I’m on my way home now— over 2,000 miles across the Pacific from the Hawaiian Islands to LA. This Viking cruise was literally just a taste. I remember our first trip abroad was called The Taste of Europe. The idea was to sample several countries and then return to the favorites for an in-depth look. …
Category: retirement
The Aftermath of Moving – Part One
Last night, I looked at a recent doctor’s report. I was surprised to find, due to transcription error, I was either 8 or 80, neither of which is true. I marvel now, at almost 83, that I’ve survived my move but may not survive this aftermath. A few examples: I had to move a chair. …
Iowa Summer Writing Festival – the Work and the Surprise
My friends and family know I love to take writing classes in Iowa City. A few weeks ago, I took my nineteenth course. I specifically looked for an easy class, because I didn't want to churn out several pages a day or give written feedback each night to my fellow eleven students. So I signed …
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Life at 82: T is for Travel
Participating in the Blogging from A to Z April Challenge Less than a year ago, the far east was my limit in travel. I was still looking at cruises that folks tack on to their Australia trips. Go up north a bit. See what I could see in my lifetime. Travel booklets arrived every day, …
A Winter Horizontal Greeting…
I am at my winter place in AZ. I am eating brownies made and frozen by my daughter-in-law. I'm sure I read somewhere that they are curative for a cold. I hope you did not miss that article. It is chilly here for this time. In the 50s and 60s with several days of rain. …
Are you ready…
To let God make a new life in you? This question was a recent challenge from my pastor at the end of a sermon. He always finishes his sermons with a challenge. So I always leave church with my head buzzing. Which is probably his intent. But the wording of this challenge has hit hard. …
Growing Older: What road are you on today? And what lies ahead?
I am in AZ, far from the snowstorms in my home state. It's tranquil here and almost eerily quiet. I have time to simply stare at the sun-soaked landscape and dream. When I took this photo yesterday, I thought of Robert Frost's poem The Road Not Taken. Rather than look back at what roads I've …
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Living Two Lives
I was never interested in living two lives. Sounded too complicated for me. But here I am, one week shy of 81, living part of the year in South Dakota and the winter part in Arizona. Luckily, I only need care for a house in one. But everything else comes in duplicate. Think of that! …
snowed in
At bedtime last Thursday Don't even try to follow my screen shots below! But I want you to experience the frustration I had last Thursday. Not nice of me, I know. But misery loves company, I hear. And visuals are powerful. I was trying to get to Seattle to see my first great-grandchild who was …
Throwing Away My Past Life: Part 3
My past life has now been shredded. I've sorted and purged my multitude of banker's boxes and file cabinet drawers. I'm starting over with a clean slate! What is not in my memory is no longer retrievable. When Marie Kondo came out with her book, "The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up," my husband and I …
Write Along with Me 