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! …
Tag: Aging from a Recent Widow's Perspective
Growing Older: Christmas Gifts from my Grand Dogs
First, you must meet them—my adorable grand dog puppies. Here I am sitting quietly at my daughter’s on Christmas Day with the puppies on my lap. But they are puppies, so they are usually frolicking or sleeping. And they don’t know me yet, so they greet me rambunctiously, and it feels like they’d rather explore …
Continue reading Growing Older: Christmas Gifts from my Grand Dogs
On My Own Now for End Tables and Lamps
For most of the 56 years I was married, my husband made my end tables. I'd often want to buy a new one, but he'd say he could make one a lot cheaper, and then when I got sick of it--which he knew I would--he would throw it away and make another. My last request …
Graduation from Patienthood — Pending!
Two weeks ago I asked you for help staying sane while I try to meet my goal of being cured in a few weeks. I have good news. I'm closer than ever before. I've almost got my pain managed, and I'm allowed to wean myself off the walker in the house. I'm on my way! …
Grief at Four Years Means a Cookie Sheet in the Bed
my caregiver daughter and photographer Every year on the anniversary of my husband’s death, I have dedicated a blog post to that event. Marv passed away four years ago on July 25, and I’ve not had a minute to mindfully think about the impact of his loss in my life. On July 25, Monday, I …
Continue reading Grief at Four Years Means a Cookie Sheet in the Bed
The day my garage door broke…
I purged my closet of twenty-seven items. Does this “first line” grab your attention? Do you want to know more? Do you wonder if there’s a correlation between these two events? Is this something you even care to read about? The goal for first lines is to keep the reader reading. Read the first lines …
Signature Dish
I'm having a miniature identity crisis and desperately need the help of a few of you readers. I was invited last week to a meet and greet on the block of my Arizona home. The hostess said we could bring a small something to share or not. I certainly didn't want to be not only …
Wintering in AZ
I'm getting ready to say goodbye to my winter hideout in AZ; in a few weeks, I'll be heading home to SD. As this reality settled in last week, I snapped a bunch of pictures on my walk. I wanted to soak in the bright blue, red, and green colors. (Clearly, I'm on the edge …
Growing Older: On Turning 80
"What are you trying to prove?" my friend asked in a text. I had just sent her a photo of me stuck in my closet. I'd been trying to put a new recliner together and had to get behind it. Since it was somewhat heavy, I shimmied myself behind it into the closet. To see …
Ode to the Hoitenga Sisters
We were known as the Hoitenga sisters, four of us born within eight years of each other. If one of us ran into an acquaintance of another, there was enough of a resemblance that we'd hear, "You must be a Hoitenga." We wore our sister status with pride. We were normal sisters who loved each …
Write Along with Me 