RETIRE IN STYLE BLOG

What is Retirement? "65 Things to Do When You Retire"

noreply@blogger.com (b+ (Retire In Style Blog)) — Tue, 24 Apr 2018 20:50:00 +0000

I was going trough my files today and I found the paperwork and letter from the people that published 65 Things to Do When You Retire, 65 Notable Achievers on How to Make the Most of the Rest of Your Life asking me to read and review this book. I think this one is worth revisiting. It was published back in 2012.

NOTE: THANKS TO THE GENEROSITY OF THE CONTRIBUTING AUTHORS, ALL OF WHOM PROVIDED ESSAYS ON A PRO BONO BASIS, THE ROYALTIES GENERATED FROM THE sale OF THIS BOOK WILL BE DONATED TO NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS DEDICATED TO PREVENTING AND CURING CANCER.

The package came last week. It was a book called 65 Things to Do When You Retire, 65 Notable Achievers on How to Make the Most of the Rest of Your Life (Sellers Publishing. ISBN13: 1-978-4162-0654-5). I don't know what I expected but this was much better than whatever that was. When people the likes of ex-President Jimmy Carter talks, a person tends to listen. Other contributors included Gloria Steinem leader of the women's movement and Liz Pryor, life advice expert for Good Morning America and Bob Lowry, fellow blogger of Satisfying Retirement. The book is a compilation of short articles by 65 people, some retired and some not. The sage advise just drips off the pages. I found paragraph after paragraph I wanted to rip from the pages and save in a scrapbook somewhere. Here are a few:

In order to fully live the kind of life we deserve, the steel walls that narrow our thinking need to come down. Walking into retirement we have an opportunity to reset our live, and that begins with resetting ourselves. (Liz Pryor)
I have come to believe that when you're actually inside oldness, as opposed to anticipating it from the outside, the fear subsides. You discover that you are still yourself, probably even more so. (Jane Fonda)
Quiet and quirky: Take some quiet time.... This will help you feel your way around all the "I can't because's" that come to mind as you think about all you truly wish to be and do. ....quirky? That's the core that's truly you, the idiosyncratic self, a force that now deserves a time to fly. (Richard Kimball)
Results from a study at UCLA captured my attention. It stated that seniors who are socially active had few colds....Who knew?! "Immunity in the community" sounds like a good motto to me" (Susan RoAne aka The Mingling Maven.)
As a Danish existential philosopher Soren Keirkegaard put it, "We experience life forward and understand it backward." (Ronald J. Manheimer, Ph.D.)
The older I get...the more able I am to use my own voice, to know what I feel and to say what I think; in short, to express without also having to persuade. (Gloria Steinem)
You can imagine that this was not an easy transition. (Jimmy Carter on losing his second run for president at age 50+ and returning to Plains Ga, pop. 700, to live the rest of his life.)

So here you have a book written by notable authors, retirement experts and people that have used the time in the third stage of their life to make personal dreams come true. I have been writing about retirement for several years now. Sometimes I think it has all been said. Then I read a book like 65 Things to Do When You Retire I know that we have only scratched the surface.

The book is available at Sellers Publishing or on Amazon. It is a paperback book with 400 page and was just released in March 2012.

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When the Snow Birds Go Home

noreply@blogger.com (b+ (Retire In Style Blog)) — Sat, 21 Apr 2018 01:42:00 +0000

May in Oregon Summer Vacation begins
with Mother's Day

Great Granddaughter Embrey at less than one year. Mother's Day

4th of July parade with family.

...the people all over the United States that live in a place that attracts winter visitors can reclaim their world. For us all, snow birds and warm climate livers, life is good.

Whitewater rafting in July.

The golf courses are empty and snowbird hangouts can go back to their real life. One man asked my husband when we are leaving. Next Wednesday is our departure date. A party is scheduled for the following Sunday. They will celebrate when we go home and we will celebrate when we get there.

Trip to Santa Fe in November

Arizona Townhouse remodel Sept. to April

Great Granddaughter born in January in San Diego

Arizona Garden in April...we return
to Oregon next week to begin it
all over again!

I love our rhythm of life. Luck will have us repeating this cycle many more times...fingers crossed.

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Potus and Misdirection...Pointing the other Way

noreply@blogger.com (b+ (Retire In Style Blog)) — Tue, 17 Apr 2018 23:04:00 +0000

Remember back when your children were small and you would change the subject quickly when they demanded something or you would point at the mountain instead of the ice cream shop? My parents tried it on me but I never did bite and did make them turn around and take me back to the Dairy Queen because I was REALLY hungry. The misdirect did not work.

I guess not all that much has changed around here. I can see through a misdirect in a nanosecond. That is why I posted a small poster on Facebook the other day. It looked like this.

Will I never learn that for every opinion there is someone out there that reads some evil intent into the thought? Probably not. But, in this case I totally see what the person that commented was thinking.

She said, "I guess using gas to kill your citizens is okay." I was appalled to think of what I had implied.

No, it isn't ok to use gas to kill citizen, in particular small children. That is wrong on so many levels I cannot even comprehend it.

I am learning that being clear about my thoughts is very important AND very hard when such a little numbers of characters allowed. (They allow 130 characters.)

But in this particular case the question is, "What prompted Assad to think that we wouldn't do something even worse that send in one missile?" (Done and dusted Trump's spokesman said.) Is the attitude of our administration that we will NOT fighting evil at any cost (we cannot afford to fight evil it seems) left the bad guys feeling free to do as they please? Isolationism has always been a misguided approach to international relations. I give you the holocaust and World War II as examples.

My response was:

Barbara Torris Not the message here Sue. I think it is very frightening that we are misdirected anytime he comes under fire. In this particular case I wonder what we were waiting for. I am sorry that you misunderstood. No, using gas is inhuman and totally outrageous but Assad has been at this for how long now and just last week "we are going to pull out and let someone else do it" was what we heard?
Manage
Like
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Barbara Torris We are not an island that can separate ourselves from the rest of the world. It would have been nice if Trump had even known what would happen when he threatened to withdraw [from Syria] but he simply cannot see past his own front yard. It is very frightening to think what will happen the next time a new book comes out because there are going to be more...you can bet on it.

Yes, the discussion is about misdirection. We tend to forget what the discussion was even about and there we go off on another rant.

But it turns out that changing the subject does not make me forget or even look away. I want my icecream, my sanity and most of I want educated and logical thinking by our president. What does it take to have those things? You tell me.

In spite of my frustration, I do see that the USA has come to be seen that the big sugar daddy for many and corruption abounds. There is that to be contended with. What will we do?

