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Category Archives: Perspective
That Old *Beep-Bop* Lady
Down a path in the woods, slipping through an opening in a fence, we would sneak onto the remotely situated 13th hole of a nearby golf course in the early evening, after the golfers had all gone home. Kicking off … Continue reading
Linden
This is a rather longish post concerning the frustration of municipal red tape and the loss of a friend, of sorts. It is one of those “shaking my head” type posts. It is also about quality of life, trying to … Continue reading
Posted in Aging, Are you kidding me?, grief, Perspective, Rant, Regrets, Spring, Uncategorized, Vent
Tagged arbor, city ordinances, Linden tree, losing a tree
3 Comments
Surfing the Pandemic
I’ve had no inclination to write for such a long time, even before the pandemic occurred. Now more than ever it has been difficult trying to align cohesive thoughts and feelings and translate them into words. I hadn’t even bothered … Continue reading
Second Coming
About seven months ago I posted a piece called Rage , concerning a not very good day I had been having that culminated with some crazy-ass woman chasing me into the parking lot of Kohl’s department store in an intense road … Continue reading
Ashes
Left holding the bag again Or box, as it so happens A container of dust That is not really him * Okay it’s true the person is gone Their spirit and essence Does not reside in this unworthy cube of … Continue reading
Religion
It felt like everyone was waiting “forever” for autumn colors to happen, since it was definitely later than usual. The leaves stayed green, but a dull green, and some trees had already turned brown without any show of color at all. … Continue reading
Posted in Autumn, Perspective, Uncategorized, Wow!
Tagged beauty, church of nature, discovery, Fall, finding God, foliage, grace, gratefulness, nature, road trip, the road to enlightenment, universe, vibrations
2 Comments
Rage
Okay, it was clearly my fault. Today started out poorly, following a week without one solid night’s sleep. Perhaps it was because I stayed up too late watching a forgettable movie with loathsome characters and a predictable outcome, but last … Continue reading
Posted in Aging, Coping, grief, Perspective, Rant, Shopping, Uncategorized, Vent
Tagged aging, angry people, anxiety, death, depression, insomnia, it's my fault, losing a friend, loss, parking lot altercations, road rage, senior demographics
1 Comment
Butterfly Sheets
On the day I was changing the bed linens, I came across a set of butterfly pattern sheets that had migrated to the back of the shelf in the closet. The pillow cases were long gone and the elastic on … Continue reading
Posted in Aging, Coping, Friends, grief, Perspective, Regrets, Uncategorized
Tagged babies, be here now, birth, death, Friends, grief, holding on, letting go, life, Memories, mom
2 Comments
Grubby
It’s not as if I need any more books, but it seems they accumulate faster than they get purged. Library book fair day is always something spontaneously attended as there are a number of small libraries scattered throughout our area … Continue reading
Posted in Perspective, Uncategorized
Tagged book fair, books, competition, library fair, observations, scanners, tag sales, technology, used books
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Found and Lost
During the gawky, dark, painfully insecure pre and early-adolescent summers of my youth, I attended what was advertised as an “inter-faith, inter-racial” summer camp out in what was once the wilds of Connecticut, before it became greatly suburbanized. From what … Continue reading
Posted in Aging, Autumn, Friends, grief, Perspective, Uncategorized
Tagged Childhood, i remember you, missed opportunities, old friends, summer camp, the past comes back
2 Comments
Purging With Regrets
Serious clutter-bugs hoping to change their ways were buzzing with excitement about how The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up by Marie Kondo was helping to unburden their lives. Being the Collector of Lots of Good Stuff, it seemed like just the thing … Continue reading
Posted in Perspective, Regrets, Uncategorized
Tagged book collector, Changes, cleaning up, de-cluttering, favorite books, first herbal, getting rid of books, herbal book, purging
14 Comments
Circle
