Category: family
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A Proud Cat Lady Confesses
I grew up a cat girl. I don’t remember NOT having a cat roam around my house. Cats birthed kittens and my family often kept one or two of the offspring. Our cats ran free outside, never confined indoors. Black was the most prevalent color, Midnight an example of an appropriate name for one of…
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Musings on Becoming Irrelevant
My Florida family rented a home in my resort community for two weeks. Teenagers now, the grandkids’ are immersed in their generational lifestyle. Friends rule. Family time is enjoyed until teen goings-on beckon. Their parents’ lifestyle is not a lot different than their kids. With friends who live in the Northeast, a shore vacation offers…
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We All Scream for ICE CREAM!
Maybe not scream, but verbally make our desire known. Forcefully. And we desire ice cream often. ‘We,’ meaning a lot of us, although not all of us. I realize there are a few souls out there who are not ice cream fans. All I can say is…I’m sorry. Ice cream enthusiasts have their favorites –…
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Retired Once Again and Pondering a Universal Question
I have retired. Again. Not from paid employment, but from a part-time volunteer job. A couple of years before Covid our town sponsored a Farmers Market. Less than 20 vendors signed up and braved the unknown retail environment. This summer over 60 vendors fill a church parking lot every Friday morning. A waiting list of…
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Time and Energy – Priceless
There are only so many hours in a day. A cliché, I know, but a truism that becomes truer as the years fly by, at least for me. As I age and the years tick off one by one, it seems I have less time to do anything. I realize nothing changes, but my body…
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A Memorable Library Visit, Thank You Grandkids
One of the pleasures of grandparenthood is chauffeuring the grandkids near and far. We live a thousand miles from our progeny, so visits are spread out and therefore special. At times simple missions produce unforeseen outcomes. My granddaughter skipped over to the children’s room, chose half a dozen books, dumped them in my lap, and…
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Moving Mom Déjà vu
Fourteen years ago Mom moved from the home she lived in for 50 years to a condo in a 55+ apartment house. She adjusted well. Her friends and activities were within an easy driving distance, and my sister and I felt comfortable with her in a secure environment. Two years ago Mom reluctantly gave up…
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Musings On Growing Up a Mid-20th Century Girl
1950s: Everyone argued with each other as the relentless heat irritated the entire family. Dad finally cried, “Enough!” and moved the TV set to a large window facing the backyard. We marched outside, set up lawn chairs facing the screen, and passed bowls of popcorn, hoping the minutest breeze would relieve the heat and humidity. “Great…
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Memories of a Manhattan Christmas
My childhood Christmas memories center on my aunt and uncle’s Manhattan apartment, overflowing with relatives, holiday trappings, and delicious food. But before the festivities began, my family had to travel to Manhattan. We lived on Long Island, normally an hour’s drive from Manhattan. Nothing was normal about driving on Christmas Day. New York City roads…
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All in the Family Changing Christmas Traditions
The holidays conjure up memories of celebrations past – good ones, some not so positive, others we prefer to forget. This particular memory should most likely be left behind. The phone rang one December evening. “Hi, can I talk to Stevie?” I recognized my brother-in-law Will’s voice and began to search the house for my…