Category Archives: Perspective

Rage

Posted on September 19, 2018 by daeja's view

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

Posted on August 6, 2018 by daeja's view

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

Posted on June 12, 2018 by daeja's view

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 | Leave a comment

Impermanence

Posted on May 21, 2018 by daeja's view

I lost something today. My birthday morning was spent hopping from place to place with a very old friend. After opening a goody bag full of fun and thoughtful gifts, we headed for Starbucks for a free birthday Cold Brew. … Continue reading →

Posted in Friends, Perspective, Uncategorized | Tagged attachment to things, comfort, impermanence, loss, lost jewelry, lost things, pendant, sentimental value, silver pendant, spiral, spirals, talisman, touchstone | 3 Comments

Found and Lost

Posted on September 25, 2017 by daeja's view

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

Posted on September 14, 2017 by daeja's view

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

Posted on August 21, 2017 by daeja's view

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

Posted on April 3, 2017 by daeja's view

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

The Littlest of Things

Posted on January 25, 2017 by daeja's view

It has been many months since I have attempted a blog post – essentially rendered speechless and saddened by what is going on in our country and in the world. In this time of tremendous stress, uncertainty, conflict, fear, and … Continue reading →

Posted in Coping, grief, Perspective, Uncategorized | Tagged drain catcher, government, government metaphors, losing something precious, observations, plumbing woes, reflections, small satisfactions, too much hair | 4 Comments

Magic Sunglasses

Posted on October 11, 2016 by daeja's view

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 | Leave a comment

Blessings Amid the Depression

Posted on August 10, 2016 by daeja's view

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

Posted on May 22, 2016 by daeja's view

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

Posted on May 6, 2016 by daeja's view

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

Posted on March 14, 2016 by daeja's view

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

Posted on February 19, 2016 by daeja's view

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

Posted on February 12, 2016 by daeja's view

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 →

Posted in Are you kidding me?, Humor, Perspective, Rant, Uncategorized | Tagged Dimmer switches, home improvement, honey please fix this, Men are from Mars, Mr. Fixit | 10 Comments

Machine Age

Posted on January 27, 2016 by daeja's view

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

Posted on August 18, 2015 by daeja's view

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

Posted on August 4, 2015 by daeja's view

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

Posted on May 13, 2015 by daeja's view

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

Posted on April 8, 2015 by daeja's view

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 →

Posted in Perspective, Spring, Uncategorized | Tagged cheese puffs, contentment, gratitude | 2 Comments

What Do You Do All Day?

Posted on November 20, 2013 by daeja's view

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

Posted on September 23, 2013 by daeja's view

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

Posted on September 4, 2013 by daeja's view

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

Posted on August 25, 2013 by daeja's view

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

Posted on August 23, 2013 by daeja's view

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

Posted on July 12, 2013 by daeja's view

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 →

Posted in Perspective, Photography | Tagged blue, blueberries, farms, peace, Summer | 5 Comments

Crossing a Line

Posted on July 1, 2013 by daeja's view

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

Posted on May 29, 2013 by daeja's view

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

Accepting What You Do Not Want (or “When is a Brulee not a Brulee?”)

Posted on May 22, 2013 by daeja's view

Yesterday I was accused by my daughter of becoming more cranky and less tolerant about certain things as I have gotten older. This statement was made following the specific incident below, in which I actually was a bit cranky and … Continue reading →

Posted in Aging, Are you kidding me?, Humor, Perspective, Uncategorized | Tagged birthday, customer service, dessert, dining out, good service, making a fuss, mothers and daughters, parent child relationships, restaurants, the embarassing mom, waitressing | 11 Comments

Stealth

Posted on May 2, 2013 by daeja's view

When it came to a choice of animal companions, my family always fell into the “dog people” category. But there hasn’t been a dog in my life for a very long time. There are a number of reasons for that, … Continue reading →

Posted in Animal Stories, Dogs, Friends, Perspective, Uncategorized | Tagged attachments, dog-sitting, dogs, pet adoption, pet rescue, pets | Leave a comment

Major Artistic Deficit Disorder

Posted on April 28, 2013 by daeja's view

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

Posted on December 21, 2012 by daeja's view

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 →

Posted in Are you kidding me?, Perspective, Uncategorized | Tagged assault weapons, Civil rights, end of the world. apocolypse, gun control, Mayan calendar, militia, Newtown massacre, Rights, safety, Sandy Hook | 1 Comment