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MSNBC Video example of "misdirect" but it takes a while to get to the point...talk shows drive me crazy!

BETTER SLEEP TIPS: The Hot Round-up of the Web Link Suggestions!

noreply@blogger.com (b+ (Retire In Style Blog)) — Mon, 16 Apr 2018 22:41:00 +0000

I first published this article back in 2011. The baby I talked about just turned 10. But, in the matter of sleep, not much has changed. I received a request for a backlink to some current information so I thought I would repost the article.

Best quote ever: "Put sleep in the background of your life. Don't monitor it, don't evaluate it."

My son and daughter-in-law spent the week retraining their 1 year old to sleep through the night. They have spent on year nurturing this little person because of health issues at birth. After a year, it became apparent that the baby had played his "no sleep card" one too many times. After a week of training he slept through the night... like a baby! This is the one thing that babies have in common with seniors...both age groups are delicate sleeper.

Now I read that we can retrain ourselves to get a better nights sleep, even as we get older. Yesterday I talked about the Memory Foam Mattress and how the mattress we are sleeping on can be the real culprit. Sleeplessness leads to a sluggish next day and could even make us less affective on the job. All the information I read about sleeplessness mentioned the mattress and it's importance in a good nights sleep. Whether it be the Memory Foam Mattress or another, mattress getting the one that works for you can be the key. Sleep is important!

Beyond the mattress issue, there are other things that can keep us awake at night. It is a given that stress, worry, medications and health problems can interrupt sleep patterns. The trick is to find a way to sleep in spite of those things or to change our lives to eliminate problem issues. There are a few common suggestions from people that study sleep problems and most of them, surprisingly involve what we do before we go to bed.
BETTER SLEEP TIPS...a round up from the web!

NAPS Napping for a long time during the day will keep you from sleeping. If you need a nap limit the time.
EXERCISE You are going to need to get up and move. Do what is appropriate for you age...walk, run, swim, work...just get up off the couch, leave the TV or book or handwork and get up and move. You will feel better and you will sleep better.
FORBIDDEN FOOD Do not drink bad stuff before you go to bed. On the list of "forbidden" foods and drink are: alcohol, coffee, tea, colas, heavy meals less than 2 hours before, tobacco, and lots of water. We need to go to bed satisfied but not over watered and fed. If you drink alcohol at bedtime you will actually have a "withdrawal" that will awaken you during the night.
Good FOOD Stick to foods that contain high levels of tryptophan, such as milk, turkey, yogurt, ice cream, soy beans, tuna, and peanuts in the evening. Tryptophan helps the body produce serotonin in order to relax. (wikiHow.com/Better-Sleep) I know that a tablespoon of peanut butter will make me sleepy.
CIRCADIAN RHYTHM If you do not know how much sleep you actually need to feel good the next day FIND OUT NOW! Some of us sleep long hours and other need very little sleep. It is called the circadian rhythm or 24-hour cycle. As we age our sleep patterns change and worrying that you are sleeping more or less than you did when you were 20 does not help.
ROUTINE Once you have done this, establish a routine and make an effort to maintain it. Going to bed and getting up at nearly the same time every day gets your body and mind in the sleep habit. Psychology Today says ordinary insomnia may be cured simply by going to bed one hour later for a few nights, even though you may get drowsy. After that period of time add a little sleep back each night returning slowly to the normal routine. (And for heaven's sake don't drive when you are drowsy!) Like that grandson of mine...we may need to retrain ourselves to sleep.
BATTLE EVENING DROWSINESS Get up and move...again. I think that if you eliminate alcohol and eat a reasonably sized meal you find that you are less drowsy.
BEDROOM ENVIRONMENT The bedroom should be a sanctuary. Tune life down at bed time. Lower the lights, turn off the TV, meditate or listen to soft music. Keep the bedroom quiet, dark and cool...cool, I think is the key here. My experience is that getting a little chilled and then climbing into a warm bed leads to a very good night sleep.
LINE UP YOUR BODY Some people promote the idea that lining up our body is important. For many this is like teaching an old dog new tricks. A sleep position habit could be hard to break. Sleep on you back or side with your head lined up with your spine. Putting a pillow between the knees keeps the hips in line. Putting the pillow under you knees when sleeping on your back, eases back pain. I actually do all of the these things and they do help. I also think that sleeping at least part of the night on my back has improved my posture. Slumping over all day AND all night does not make for a straight back.
THE MATTRESS Every link I visited in my research mentioned the mattress...they say get a good mattress and take good care of it. It is just common sense.
SLEEP AIDS? Only one website mentioned sleep aids. Melatonin, antihistamine and tryptophan pills were all on the list. However, I would like to think that we could do this without a pill.
WHEN TO SEE THE DOCTOR If you suffer from restless leg syndrome, sleep apnea, acid reflux or any other disorder that disrupts your sleep, go to the doctor. Many of these disorders are very dangerous and may even cost you your life.
DON'T THINK ABOUT IT Psychology Today suggests that we "put sleep in the background of [our] life. Don't monitor it, don't evaluate it." Could it be possible that we think too much...especially at bedtime. I think so and so do the experts. Quit thinking and don't go searching around in your mind for solutions to problems at bedtime. I have never had a doctor tell me to quit thinking but it just makes good sense. If you know you need to do something in the morning and are worried you will forget WRITE IT DOWN AND FORGET IT.

Of all the websites I visited, I felt that Psychology Today had the best strategies for curing a bout of insomnia. Hop on over there and read what they had to say. The article was called Your Guide to a Better Nights Sleep.

Sleep well.
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Resources:

Help Guide How to Sleep Better
Psychology Today Your Guide to Better Sleep
WebMD How to Sleep Better
wikiHow How to Sleep Better
Mayo Clinic 10 Tips for Better Sleep

BETTER SLEEP TIPS: The Hot Round-up of the Web Link Suggestions!

Related articles
Circadian Rhythm and Blues: The Interface of Depression with Sleep and Dreams (psychologytoday.com)
Say Goodbye to Insomnia (psychologytoday.com)
Best Medical and Non-Medical Insomnia Cures (healthadel.com)
Heeding the Body's Basic Rhythms (psychologytoday.com)

Was it Better Back When Libel and Slander was a REAL THING?

noreply@blogger.com (b+ (Retire In Style Blog)) — Fri, 13 Apr 2018 20:55:00 +0000

I am struggling with finding the truth. I don't like any news media either liberal or conservative to try to shape my opinion. I want those people to read me the news without providing any opinions or coloring the story in some way. The news media is not putting out "fake news" but they are injecting a lot of hints as to where they stand. I don't care!

