but my other Grandmother would sometimes come from Colorado. An aunt and uncle might even join our get-together. Beds and rooms were given up, hospitality was…
Hold On, I feel Change Coming!
“Life is what happens when you are making other plans.” That is what an elderly lady used to tell me about 20 years ago when we were raising 3 young kids. Back then, I dismissed it as a cute saying. Little did I realize then just how true the saying was. I’ve thought about those…
But, It’s All Good Stuff!
I can’t help it, I learned from experts. My parents grew up during the depression and WWII. They learned to be frugal and to hold on to things that might prove useful later on. This legacy was carried down by my brothers and myself. Hey, you never know – you might really need that Costco…
The Perfect Workout
Exercise isn’t what it used to be. I think maybe it might be my shoes. Or perhaps I don’t have the right water bottle, but whatever it is things have changed. My feet and hips did not use to hurt when I exercised…20 years ago. Another thing that’s changed are my exercise clothes, or more…
Miracles Have Not Ceased
It would be close to 25 years ago that we witnessed a miracle. I have always been a believer in God and Jesus Christ, but I guess I thought back then, that maybe miracles were just something that you read about in the scriptures. Something that happened to others. At the time we were living…
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Over 55 and loving it...mostly 