December Thoughts

I generally don't live in the past. I fast-forward and visualize the future. Even my precious memories are vague. I hear friends who can relay a moment-by-moment saga of their children's lives and I feel a bit guilty. sSometimes I wonder if I was ever present in those moments. But I have moments of nostalgia. I look at roads - small winding roads, sometimes overgrown by weeds - and I have pangs of misty remembrance and loss. I see daffodils growing in random places and wonder what happened to the house that was home to the one who planted flowers with joy and optimism? In spring when I see a small blade of verdant green grass or a Crocus peeking out from the soil, a heaviness may gather behind my eyes. Are those tears? And I've …

Letting Go

Who hurt you, once, so far beyond repair that you would meet each overture with curling lip? While we, who knew you well, your friends, (the focus of your scorn) could see your courage in the face of fear, your wit, and thoughtfulness, and will remember you with something close to love. Marylyn Plessner Maybe […]

A Generation Between

I wrote this many years ago…and it is still so true. Dear Children, It comes down to the difference between parenting and grandparenting. Without blaming myself as a parent, I understand the difficulties of parenting: showing love versus giving guidance; giving direction without giving orders; teaching values without imposing ideology. When you were born I […]

Muy Raro…y ahora se fue!

Herb was a huge part of my life. His death closes the door to the past but has opened the floodgate for many memories to rush in. I visited him a few times in his last weeks. Beneath the memory loss and extreme illness he was himself. He had a spark that I remembered. I […]

A Blessing of Mothers

Reprinted from May 7, 2016 I’m the lucky one. I have had mothering and mentoring from at least four wonderful women. They mutually excelled one another in the gifts they have given me. When I read my past post about  Mother, I feel as if I have said most of it.  I learned to appreciate […]

Another Lesson in Acceptance

THE GUEST HOUSE This being human is a guest house. Every morning a new arrival. A joy, a depression, a meanness, some momentary awareness comes As an unexpected visitor. Welcome and entertain them all! Even if they’re a crowd of sorrows, who violently sweep your house empty of its furniture, still treat each guest honorably. […]

Let Go…Let Go

I am impressed once more with the power of letting go. I forget that I have that power.That when I release myself from frustration and stop struggling. The struggle ends. Sometimes it makes life so easy. Then I wonder why I cared so much. I’m puzzled by my tenacity in wasting precious moments of my […]

Christmas Grief

Reprinted from My Life Class The restlessness, when identified, emerges as grief.  It is stomach-wrenching, soul-disturbing, mind-shuffling grief. But why?  What?  Who?  It makes no sense to me.  My choices are my own. I have talked to each of my children and grandchildren in the last few days.  Knowing that I wouldn’t see any of […]

Available for…

Reprinted from My Life Class Am I emotionally available?  What does that mean? Maybe.  I dunno.  Kinda.  WhatEVER! I can’t really decide whether “emotionally available” is just a new catch phrase or if it truly is a question I should be exploring. Probably the latter. Because my mother would have been in the “unavailable” category. […]

Welcome to My World of Letters

Many of you are looking for a specific letter for ideas to help you write to someone you love. You are welcome to take what you need from this site for your personal use. But here’s the deal. You can do it yourself.  Go to the top of the main blog page or click here […]

Family Secrets

I don’t believe in family secrets.  They cause undue stress, give nasty surprises and keep us from learning lessons that we could all share. Yet it’s difficult to know how deal with when they are brought into the light.  Do they require action?  Are we to be involved?  If there are differences, are we to […]

To My Valentine

To My Valentine, I have so many valentines now. But as I am thinking about my children and my grandchildren, my mind turns to you. You are the one, after all. You are the one who has always loved me. All of those years ago I didn’t understand how such a stud decided to pay […]

…on Christmas and You

(NOTE:  Do you want to write to your new love? Your aging husband?  Your child?  Your Friend?   I hope this helps you find the words you need for the person you love.  This is one of a series of requested letters  posted under “Form Letters” for those of you who would like an idea or […]

Bad Day

I found this draft from November, 22, 2017, as I was doing some housekeeping on my blog. I don’t remember writing it, specifically, but it shows me I am not as happy-go-lucky as I often think. * * * In the hospital I woke up one Saturday and was having breakfast in my corner window […]

Time for a Change!

“How we spend our days is, of course, how we spend our lives.” Annie Dillard   Periodically, through my life I have found myself restless and discontented to the point that I pay attention. I do this every few years – Reevaluate my life because I suddenly feel as if I am living by rote. […]

Life is Good – Not a Struggle

This is my year to be hung up on my stroke, I guess. It’s my second year and reality has definitely set in. One morning while getting ready for water aerobics I pondered the struggle of get to the YMCA and into the pool. Then I thought, “Well, $*!@,  it’s not ever really going to […]

On the Water Again

Rowing was the coolest and most unlikely thing I did in my 60’s. I surprised myself by loving it. To the chagrin of my coach i was often swept away by the stillness of the lake in the early mornings or the beauty of the mist shrouding the mountains. My focus didn’t make me a […]