I woke up this morning thinking back to the "good old days" when avoiding slander and libel were part of our ethical culture. People actually believed that something could be done if they were, for example, attacked in print unfairly. In fact, back before President Reagan administration vetoed a law that would have made "equal time" a law and not a public policy, the person that was attacked politically could demand equal time in the media. Wow! Remember when?

The doctrine, instituted by the Federal Communications Commission as public policy in 1949, requires the nation's radio and television stations to "afford reasonable opportunity for the discussion of conflicting views on issues of public importance."

"This type of content-based regulation by the federal government is, in my judgment, antagonistic to the freedom of expression guaranteed by the First Amendment," Reagan said in his veto message. "In any other medium besides broadcasting, such federal policing of the editorial judgment of journalists would be unthinkable." (Reagan's Veto Kills Fairness Doctrine Bill June 21, 1987)

It should be noted here that the media loved Reagan for this veto. We, the American people, have suffered at the hands of political talk show hosts ever since.

I can even remember when it was unheard of for someone to be able to malign another anonymously on the editorial page in the newspaper. Having had some experience with the type of newspaper editor's thinking that encourages that sort of thing, I know that not being able to identify your attacker is very frustrating. Laws should create a level playing field...at least in my world. We all wish the world were perfect.

I know that our founding fathers were far worse than we are today about writing their opinions, publishing them and not revealing their identity. I give you The Federalist Papers (Library of Congress). So we cannot harken back to a time when our nation was new for inspiration. This sort of thing has always gone on. In fact, it wasn't a law that you needed to be careful about what you said in print, it was just required by society in many parts of our country. Most people knew that disliking a person did not give you the right to attack their appearance or question their abilities. It was and still is viewed as childish.

I, like most of the people in our society, still abide by those ethical rules.

But...now we have Twitter and Facebook and notifications on our phones. If it crosses our minds, we can put it out there immediately and there are no consequences.

Remember back in January when news media was saying that our president asked for tougher libel and slander laws because Michael Wolff wrote a book called Fire and Fury: Inside the Trump Whitehouse. If you didn't see it the article from the NYT back then, here is the link.

President Trump on Wednesday repeated a pledge to make it easier for people to sue news organizations and publishers for defamation, denouncing the country’s libel laws as a “sham” a day after his personal lawyer filed a lawsuit against a major media outlet, BuzzFeed News. New York Times, Jan 10, 2018

That same article points out that the president saw that changing those laws might put him in jeopardy.

So what really puzzles me is the thinking on social media. It is very like the news media and in fact is replacing it. Yet our president treat Tweets as conversations that disappear into thin air. Would those conversations be basis for a lawsuit? See, the line is so thin. Is calling a person a liar or dumb slander?

Here is the real kicker...in order to slander a person you have-to-lie. If you are telling the truth as you see it and it cannot be disproved, tough luck. If you really are fat or if the statement is made in judgment of your abilities or your opinions and you cannot prove otherwise, tough luck. The defamation has to be false.

The general harm caused by defamation is identified as being ridiculed, shamed, hated, scorned, belittled or held in contempt by others, and lowers him/her in esteem of a reasonably prudent person, due to the communication of the false statement. Defamation Guide to Libel and Slander

The court of public opinion has to judge that person either guilty or not because the law will not do that. Mocking another is not illegal...it is wrong...but it is not illegal.

What do you think?

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Trouble in paridise!

noreply@blogger.com (b+ (Retire In Style Blog)) — Wed, 04 Apr 2018 23:11:00 +0000

It seems that I cannot post a reply to my comments on blogger. It is driving me nuts because, well, I have stuff to say and no one can see what I have to say. My life is not perfect in anyway.

Yes that is my golf ball and, yes that is the blue flag you see through the tree. My golf game is not perfect either.

Darn! :)

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Back in the Day....20 Hobbies for 2018

noreply@blogger.com (b+ (Retire In Style Blog)) — Fri, 30 Mar 2018 00:19:00 +0000

This is so funny...I made this list and then went out to see if I could find a "how-to" for each one. Here are the ideas AND a link to the information on what to do if you want to take up that hobby! WOW!

Dubai at Sunset. Travel could be on this list but that would be way to easy

You know...back when the world was young...10 years ago. Blogging was just getting attention and we were not carrying iPhones or probably even an iPad. We did have a laptop and it traveled around the world with us.

Back then, retirement was very much in jeopardy. The economy was struggling. So, those people who retiring did not necessarily think of going to a desert island or to the South Pole. They were trying to figure out what they could do with what disposable cash they had.

The talk was all about "Hobbies" or turning a hobby into "A Second Job". That was when I came across a list of hobbies...100 of them. (100 Cheap Hobbies) That list made me laugh over and over because I kept going back to it for this blog about retirement.

I could make a hobby out of making a list of hobbies. Truly, there is no end to what might be of interest to people. I was thinking of some today.

Dumpster diving...you never know what you may find.
Finding stuff...I had a man tell me he "found" several hundred dollars worth of stuff every year. Here is a company that will take you one a scavenger hunt.
Geocaching...this a hobby created by hiding stuff, leaving a link to the geographical location on a website. I have never done it but if you are into treasure hunts, you will love this.
Collecting things...key, computers, watches, keys, buttons, etc. I am good with three of most things but I can see how a person could get obsessed. Top 10 Things to Collect
Reading all mysteries one year and nothing but biographies the next. A challenge but still fun I think. Top 10 books for 2017 (Publisher's Weekly)
Running...from or to somewhere I suppose. Or even just running in a circle. People love to run. How to Run Correctly
Walking...more my speed. 10 Ways to Get the Most out of Walking
Tracking your walking/running with charts and logs. Tracking Your Walks
Photography...mix it up with telephoto lens catching the world unaware. 10 Tips for Great Telephoto Pictures
Art...this could have 100 subtitles I think but just saying you are an artist makes you more interesting. Quick Beginners Guide for Drawing
Sewing...make a quilt or sew a dish rag. Get the machine out and sew like crazy. 40 Sewing Hacks You Should Know
Embroidery...the world is waiting for your next tablecloth or wall hanging. 19 Artists Creatively Pushing the Boundaries of Embroidery
Upcycle...If you buy an old something and redecorate it, the world is your apple. What is Upcycling?
Learn to Play Golf...that will keep you busy for at least 20 years. Online Golf Video
Golf...if you have alway golfed, take lessons and find out how wrong you have doing it all these years. How to find a Golf Instructor
Write a blog...join Blogspot, set up a blog and learn about that wonderful world of people you did not even know existed. How to write a blog...2018
Learn to write computer programs...it might be fun and not that hard. How to Start to Learn Computer Programing
Buy a new computer...if you are a PC user buy an Apple. You will have a whole new way to entertain yourself. New to Apple...support
Volunteer to do something totally out of your comfort zone. Volunteer in 4 Easy Steps (overseas)
Clean your house...over and over. A hobby worth doing. :) Easy Steps to Cleaning Your House in 1 Hour

Do you have a unique hobby?

