My mother-in-law Rosalie often quipped an adage up to the week before she died at the age of 100: “Old age isn’t for sissies.” QuoteInvestigator.com says that the phrase first appeared in the Reader’s Digest April 1968 magazine, having been submitted to their “Life in the United States” section by a Ruth Hain from California. … Continue reading Who Knows What’s Next?
Love Story x 3
Since it’s Valentine’s Day, I’ll share a trio of love stories. But they may not be what you’re expecting. Barbara Elaine Smith, a beautiful and outgoing African American woman, had two successful careers. As a model in 1976, she was the second black woman to appear on the magazine cover of Mademoiselle. Her modeling work … Continue reading Love Story x 3
How To Not Forget
Several commercials that first aired during this year’s Superbowl have people talking. Google’s Loretta is one that many folks are responding to with deep emotion. The commercial tells the love story between the unnamed man narrating and his late wife Loretta. Obviously elderly, he appears to be fearful of forgetting the details of what their life … Continue reading How To Not Forget
A Peace Page A Day
Last June I gave a dear friend (who at the time had just been diagnosed with ovarian cancer) the gift of a year in the form of a National Geographic book: Daily Peace, 365 Days of Renewal. The book’s jacket encourages readers to “Pause to reflect, enjoy life’s simple pleasures, and renew your spirit with … Continue reading A Peace Page A Day
Sendoffs to Remember
Many people have a favorite phrase they offer when a visitor is leaving to drive home. Some examples include: Drive safely. Take care. Take it easy. Text me when you get home. These are all indicative of caring about the departing person. Three of the men in my life have unique and slightly distorted send-offs … Continue reading Sendoffs to Remember
One Hundred Words
What if you were limited to speak just one hundred words each day? A non-removable metal counter on your wrist tracks the number of words you utter, resetting to zero each midnight. If you dare speak word #101 within each monitored 24-hour period, you are delivered an electric shock. Word #102 earns you a stronger … Continue reading One Hundred Words
A Flash of Unforeseen Remembrance
Life lessons appear around us each day if we can just remember to be attentive. I certainly wasn’t expecting to find one at a celebration of life ceremony for the son of a friend. I guess because it was unexpected that I felt (and still feel) a tremendous sense of awe and gratitude. At just … Continue reading A Flash of Unforeseen Remembrance
Itsy Bitsy Teeny
Someone at a party on New Year’s Day mentioned she was vaguely aware of my blog. It turns out a mutual friend had forwarded her several of my posts over the last few years. “How do you figure out what to write about?” she inquired. My standard answer is that typically I’m inspired by something … Continue reading Itsy Bitsy Teeny
Great (or Maybe Not) Expectations
A friend shared the story of attending her niece’s college commencement. In the car on the way home from the event, Auntie remarked to the family in general that she had certainly enjoyed the valedictorian’s speech which had the theme of expectations. To Auntie’s surprise, her generally sweet and sunny niece harrumphed and then barely … Continue reading Great (or Maybe Not) Expectations
Crosses On The Tree
PLEASE NOTE: TODAY’S POST IS BASED ON THE CHRISTMAS LETTER I INCLUDED WITH MY CARDS THIS YEAR. A friend asked the significance of the crosses on my Christmas tree. After all, we’re celebrating the birth of Jesus in this season and not his death. On the first teaching card in the Godly Play lesson titled … Continue reading Crosses On The Tree