Of course I remember July 20th, an image burned in my brain, because that was the day I looked up at the solar eclipse and got slapped in the face by my grandmother, while she shrieked “You’ll go blind!” It … Continue reading
Posted in Perspective, summer, Uncategorized
Tagged eclipse, full circle, grandmother, July, memory, solar eclipse
4 Comments
Amp-Bump
Out of the blue, my usually uncommunicative brother sent my sisters and I this text: “Do you guys remember amp bump???” Amp bump? I could almost feel my brain physically shifting into a time warp. Amp bump. Oh my God, … Continue reading
Posted in Aging, Perspective, Uncategorized
Tagged 1960's childhood, Childhood, doll house, imaginative play, Memories, sibling memories
10 Comments
Magic Sunglasses
As summer has waned and eased into autumn, the deciduous trees have turned to that “it’s-all-over-for-this-year” dull green, with small bursts and streaks of color here and there, as highlights on fading tresses. While driving, I could not but help … Continue reading
Posted in Autumn, Perspective, Uncategorized
Tagged if only, illusions, magic glasses, reality, truth, what is real
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Blessings Amid the Depression
Breakfast this morning consisted of a handful of foraged chanterelle mushrooms sautéed in butter and garlic, then scrambled into two fresh eggs from a neighbor’s chickens and sprinkled with ground Himalayan pink salt and fresh peppercorn. The mushroom eggs were … Continue reading
Posted in Aging, Coping, grief, Hearing Impaired, Perspective, Rant, Uncategorized, Vent
Tagged appreciation, blessings, depressed, depression, dysthymia, feeling blue, gratefulness, loss, moods, people judging depression
3 Comments
Men Give Me Knives
While rummaging through some drawers and stored boxes, I came across a number of different knives, mostly pocket-type and folding knives, which have been given to me by various men over the years. It is not the first time I … Continue reading
Posted in Friends, Perspective, Uncategorized
Tagged a woman receiving a knife, giving a knife, knives as gifts, men and women, pocket knife
3 Comments
Miracles and Magic In Your Hands
Have you stopped to notice all the little miracles that pass through our hands daily? While skimming through a number of recent and stored photographs, I could not help but realize how many beautiful things these worn out old hands … Continue reading
Posted in Perspective, Photography, Spring, Uncategorized, Wow!
Tagged beautiful earth, beautiful nature, gifts of spring, miracles, nature, small wonders, these old hands, wonder, wonderous things
1 Comment
Tale of the Traveling Chairs
The Great Divorce in our family took place in California back in the 1970’s. Along with moving herself and children to the bottom half of a stucco two-family house with a Spanish tile roof, my mother launched into her new … Continue reading
Posted in Divorce, Friends, Perspective, Regrets, Travel, Uncategorized
Tagged bentwood chairs, cane chairs, clearing out, divorce, family history, Memories, old furniture, possessions, purging, relocation
4 Comments
My Little Black Book is Blue
Not that long ago it seems, before cell phone contact lists and computer address databases, there was The Address Book. Even though that information is stored on both my phone and in a computer file, stashed in a top drawer … Continue reading
Posted in Aging, Friends, Perspective, Uncategorized
Tagged address book, Change, impermanence, Memories, time
4 Comments
Priorities
The Significant Other is self-employed in the construction trade and is kind of a “Mr. Fixit.” Following a recent accident which required some surgery, the involuntary down-time has kept him home for much of the week. He is pretty good … Continue reading
Machine Age
You would think I had grown up in the days of my grandmother or possibly my great-grandmother if you saw the kind of appliances I had in my house, right up into the 1990’s. As a twenty-something and even a … Continue reading
Posted in Aging, Cooking, Perspective, Uncategorized
Tagged antiques, clutter, gadgets, hippie, kitchen tools, machines, old appliances, too much stuff
4 Comments
A Bowl of Good Fortune
Returning from the weekly excursion to our uptown farmer’s market, I added sweet white donut peaches and local apples to the avocados, tiny Seckel pears and other staples already filling this bowl of good fortune. This vision required the need … Continue reading
Posted in Diet, Food, Perspective, summer, Wow!