Have fun.

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The Little Black Dot

noreply@blogger.com (b+ (Retire In Style Blog)) — Thu, 29 Mar 2018 16:00:00 +0000

Published back in 2013...still relevant:

If you look at the page of life after retirement, be sure to look past that little black dot. The whole world waits for you.

In a post I wrote several year ago called How To Be A Snowbird I talked about how you can find a way to load up the bare essentials and travels south to escape the cold, dreary and wet/snowy north. People around the world that can afford it do this every year. Even those people that live in the southern hemisphere probably look for warmth during their winters.

In an inspirational blog post put up back in 2012 the black dot appeared in a story told by "Steven" on a website called Motivation. In the story, a group needing to see a bigger future for their community was inspired by a simple black dot in the middle of a blank piece of paper.

During her presentation, the speaker took a large piece of white paper and made a small black dot at the center with a marking pen. Then she held the paper up before the group and asked them what they saw.

One person quickly replied, “I see a black dot.”

“Okay, what else do you see?”

Others joined in agreement: “A black dot.”

“Don’t you see anything besides the dot?” – she asked.

A resounding “No” came from the audience.

“What about the sheet of paper?” – asked the speaker. “I am sure you have all seen it”, she said, “But you have chosen to overlook it.”

“In life, we also tend to overlook and take for granted many wonderful things that we have or happen around us and focus our attention and energy on [the] small dot...."

When we retire our options are open to us like they have never been before in our life. We are not tied to a place on the face of the earth because of a job. Our children are grown and truly need to live a life free of us for at least part of every year. And all of us have dreamed of what we would do if we had that freedom. Admit it, on those days when the job drove you crazy or your responsibilities as a parent seemed overwhelming, you dreamed of a kind of freedom that was impossible at that time.

The dream is there and yet many of us focus on the black dot in the middle of our page in life and forget to even glance at the blank page and it's possibilities. It is right in front of our face.

I hear women say they cannot leave their grandchildren.

Men will immediate take up a volunteer life or get so involved with a hobby that they forget to find a way to include their spouse in something they will both enjoy.

Many simply don't see the option as possible even though it can be affordable. They are afraid of change.

Their whole life is about the small black dot when a whole blank page is ready to be explored.

Being a snowbird is an opportunity to explore that blank page. As a retiree a person you can spend a little time here or there. If one day later in that stage of their life they decide to settle down, they will have experience and knowledge about that they can do.

I always keep a list of the options close at hand. My husband and I like change a lot and are not looking forward to a time when we are glued to the floor. Here are a few ideas that might help you spread your wings and try something new.

Buy a very small trailer that you can tow behind your car and go out and see our country. That is what we did first and I think it was one of our most valuable experiences. We learned that we were up for adventure and could take risks without harm.
Take advantage of a timeshare you have owned FOREVER and didn't use. Go to Mexico or the Caribbean or even South Carolina.
Visit a location near to someone you know. They can show you the ropes. I know so many people that have done this and found a whole new life.
Consider your options and take a look at your finances to see what you could afford if you were to find a vacation home in the warmth of winter sunshine.
Keep in mind that very affordable yet simple living in places like Arizona are available. We have settled in a small old park model that we have turned into a doll house. It is so affordable that we can stay for 6 months in the desert AND travel. We own one car and drive back and forth from Oregon to Arizona and back.
Buy a Camper Life book and explore the options at campgrounds around the USA. Many, many have rentals in simple facilities that are wonderful.
Read, read, read. Travel books, blog posts and even websites that Lonely Planet give a window to the world and have all the information you need to make a dream vacation.
Always keep in mind facilities like AirBNB when you travel. You can stay in a house and get a feel for how real people live almost anyplace in the known world. I like that option a lot. Living like a tourist is a lot different than living like a local!
Explore options for hobbies that you had not thought of before. Who knows, you may love geocaching a lot.
If you love golfing, hiking or gardening in the north in the summer, remember traveling south makes those hobby possible year around. RV resort offer jewelry making, music group participation and theater groups for you admission to the park. Trust me, you will never run out of things to do.
In my Oregon garden

So there you have a few. Don't focus on a dot in the middle of the page when the whole wide world is waiting for you.

The Neighbors Are Listening (darn)

noreply@blogger.com (b+ (Retire In Style Blog)) — Mon, 26 Mar 2018 17:13:00 +0000

Who knows who is listening in the next booth.

Today Facebook reminded me of a story I wrote 1 year ago today. In the Next Booth was a story about a little boy we met at Sunday brunch at the Congress Hotel here in Tucson...and about eavesdropping.

Eavesdropping may not be good manners but sometimes getting to know those people in the next booth can be so much fun.

This year we live in a townhouse with a large back deck enclosed by a high fence which is situated next to the street. The street is a buffer against neighbors that may be eavesdroppers (like me). It was one of the things that drew us to this property in a community that is small. But it turns out that more people are listening than we could even imagine!

Here in our townhouse, the street is just on
the other side of the fence.

In Oregon, the neighbors are just over the fence!

The thing is, my husband and I "disagree" sometimes...and we disagree outside, inside and sideways. It is not a pretty thing to hear I am sure.

We also work things out about people we know both far and near. But we do NOT talk about the neighbors...not here or in Oregon. We are smarter than that. Still, my husband and I talk to each other continually. Good, bad or indifferent, that is the way it is.

Sooooo...it turns out that the neighbors listen as they walk by or they may even just go outside to check on us! Thankfully our friend, Share, tipped us off. Oh dear! We are "disagreeing" indoors a lot more.

The upshot of the whole thing is, like email, people can misinterpret what we say because 1) they don't know our sense of humor or our background and 2) they don't know WHO we are discussing and 3) they take meaning from their own phobias.

I always have known that the neighbors are listening! Darn! In the next booth, there are two old people (us) that are both just a little deaf so they don't speak in soft voices.

Now, we are mending fences because I really do like these people, I have not talked about them at all...and I think their dogs are wonderful. It is so good to have life, real life, going on around me.

Wanna come over for cocktails? We are having a small party soon.

How close are your neighbors?