The Memory Box

Posted on December 1, 2012 by daeja's view

One of the drawers in my bedroom is filled with socks. In the back of that drawer, buried behind those socks is a green and orange lacquered box which was carved and painted by my father many years ago. It … Continue reading →

Posted in Aging, Perspective, Uncategorized | Tagged keepsakes, love letters, memorabilia, Memories, personal history, stories | 2 Comments

That Snooty Woman With All the Fancy Instruments

Posted on October 8, 2012 by daeja's view

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

Posted on August 14, 2012 by daeja's view

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

Posted on April 26, 2012 by daeja's view

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

Posted on February 28, 2012 by daeja's view

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

What I Found While Walking in the Woods Today….

Posted on February 8, 2012 by daeja's view

Took a break today and walked along some winding back roads bordered by deep woods, which then led out to a highway. During this short journey, I came across these items and wondered about their story. A dead bird lying … Continue reading →

Posted in Birds, Perspective, Photography, Uncategorized, Winter | Tagged daily walk, dead flamingo, fire hydrant, found in the woods, stories, walking in the woods, wiccan | 3 Comments

And We Begin Anew

Posted on December 31, 2011 by daeja's view

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

Posted on December 13, 2011 by daeja's view

“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 →

Posted in Perspective, Uncategorized | Tagged ant farm, best gifts, Christmas present, eye of the beholder, strangest Christmas present, worst Christmas gift | 5 Comments

The New Rules

Posted on December 4, 2011 by daeja's view

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

Posted on November 12, 2011 by daeja's view

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

Posted on September 5, 2011 by daeja's view

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 | Leave a comment

The Hippie Haj

Posted on August 26, 2011 by daeja's view

I have a really bad attitude when it comes to the commercialization of those things which represent “my” generation, which is that of The Boomer. Most specifically, I gag at all this glorifying of the “Woodstock era” – the life and times … Continue reading →

Posted in Aging, Friends, Perspective, Travel, Uncategorized | Tagged Bethel Woods, Hippie Museum, Hippies, The 60's, The 70's, Woodstock, Woodstock concert | 3 Comments

No Rose-colored Glasses For Me

Posted on August 18, 2011 by daeja's view

Two years ago I noticed things were starting to look a little fuzzy, especially in one eye. When speaking to someone sitting in front of a window or back-lit in silhouette, I could not see their face for the white … Continue reading →

Posted in Aging, Perspective, Uncategorized | Tagged Cataract Operation, Cataract Surgery, Cataracts, Eye Surgery, Eyes, Seeing Pink | 3 Comments

From a Bench on Main Street

Posted on July 1, 2011 by daeja's view

I am distracted today as I prepare for the weekend ahead, so I don’t have much to say today, but there is an image that keeps popping up in my head. A few weeks ago I had been walking down … Continue reading →

Posted in Perspective, Uncategorized | Tagged couples, happiness, observations, Summer, vermont | 2 Comments

The Shards of Our Lives

Posted on May 30, 2011 by daeja's view

The Significant Other is like a bull in a china shop. That is the image that usually goes through my mind when I take a dish out of the kitchen cabinet and see the condition of it. My dishes, which … Continue reading →

Posted in Perspective, Uncategorized | Tagged Clumsy Men, Dishes | 5 Comments

Skinny Girl

Posted on May 12, 2011 by daeja's view

I was always the skinny girl. Not the long, lithe, willowy model skinny girl, but the gawkishly thin, angular, hollow-eyed skinny girl. A skinny girl in school who looked like an X-ray…….with knobby knees, tiny bones, all feet and nose and elbows and spine. The … Continue reading →

Posted in Aging, Diet, Perspective, Uncategorized, Weight | 4 Comments

Fences

Posted on May 9, 2011 by daeja's view

It has been an adjustment getting used to living in a small city, with neighbors dwelling very close by. Most of the homes on our street, built in the late 1800’s and early 1900’s, have weathered, stockade fences between them. However, this house came equipped … Continue reading →

Posted in Gardening, Perspective, Rant, Regrets, Uncategorized | Tagged Neighbors | 1 Comment

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