Tagged beauty, Color, Farmer's Market, fruit, grateful, photography, thankful
1 Comment
Looking Up
I just happened to have another one of those oddly moving parking lot experiences. It is a hot, bright August day with a slight tinge of humidity in the air. Despite the delicious temptation of slabbing out in front of … Continue reading
Posted in Perspective, Photography, summer, Uncategorized, Weather, Wow!
Tagged city view, clouds, looking up, sky, unexpected beauty, urban nature
4 Comments
West Wind
Last night the west wind blew down all the cherry blossoms from the tree across the street. They landed on our side of the road, gathering in a lovely line of candy-pink bubblegum bliss along the curb. I was filled … Continue reading
Posted in Perspective, Spring, Uncategorized, Wow!
Tagged beauty, cherry blossoms, early morning, Spring, wonderous things
4 Comments
Cheese Puff Bliss
You never know when and where you might discover a moment of contentment. It feels like a gift when those times happen unbidden and unexpectedly. Having just finished shopping and while loading my groceries into the trunk of the car, … Continue reading
What Do You Do All Day?
Since I have been officially out of the workforce, people who are working full-time or who I have not seen in a while will inevitably turn to me and say “So…….now that you are not working, what do you do … Continue reading
Posted in Aging, Are you kidding me?, Bucket List, Perspective, Uncategorized
Tagged not working, out of the work force, retirement
4 Comments
Writhing With Guilt
Today I realize my shoe-a-holism has gotten a bit out of control. I sit here and writhe with guilt. As posted previously in this blog, I have a lot of shoes. Shoes of many colors. Not “designer” shoes, just comfortable, … Continue reading
Posted in Fashion, Perspective, Regrets, Shoes, Shopping, Uncategorized
Tagged excess consumerism, excess shoes, guilt, red boots, red cowboy boots, red cowgirl boots, red shoes, Shoe-a-holics, Too Many Shoes
6 Comments
Hiding Behind a Tree
As if my heart could not get any fuller, my first-born grandchild started his very first day of pre-school this morning. Wasn’t it but yesterday when I had to leave my first child in daycare? There was no choice…I had … Continue reading
Posted in Aging, kids, Perspective, Uncategorized
Tagged children, first day of pre-school, grand parenting
1 Comment
Left Out
There are always challenges in the reshuffling of families, friendships and loyalties when it comes to a divorce. Over the many years since mine occurred, there have been waves of problems laced with intense hostility interspersed with moments of peacefulness … Continue reading
Posted in Coping, Divorce, Friends, Perspective, Regrets, Uncategorized, Vent
Tagged being excluded, divorce, divorcee, ex-husband, ex-inlaws, former family, former inlaws, hostile divorce, rules of divorce
4 Comments
Our Lady of the Perpetual Kitchen
My grandmother was Catholic, my mother was raised Catholic, and so she tried to raise us as Catholics too. I consider myself a “Collapsed Catholic” and will usually check “none” on any form asking my religion. I never was able … Continue reading
Posted in Perspective, Uncategorized
Tagged Catholic, Immaculate Heart, mom, religion, religious relics, Virgin Mary Statue
4 Comments
Meditation in Blue
There is a place I consider somewhat sacred – a place that I have been going to for decades. It is an orchard farm not far from my home. It has been the place I would go to pick berries, … Continue reading
Crossing a Line
No stranger to comfortable shoes, one peek in my closet will reveal a significant selection of Birkenstocks, Danskos, Naots, Merrills and Clarks. I have spent good money on good shoes because I can’t stand it if my feet hurt. I … Continue reading
Posted in Aging, Perspective, Shopping, Uncategorized
Tagged boomers, comfortable shoes, growing older, over fifty, Shoe-a-holics, Shoes, shopping with elderly
8 Comments
A Change of Status
I am unemployed. Or “retired”, as some people have congratulated me on, although that word doesn’t seem to quite fit. I feel like I am actually a “retirement imposter” in a sense, because this “retirement” was mostly unplanned, not affordable, … Continue reading
Posted in Aging, Hearing Impaired, Perspective, Uncategorized
Tagged baby boomer, boomers, disability, growing older, identity crisis, now what?, retirement, the autumn years, unemployed, who am i now?