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George, the Wash Dog

noreply@blogger.com (b+ (Retire In Style Blog)) — Wed, 21 Mar 2018 00:37:00 +0000

So here we are in a new location...moved from a park model in a winter RV resort for 55+...summer camp in the winter if you will...now living in a townhome with real everyday people, going to work, taking care of aging parents and families of children. Some are just generally retired and living out life. Real life, no planned activities save a beautiful swimming pool that is closed in the winter.

The Office

I like it a lot. I happen to love change.

But each bit of "new" has its challenges. The real issue here is getting to know people, neighbors with children or grandchildren and dogs or cats. How does one go about that? It can be hard.

The Living/Dining room

I have been know to trip people and then lean over them as they lay on the ground with my hand out introducing myself, "Hi, my name is Barbara." I will say. "What's yours?" Something like that!

My most successful introductions are made because I love animals and children. That is how George the Dog came into my life. His owner was walking him soon after we moved in and I crossed the street to introduce myself. George was aloof and wouldn't come near my offered hand.

He is a big black dog of dubious breeding and mysterious age. What we do know is that George is a Wash Dog. In case you didn't know, a Wash Dog is a dog that lives in the dry riverbed we call a wash here in Arizona. His owner walks in the wash almost daily. When she saw George, her heart went out to him. He followed her on her walks but would not come close. Tired, hungry and dirty it was evident that he needed some love and a home. So she spent many walks enticing him to come with her.

George was a reluctant animal and didn't see the need for a civilized life even though he wasn't doing so good on his own. He still doesn't understand what a backyard is and will not go out any door that leads to one.

When he is out for a walk and he knows he is getting near going into the house, he simply sits down stubbornly. The thing is I fell in love with George at very first sight. There is something about the old fool that I just cannot resist.

His owner, Donna, really should have a special place in heaven for making a place in her home for him. Her elderly mother is being cared for there too and he shares the limelight with a aging beagle (or is it a basset hound?)

That home is just bursting with life and light. I am just a little bit envious.

How do you feel about Wash Dogs? Want one? Me too. (I cannot have a dog right now but I can dream.)

On Giving the Weatherman Advice

noreply@blogger.com (b+ (Retire In Style Blog)) — Sun, 18 Mar 2018 18:41:00 +0000

I know it all and if you don't believe it just ask me! I alway have a piece of important advice to give. It can be a big problem but that is the way I am...God had a plan but I am still not sure what it was.

From my kitchen window.

The best piece of advice I ever gave was to the weatherman on a particularly beautiful day. The windows were open and the sun was shining and the TV news was on the screen. The weatherman (yes it was a man) stood there talking about rain and cold and miserable. That was when I heard myself say, "Oh for goodness sakes, don't you ever look out the wind?"

In this day and age, where life is passing before our eyes on the TV screen, I think that a lot of us have totally forgot to simply go outside or open the blinds and look out the window.

I am taking my own advice for the first time ever. I spend very little time on my computer. I have put my iphone away when I drive/ride in the car. The warning I get that tells me that I will not be receiving notifications while driving started it all. Why was I looking for stuff on my phone the minute I got in the car to the point that I phone told me to stop? Wow, I did not realize what a habit had become.

Out my bedroom window.

For so many years I used that time in car to catch up on internet stuff. Even back when we were traveling in the RV I figured out how to run my camera or cell phone or even wrote off line. Obsessed would be the word I would use to describe how I functioned in my life.

So I have one more piece of advice. Try putting it all away for a while. You will be surprised that buildings and roads were built. A whole world of things have happened that you did not know about.

I have read books...I actually have gone to the library and gotten books to hold in my hand. I even ordered Hello Fresh food to try out something different to eat. I slice and dice and read a real hold in my hands recipe.

I quit wearing glasses that were basically for computer use and bought ones that are single vision-look at the whole world glasses. Wow, it is amazing.

Yup, it turned out that it wasn't just the weatherman that needed to look out the window. I needed to do that too.

What are you up to these day?

Have a wonderful day.

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Meanwhile...back on the ranch in Tucson! Feeling a little discombooberated!

noreply@blogger.com (b+ (Retire In Style Blog)) — Mon, 26 Feb 2018 20:00:00 +0000

Feeling a little discombooberated!

Well, I didn't really go anywhere...wait yes I did!

Just one month ago + a few days our grandson and his wife had a baby...Addie Jo. She is beautiful all-be-it a little stubborn. We traveled to San Diego with my daughter/son-in-law so we could be there for the birth. You can guess...the baby came a little over a week late and her mother was in labor for 4 days at least. Addie had her own ideas about coming out.

Adeline Jo

We even told her while she was in her mommy's tummy that it was okay; the grandmas were here now. But she didn't listen. Sigh.

So there was that...I guess we have been a little distracted. We are getting our windows replaced in a few weeks so there was that getting-bids process. That was not a trip but it certainly was entertaining and hard. The decision has been made now so we can move on I guess.

I fell down twice within the last month. Both times I bled but was not wounded that badly...well I did break a tooth so that took an appointment and an embarrassing explanation to a dentist to explain how I managed to break myself. It was a reminder that I need to quit talking so much and pay attention to the ground under my feet. What a nuisance and waste of time bruises are! There was that too...no blogging for a few days twice.

I went to the eye doctor just because it seemed like a good idea. No new glasses but I did order a pair online...the glass was fine but the frames were so out of line it took me several days to get them to a place where they were usable. That took up another day or two.

So, you add up the days I was not available taking into consideration that I golf twice a week, shop once or twice and read (three books in a month), you can see that I have been away more than one can calculate.

Anyway, in case anyone was wondering, I am fine, I am back on the ranch and life goes on.

Be well.

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Did You Know and Kept it a Secret?

noreply@blogger.com (b+ (Retire In Style Blog)) — Sat, 03 Feb 2018 23:39:00 +0000

I remember the glasses I ever put on my face at the age of 19. For the first time in my life I could see the limbs on the trees and road signs. It was, in my world, an absolute miracle.

One head, two pairs of glasses...sigh!

But it seems that I still haven't found the perfect combination of eye wear. As a result, the thrill that I found in that first perfect pair of glasses is gone.

Right now I am wearing a single RX lens with no bifocals and I can see wonderfully...well except for the food on my plate or my reading book.

So, when I am at my computer I put on two pairs, one over the other. Did you know that if you put on your single RX glasses along with magnifying readers, your glasses become reading glasses? I didn't know that.

I was at the University bookstore the other day admiring all those gorgeous cheap readers that everyone else can wear. I put a pair on over the glasses that I was wearing and all of the title in front of my face popped into focus. How come no one told me about that?

