Musings of a Shore Life
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Musings on a Mexican Interlude
Most folks I told I was going to Mexico never heard of Lake Chapala, a region in the middle of the country bordered by mountains. Ajijic, where my husband and I are staying, is not only unknown to many travelers, most of whom gravitate to coastal resorts such as Cancun and Puerto Vallarta, but difficult…
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Clueless on the Mexican Boardwalk
I felt hot, sweaty, and exhausted after spending hours in the Mexican sun. I tried to stay in the shade and undercover, but the searing heat and the sun‘s southern rays pierced my pallid North American winter skin. Seeking relief, I strolled into a store on the Malecon – the Boardwalk – presenting a particularly…
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My Word and My Resolution for the New Year
My life seems to revolve around my propensity toward procrastination. I am great at making plans, writing to-do lists, then concocting excuses for why I did not do all the things I aspired to do. I have given up on New Year’s resolutions in any serious way. I will not achieve whatever I decide should…
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Musings on the Winter Solstice
The winter solstice, the day with the shortest hours of daylight in the year, has been celebrated by various cultures for thousands of years. The Roman holiday of Saturnalia, the Soyal celebration of the Hopi Indians in Arizona, the ancient Persian festival of Yalda, the Chinese observance of Dong Zhi are just a sampling of…
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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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Best of Boomers Prepare for December Holidays
I am not a fan of the long, dark days of December. But there is an upside – the holidays of Chanukah and Christmas brighten our lives. We light candles to illuminate the darkness. Homes glow, inside and outside, with multi-colored lights. I prefer white, gold, and silver lights. I enjoy driving through dark neighborhoods…
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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…
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Celebrating the Season In the City
The City – New York City, the Big Apple, the island of Manhattan. The Sunday before Thanksgiving hub and I drove into Manhattan, a challenging, demanding, wearying experience, one we would not normally, usually, when in our right minds, undertake. But our Florida family was staying in the Big Apple for a few days, and…
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Long Day’s Journey through the Night
The holiday season stirs memories of seasons past. This is a story of one holiday trip my family experienced years ago. Disclaimer: No apologies if family and friends who accompanied me on this journey challenge my version of events. Hour 1 Christmas vacation offered a perfect time to visit aging relatives and younger cousins in…
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A Pre-Election Survival Guide
Less than a year from now a momentous event will take place across the United States. A Presidential election. I am already tired of the constant, incessant beating of the election drums. My ears and my mind are numb. How to survive the bombast without losing my mind? I want the rhetoric to STOP! But…
Got any book recommendations?