3 Comments
Major Artistic Deficit Disorder
Having grown up the child of artists, it naturally followed that those we interacted with and bonded with would lean towards the creative. And so, throughout this life, I have found myself surrounded by an abundance of talented friends. I … Continue reading
Posted in Aging, Friends, Perspective, Regrets, Uncategorized
Tagged Am I an Artist?, art as a living, artist life, artistic friends, artists, creativity, lack of focus, talent
14 Comments
Certain Unalienable Rights
Second section in Declaration of Independence, 1776 – “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the … Continue reading
That Snooty Woman With All the Fancy Instruments
One of the things I like to do for leisure and sometimes passion is to play percussive instruments. I like to drum, especially on drums played with the hands – a djembe, a doumbek, a frame drum or riqq. I … Continue reading
Posted in Deafness, Friends, Hearing Impaired, Perspective, Uncategorized
Tagged aloofness, Drumming, group dynamics, perspective, possessions, unfriendliness
4 Comments
Displacement
Our office building caught fire. While we were in it. It seems events leading up to the moment of ignition had been occurring for a few hours, as there had been an electric-like odor in the copy room that morning. … Continue reading
Posted in Coping, Perspective, Uncategorized
Tagged business as usual, disoriented, Fire, office fire, smoke damage
4 Comments
I Kissed Rick Danko
I didn’t plan on attending Levon Helm’s wake today. Yes, I had been a fan of The Band for many years, but I dislike crowds and am seriously adverse to fan/fame worship. And yet, on some level I was still … Continue reading
Posted in Aging, Friends, Perspective, Regrets, Uncategorized
Tagged fame, fans, idol worship, Levon Helm, Rick Danko, The Band, Wakes, Woodstock
9 Comments
A Matter of Interpretation
As someone who writes essays and blog posts, you would think that there would be a corresponding adeptness to creating written correspondence that would clearly translate my thoughts to the recipient. It is not as if I am writing in … Continue reading
Posted in Coping, Deafness, Friends, Perspective, Regrets, Uncategorized
Tagged hearts, hurt, hurt feelings, insults, miscommunication, misinterpretation, misunderstandings, translation, Valentine card
6 Comments
And We Begin Anew
Here it comes…. 2012, our self-imposed start date to begin anew. Let’s work to make it a good one. Let’s all use our collective thoughts to move forward into something healthy, and intelligent, and kind. Wishing all fresh beginnings and … Continue reading
Posted in Perspective, Uncategorized, Winter
Tagged 2012, Happy New Year, New beginnings, New Year
6 Comments
The Eye of the Beholder
“What’s the worst Christmas present you ever received?” That was a question put forth to a number of women in an online group I had belonged to years ago. This same question came up yet again at a party I attended during the … Continue reading
The New Rules
It has been almost a year since I put up my first post after waffling about putting up a tree for the holidays, deciding to do it, ending up getting into it in a deep way which had nothing to do with the … Continue reading
Posted in Perspective, Uncategorized, Winter
Tagged Change, changing traditions, children growing up, Christmas, Families, Holidays, new rules, Traditions
7 Comments
Feral Crap
I will be blunt and maybe a bit vulgar here – yesterday morning I stepped in cat shit, and that is exactly the word I screamed after stepping in it. Since there are no young children in the house at the moment, I did not yell … Continue reading
Posted in Gardening, Perspective, Rant, Uncategorized, Vent
Tagged eccentricities, feral cats, Neighbors, wild cats
3 Comments
A Whole Lot of Apples
This approaching storm was embraced with a small twinge of anticipation. I love intense weather – the scent of change on the wind, the shifting of light, the movement of strange skies. It is as if every cell becomes alive with … Continue reading
Posted in Perspective, Uncategorized, Weather
Tagged After the storm, Before the storm, disaster, Hurricane, Hurricane Irene, smugness, stormy skies
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