I came home and dug out my readers I had purchased after cataract surgery when I truly believed that my vision might be almost perfect. Of course it wasn't, so the readers were put away and I bought even more expensive RX glasses. Now I find that those readers under my current glasses make my vision for reading wonderful.

Who knew? Have you know this and didn't tell me?

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p.s. I am now looking at online website and thinking of ordering single vision glasses using my new RX. Any ideas?

Women of Midlife...when did 55 get to be so young?

noreply@blogger.com (b+ (Retire In Style Blog)) — Fri, 26 Jan 2018 21:49:00 +0000

Back when the world was young, I was 50 years old! Good grief Hannah, when did the world turn around that many times? Is there anyone still blogging at my age (76)? I wonder.

As I was reading Women of Midlife today it struck me that like my doctor, everyone is barely in their teens. When did 50 become so young in my mind?

This is what I found:

Renee L Stambaugh 2 years till I hit 70! Wait what? And I have a lot to do.... http://helpfulhellion.com/wordpress/?p=723
Randi Mazzella Did you celebrate 50 or hide under the covers?https://thefinelinemag.com/being-50-years-old/
Suzy Rosenstein Ep #29: How I Decided to Go Back to School at 55

I barely remember being 50 or 55 and 70 was not particularly outstanding at all. I didn't feel the need to accomplish a whole lot so the idea of being 68 and needing to climb a big mountain didn't even occur to me. I felt I had plenty of time to do what I wanted.

But here is the interesting thing...those things that I used to feel compelled to do don't even interest me now! I don't want to learn to sail or to go on a very long hike to the top. I did want to do those thing at one time but not now...not at all.

I love to read the post from those younger midlife women. That large group of women was formed several years ago and I joined them in the very first wave. It includes so many very interesting women. But, it seems that Midlife is getting longer and longer...we do not go away even though we outgrow the age period. If there were no mirrors in our homes, we would not know that 25 years had passed and we were no long "middle aged" anymore.

Thoughts anyone?

Life is An Easter Egg Hunt...a game for aging people!

noreply@blogger.com (b+ (Retire In Style Blog)) — Tue, 23 Jan 2018 17:56:00 +0000

Our new greatgranddaughter, Addie.
The perfect found Easter Egg.

My husband plays a very good game of golf. It really doesn't matter how old he is (almost 80), he is really good...but not every day.

The trick here is to make even those bad days pay off. In his world that is very important. On those bad days his ball may go anywhere; into the woods, the water or people's backyards. The preference is the woods or a hazard near the tee box. Strange huh!

See, he views those days as an Easter Egg hunt, the eggs being really good golf balls made by expense golf companies. He may not come home with any winning money but he comes home with a lot of golf balls. That makes him happy.

Life is very like a game of golf I think. As I age the Easter Egg hunt comes into play more and more often.

Life is not a beach but
it is pretty darn close.

The "Hunting for Words" game is one my friends and I play everytime we meet. It is kind of a mixture between Pictionary and Search a Word. My friend was talking about her granddaughter, a dancer and actor, applying for a job in Detroit this summer. The job was at a place, you know, one of those fun places where everyone goes on rides. There are hand gestures and facial experience giving clues to just the right answer. In a few minutes the answer will be found and we are both happy.

Let the games begin!

As we age, we accumulate more and more things. Now my husband and I live in two house with all together different tools to make our lives easy. We do the Easter Egg hunt game...a lot. Have you see that stud finder...you know the one that is yellow? or Where is the crock pot that will hold enough food for eight people when they come for dinner?

If the lost item doesn't turn up within a few minutes, we will look at each other and realize we don't have that here in Arizona/Oregon. It is in the other house.

See what I mean. Searching for the perfect place to live, the right tools to do a job or even the right words is what our life is made of daily. At times it is frustrating because, well, you know how you feel when you cannot find the car keys, your glasses or even the newspaper. It does keep
us on our toes.

My cup is full...it is not perfect...but it is full.

How is your day going? Questions anyone?

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Is it Possible to Find a Place on Earth that is Untouched?

noreply@blogger.com (b+ (Retire In Style Blog)) — Mon, 08 Jan 2018 22:04:00 +0000

Sapa Market...Sue Mae (oldest sister) and me (no bath, no hot water, no makeup)

There really are places you can go see the past. There may not be a McDonalds so you might not be able to get a burger. I am sure you will survive. But it is tricky. Did you see that 1000 people were lined up at base camp to climb Mt. Everest in the last few days of the climbing season? One thousand people dropping oxygen bottles and trash on the highest most remote mountain in the world! What was an adventure enjoyed by only a few has now become a tourist destination! It is getting hard to find places where the McDonalds culture has not evaded. But it can be done.

The New York Times featured at article in the Art and Design section about a region near Oaxaca, Mexico. A village close by has remained untouched by the modern world. The article was aptly titled The Past Has a Presence Here.

The past is visible in the landscape. The past casts a sharp shadow here, wherever you look. You see it on mountaintop plateaus, where the ruins of ancient pyramidal staircases and capital-I-shaped ball fields hint at mysterious rituals that disappeared over a millennium ago.

When you stand on a flattened hilltop above the village of Atzompa, some seven miles outside of Oaxaca, and look over at a nearby peak, you can glimpse the immense ruins of Monte Albán, a pre-Columbian plaza of breathtaking expanse used for ceremonies and games. Below those ruins, where perhaps 25,000 people lived in the early part of the first millennium, you can make out faint remnants of terraced farming on the hillside. New York Times, June 15, 2012

The Times article pointed out that even in this place the stalls in the market feature Sponge Bob Square Pants t-shirts. And yes, McDonalds came to Oaxaca in 2002. In this case, you must travel the 7 miles from Oazaca to Atzompa to escape the omni-present fast food business. The truth is, in order for a person to get a glimpse of what was, most humans must be left behind...a distant hill or village has to be the destination.

H'mong woman

When my husband and I visited Sapa, Vietnam this last winter, we could not believe our good fortune. The food was authentic and the only tourists we saw were trekkers. There was not a McDonalds in sight. We shopped in markets run by H'mong people that did not call Vietnam nor China home. They belonged to a culture of their own. The H'mong women that were sent to town each week for a few days followed us relentlessly asking us to buy their trinkets. I was adopted by a woman named Jan. She trailed behind us like a puppy for a whole day. She could not read nor write. Western culture had not ruined her true nature. The face she showed us was one of a childlike innocence. She let us know that all the women talked about our family. My husband and I were a rarity because of our age.

