The Weekend the Pope was in Town
The past several years have been quite the adventure and full of stories, most of which, I haven’t been able to share until now. In part due to being smart about the timing of when to share certain...
View ArticlePeat and Repeat
Just because a recipe made its way into a church cookbook doesn’t mean it’s going to taste good. That’s a lesson I learned many years ago when I was cooking for a family of five. Apparently the same...
View ArticleSilly Rabbit, Piano Lessons are for Grown-Ups!
The piano has always been a part of my life. Some of my earliest memories are of Grandma Marion playing carols in the crowded living room after a traditional Christmas dinner of Swedish meatballs,...
View ArticleRoads May Be Winding, but They Always Bring Us Home
Throughout my life, I’ve learned that home is not a place – it’s a state of mind. While sitting on a stool at my kitchen counter, my eyes were drawn to the pond just past my sliding glass door and...
View ArticleSnapdragons and Butterflies
Originally posted on it's a whole new world: Snapdragons and Butterflies Today is my maternal Grandmother’s birthday. If I’ve done my math correctly she would have 101 years young today. I have many...
View ArticleAngels Really do Wear Plaid
Last week, as I was writing about the unexpected and sometimes strange twists in my life over the past 11 years, a thought occurred to me – I don’t think I’ve ever shared the reason I named my blog...
View ArticleDo Cat’s Go to Heaven?
Animals have a funny way of wriggling their way into the deepest corners of one’s heart. In the late summer of 2014, I had to face the difficult but unavoidable decision to hold hands and shed tears...
View ArticleDo I Text Him, or not?
After being divorced for several years, I finally took the plunge and entered the world of online dating. Although I didn’t necessarily need my kids’ advice to avoid ‘free’ dating services, I followed...
View ArticleFirst Kisses…
I’m thinking that everyone remembers their first kiss. I’d also be willing to go out on a limb and speculate that most of those first kisses were awkward rather than breathtaking… Just guessing. It’s...
View ArticleIt’s not mine to reconcile…
A few nights ago, I had a conversation that made me think a lot about divorce and its effect on family relationships. It was a tough and teary talk with one of my kids; it was also very good – we...
View ArticleThe Garage… the most versatile room in a house??
When I was looking for a place to live in Upstate, NY, one of the most important criteria was a garage. Ideally, an attached garage with snow removal as part of the deal. I was lucky enough to find a...
View ArticleLessons in Leadership
It’s odd, but true that one of my most profound learning experiences as a leader has also been one of my best-kept secrets. It’s an experience that caused me so much shame and embarrassment that I...
View ArticleDear Betty Boop, Embrace What Life Offers in the Moment…
“When the student is ready, the teacher will appear.” ~ Buddha Siddhartha Guatama Shakyamuni I’ve heard the quote many times before but never knew who to credit – after much Googling, I’m still not...
View ArticleWe’ve Reached a Fork in the Road, or have we?
My parents and I were talking tonight about things related to business dealings, politics and life in general. The phrase, “we’ve reached a fork in the road” came up, it was followed by “it’s time to...
View ArticleJust Wondering…
Can someone reconnect with a friend whom they met in the sixth grade, exchanged letters for a few years, but hasn’t communicated with in over 40 years? I’m going to try. Over Thanksgiving, tales of my...
View ArticleRooftop Parking at the Airport – Here’s to being prepared!
Well, I can’t say that I’d intentionally plan my travel experiences over Thanksgiving, but as always, one can turn it into a good story. My flights were actually on time, other than a really long...
View ArticleAt Last, a Break from the Clouds and Monotony
It’s April 26, 2020, and today marks the 38th day of self-isolation and the shut-down of nonessential businesses in New York State. I was shocked when I did the math and realized that millions of...
View ArticleI thought I understood…but I didn’t
The climate in the U.S. is in such an unbelievable state of turmoil, hatred and discord. Racial tensions are higher than ever, and I remember watching riots in the ’60s on the news. I didn’t think it...
View Article#Blacklivesmatter
To say there has been a lot of controversy, conflict and unrest over the past week would be the understatement of the year. The violence that has erupted across the country is, unfortunately, not a new...
View ArticleBuilding Community During COVID19
My move to Update NY has been a tough one for a variety of reasons, one of them being, it’s been challenging to build community and make friends. Something I’ve prided myself on finally learning how to...
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