When we were in Hanoi, the real Vietnam was still very much in evidence. Vendors began crowding the street to set up stalls at 5:30 a.m. so people that lived in that neighborhood could do their daily shopping. They brought the produce on their shoulders to the street balanced like a scale while riding bicycles. A loud speaker outside our bedroom window woke the neighborhood at 7:00 am with daily announcements. (Shades of Good Morning Vietnam with Robin Williams)

French Villa style setting.

Here again, the difficulty of getting to the place determined how authentic the places would be. We flew into Hanoi from Shanghai on a Vietnamese airline that was actually held together with duct tape on the interior. The trip to Sapa required an overnight train ride and a bus ride north to a place at the foot of the Himalayas 40 kilometers from the Chinese border.

Night Train...open windows? WOW!

Cat Cat Village, Vietnam

A few French villas left from the times of the French colonization dotted the hillsides. The people in the country side lived as they has been living since heaven knows when. But, in order for us to see that, we walked down stairs and paths that made the adrenaline rush as the thought that, if you fell, you would die flashed through the mind. It was only then that we saw the H'mong people living much like generations before.

I suppose the lesson here is that the real cultures of the world are disappearing at the speed of light and, if we want to see something authentic, we need to dress in suitable clothes, bring a helmet in case you fall and wear good walking shoes. It is not physically easy.

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I recommend you read Seth Kugel, of the NYT. I especially recommend this article he wrote about Mexico.

Picking a Spot, Any (Undiscovered) Spot, in Mexico

By SETH KUGEL

Did I Really Say that?

noreply@blogger.com (b+ (Retire In Style Blog)) — Fri, 22 Dec 2017 19:21:00 +0000

This is an updated post from 2014. It keeps getting better and better!

I have to admit it. I can swear but I try to keep it a secret. I am a total fraud and Google knows it. I found that out after I wrote this article. Now I find out that Dame Judith Dench thinks my choice of words shows courage. Plus Rubber Shoes in Hell is not setting a good example for me. Wow!

I know, the word cussing is old fashioned but just work with me here. Cussing is what we called it back in the day. In fact, cussed (cuss-said) was a swear word back then. We would call mean old men those cussed old guys or a dog that bit that cussed dog.

I didn't hear many really bad words in my day. My mother said dang once in a while. But I must have heard some bad words somewhere. My mother claimed I said dammit over and over while I jumped up and down on the bed. I was in trouble for jumping and cussing. It was not a good day in my world. Then I claimed that my Auntie Ardella said it all the time. My Auntie was a saint and I am sure she never used a bad word in her entire life. I probably was guilty of lying too. I don't remember doing any of that very clearly.

Cover of Phooey!

My father always cussed in the basement when he hit his thumb with a hammer or cut a board too short twice. However, he was out of earshot at least as far as understanding the words were concerned. I did hear him call his bosses SOBs a time or two but since I could not spell it didn't matter. That was as bad as it got. I don't think he would have been a "real man" back in those days if he had not done that.

I was a teacher and the "f" word was never allowed. Student would be surprised when the parents were called but still, they did get a call. I can understand why they needed to spout off occasionally. But still.

I discovered that sometime things went wrong, I was frustrated. That was when I learned a few bad words...fiddlesticks, dog-gone-it, shoot, phooey and later what in the Sam Hill?

I always felt a little guilty when I lost control but lose control I did! And my vocabulary became more colorful as time passed. I have spent a lifetime trying to overcome this very bad habit. But, a bad word or phrase will slip out in normal everyday conversation. I am generally on the golf course. Dear me, I sound like a sailor or a person that was raised by wolves.

Now Dame Judith Dench, age 80+ says that maturity gives us the courage to say what is on our mind. Interesting I think. I'm not sure if it is courage or lack of self control. Sigh!

Rubber Shoes in Hell, one of my favorite blogs, uses phrases like, "Oh dear god. Fucking hell." the same way I say "Oh my. Darn". Same meaning, different generations.

As I age I want to become more of a lady not less. I really do. I think that dignity and modeling of good manners never goes out of style. Oh My (smile) how I wish it were easy. But it is not.

I tell myself often that I do NOT suffer from a disorder that leaves me unable to control my language. I cannot decide if I should fight it or just embrace it. After all, if Judith says it is okay, who am I to disagree.

Unfortunately Google sees right through me. I was a little taken aback when I saw that they suggested f*__k as a label option.

Any thoughts

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How Do They Know or When the Gas Man Cometh

noreply@blogger.com (b+ (Retire In Style Blog)) — Wed, 20 Dec 2017 22:21:00 +0000

Life here at my house continues to be a little wonky! Nothing has changed...ever. That my lovelies is why I am NEVER surprised.

See the thing is we just sold our Park Model and the money was passed to us this morning. We scheduled the event day before yesterday. That was the day that we received notice that our new electric fireplace would be delivered before 8:00 pm today. Money and a new fireplace can add up to some pretty ominous stuff.

I should have felt the universe lining up all it's little balls and putting them in it's cannon. It knew something was up for sure.

I woke this morning feeling so cozy and warm in my bed and could only think how wonderful a hot cup of coffee would be and wandered into the kitchen to get a cup. As I passed the thermostat I noticed that is was only 65 in the house. A bit chilly but if my husband forgot to turn the furnace up, perfectly normal.

It is really cold in here, I announced softly in my morning voice. No kidding he replied sarcastically. That's when I realized that the universe had taken it's best shot. Our furnace was not working. The temp was in the 30's, very cold for us here in Arizona.

Snow on the Catalina Mt. Tucson AZ

A new fireplace...hmm...the furnace stops...hmmm. Why am I not surprised.

There was a lot of thermostat wiggling and outdoor breaker panel fanegalling and then a long ladder was placed against the side of the house. Discoveries were made and the conclusion was that when the gas man came yesterday he did not turn on the gas...he turned it off! (He will be here sometime today to turn it back on we are hoping.)

Why am I not surprised? Did I tell you about the time that the stove unplugged itself in the middle of a party...?

Hope you are warm. We live in Tucson so we will not freeze but still!

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News Flash: Moose Eats 3 lb. Pork Roast

noreply@blogger.com (b+ (Retire In Style Blog)) — Thu, 14 Dec 2017 21:07:00 +0000

Moose

New Flash: Moose Eats 3 lb. Pork Roast

Moose is a very big dog...counter height, extremely strong and sweet. He can do what he wants pretty much but the fact that he want to please his humans keeps him from getting in all the trouble could.

They went rafting, I went for a drage
behind Moose.

The fact that he really is in control is something I know from personal experience. Last summer I did "Moose Sitter" duty while my family went white water rafting. Moose and I were left in a park by the river where there were barbeques and lots of people. The restroom was far away. I wanted to use the restroom, Moose wanted to eat barbeque. It was a tough day for both of us. We were both relieved when his people came back.

So the news that Moose had eaten his family's dinner really came as no surprise. I knew from experience that his stomach can win out over reason.

That is why he ate the roast the other night...3 lbs. of pork loin possibly in one gulp. There were no witnesses and I think he would blame his people for leaving him alone with all that deliciousness. He left the wrapper and Styrofoam tray behind so there is that. The good thing, my daughter tells me, is that the 3 lb roasts were on a two for one sale...I suppose Moose thought that meant one for him and one for his humans.

He didn't bet his kibbles last night because he was a "bad dog".

His tummy hurt today and apparently he is constipated.

Oh Moose what did you do?

PS: My younger son has a very small pug names Bodie...he is a tiny little pup. He came to stay with us last summer. What a easy little puppy his is. Thankfully!

Moving Around the Corner

noreply@blogger.com (b+ (Retire In Style Blog)) — Tue, 12 Dec 2017 22:03:00 +0000

We moved a short distance from our park model in an RV resort. The park model had about 380n sq. ft. Our newer home has over 1000 sq. ft. Here are the pictures of the interior now. We love it.

How much do you care?

noreply@blogger.com (b+ (Retire In Style Blog)) — Sat, 09 Dec 2017 00:01:00 +0000

It has come to me recently that what readers want is to be entertained...they really aren't so much interested in my sleep habits or even my health. They are usually very nice but care? I wonder.

We sold our park model today...that made my husband and I very "do the happy dance" happy. We played golf with two very nice people, ate Mexican and drove home.

Beautiful Tucson Winter!

Tucson showed us that side of itself that makes us wonder why we ever leave. The colors on the rocks over in Tucson Estates are as glorious as any we have see anywhere in the world. I shared on Swarm with a picture.

So there you have it...I feel better because my day was perfect and I just wanted to tell you. But, the question is "Do you care?" We will see.

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When the Jehovahs Witness Come to Call...

noreply@blogger.com (b+ (Retire In Style Blog)) — Tue, 05 Dec 2017 20:55:00 +0000

"No, I'm not interested in salvation... but
can I interest you in a glass of wine?"

I know I am living in the real world. The Jehovah's Witness ladies came to call this morning...before I was even dressed. It has been so long since that has happened that I was surprised they still did that! We exchanged a very few words and we were done. It was kinda nice!

See, I have lived in upscale condos, 55+ neighborhoods and even an RV resort with a guard. The Witness people don't usually visit in those places.

Now we live in a middle class neighborhood with townhouses and people, young and old, that work hard. There are no gates or any upscale anything. It is just real people living in a real place.

I like that a lot. The real world works for me...even when the Jehovah's Witness get me out of bed. I probably sleep too much anyway.

Where do you live?

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"I wish people would stop treating me like I’m two steps from a dirtnap", she said."I’m only 55!"

noreply@blogger.com (b+ (Retire In Style Blog)) — Tue, 05 Dec 2017 19:00:00 +0000

Being older has its perks, but I wish people would stop treating me like I’m two steps from a dirtnap. I’m only 55!

This made me giggle. I remember thinking this same thing when I was 55. Now that I am older, I am not sure if anyone will notice when I am two steps from the dirt-nap. I think that sooner or later someone would wonder why I slept so much but it is not a given.

The truth of the matter is I have faced that fact that I am old. Just because I don't feel old doesn't change a thing. In fact, I see it as my job to change the definition of "old" by example.


We take our pictures from a distance now.

What does old mean to you?

Wrinkled
Smart
Experienced
Elegant
Retired
Grandparent
Traveler
Useful
Volunteer
Sick
Feeble
Adventurer
Wise
Ready for the "Dirt Nap"

I would mark out 3 of these things and wrinkled is NOT one of them. But then that is just me. You may have a different idea. Think about it and let me know...and please make me giggle. I need a good laugh once in a while!

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I wrote this five years ago...still something to think about. Any thoughts?

35 Steps to a Perfect....

noreply@blogger.com (b+ (Retire In Style Blog)) — Thu, 30 Nov 2017 16:00:00 +0000

I wish I could assure you that in only 35 steps you could be made perfect or your world made awesome. I could sell those 35 steps in a notebook for just a little and, if it turned out I was right, I would have enough to share some with you. WOW!

However, in my world those 35 steps re-enforces my belief that my husband can do anything.

We ordered a small desk for my computer for 15% off on black Friday. Yesterday it was delivered in a very flat box with instructions for assembly. Somehow we didn't think this through and hadn't counted on a flat box. We don't think the ad said "some assembly required" We could be wrong.

So today...all day...my husband took on the 35 steps and a gajillion small screws, bolts and nails to assemble my prize. When I came home at around 2 pm he had been at the task for several hours. He was on step 24. It is now 5:47 pm and I am just now set up to write again

.

I do love that man!

What did you do today?

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PS I had a wonderful day of golfing with friends! :)

What IS Important?

noreply@blogger.com (b+ (Retire In Style Blog)) — Tue, 28 Nov 2017 22:41:00 +0000

Note: I published one year ago on this date. It is still important to me. How about you?

I have had this on my mind for a few days. I think it must be because the last few weeks have been very hard on all of us. We are trying to find the ground again and begin living our life without that dark cloud of mistrust and hurt feelings hanging over our heads. What is important in my world...really, what is it given that I have control over almost nothing?

The other day I was feeling very discouraged over a game of golf when one of the women I was playing with told me her grandson had committed suicide last week. What is important on a day like that?

My beautiful great-granddaughter smiled for the camera the other day and I loved her so. What is important on a day like that?

A friend dropped by with a problem here in the park and began to talk about his children and their spouses. The problem faded. What is important on a day like that?

Important: Our Earth

Important: Our young son and his beautiful
granddaughter.

So, today the sun is shining. We shopped for vegetables and I made a pot of soup. Soon I will have a glass of wine and begin reading a book I ordered for my kindle on my iPad. I ordered a gift for a grandchild for Xmas and checked on another that is to be delivered later this week. I will order more this afternoon.

On this day, what is important to me is that pot of soup, the people I love and, above all, all of you. Outside of that I will do what I can to keep my family safe and loved, our earth clean and do my duty for my country. What else is there?

Important: My husband and I
laughing on our 56th wedding anniversary.

Have a wonderful day. I am sending much love your way.

What do you think is important?

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