Blog, Family, Happy, Love, Memoir, Relationships, Writers, Writing

Snippets & Moments

Whatever our souls are made of, his and mine are the same. – Emily Brontë It’s in the little moments. It truly is. And in the scheme of things...these are but a few snippets. “Life is not made up of minutes, hours, days, weeks, months, or years, but of moments. You must experience each one… Continue reading Snippets & Moments

Blog, Happy, Memoir, Photography, Sweden, Travel, Vacation, Wishes, Writing

Metro-politan Surprise

Stockholm is surely an urban planner's dream. Everything works. Everything looks good. – Janine di Giovanni Exactly one year ago tomorrow I woke up in a charming boutique hotel in an area of Stockholm, Sweden called Solna. The sun was streaming in through the windows and it was a gorgeous day. I was nearly over… Continue reading Metro-politan Surprise

Blog, Family, Films, Happy, Memoir, Movies, Writers, Writing

Let’s Go to the Movies, Annie

My life has spanned the Seventies, the Eighties, the Nineties, Y2K to today. At different times I’ve measured it in different ways; chronologically, in milestones, the "no kids-kids at home-grown kids" years, where I lived, from elementary school to college, before and after marriage, etcetera. This is a first though, measuring it, and I use… Continue reading Let’s Go to the Movies, Annie

Blog, Happy, Memoir, Stroke Survivor, Struggle, Writers, Writing

The Leaves that are Green Turn to Brown

I was twenty-one years when I wrote this song. I’m twenty-two now but I won’t be for long Time hurries on.   – Paul Simon Dear Twenty-Year-Old Me, You’re two decades into a great life. You’re fortunate; you were born into a loving family. You've had a pretty normal and happy upbringing. You've enjoyed a great… Continue reading The Leaves that are Green Turn to Brown

Blog, Family, Happy, Memoir, Wish, Writers, Writing

It Seems Like, Yes it Feels Like a Brand New Day

It’s almost 2015, tomorrow is New Year’s Eve. I’ve started to notice articles about resolutions online and also shared on Facebook. And I feel that old familiar pull to better myself. Technically, it's really no different than any other day, but beginning a new year can seem like and feel like, at least in our… Continue reading It Seems Like, Yes it Feels Like a Brand New Day

Blog, Happy, Marriage, Memoir, Relationships, Writers, Writing

You & Me We Are Destined You’ll Agree

To spend the rest of our lives With each other The rest of our days Like two lovers Forever yeah, forever…  But how does this happen? How does a relationship evolve into a marriage that withstands the tests of time and seems, to anyone observing it, to have been destiny? I’m certain of only one… Continue reading You & Me We Are Destined You’ll Agree

Blog, Canada, Family, Happy, Memoir, Writers, Writing

You Don’t Know Me

How well does anybody know anybody? What's TMI***? There is definitely such a thing! Education is learning what you didn't even know you didn't know. – Daniel J. Boorstin I've shied away from writing here in what I've come to see as the dreaded (by some) listicle form. Listicle: a listicle is a short-form of writing that uses… Continue reading You Don’t Know Me

Blog, Family, Happy, Kindness, Memoir, Wishes, Wishing, Writers, Writing

Make Just One Someone Happy

…And you will be happy, too http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fznw-AGoENo   Preface Sometimes I chalk energy and having lots of it, up to things like; adrenalin, a good night’s sleep, cardio, eating lots of nutrient-rich foods, spending time outdoors in the sunshine…because they are all proven. But happiness can bring energy up, and conversely unhappiness can bring energy… Continue reading Make Just One Someone Happy

Blog, Family, Happy, Life Defining Moments, Motherhood, Unconditional Love, Writers, Writing

May Good Luck Go With You, And Happiness Too

Someone asked me how it feels having become the mother of a twenty-three year old today. How does it feel? Let’s see…it feels weird. I remember being twenty-three myself and it doesn’t feel like it was that long ago. So it also reminds me about my own aging, of course. That does, and my knees… Continue reading May Good Luck Go With You, And Happiness Too

Blog, Canada, Family, Happy, Teen Years, Writers, Writing

…An 80’s Girl

Being in high school in 1988 meant, yep, I was an 80's Girl! I believe this photo says it all? Not the Punk Eighties, the later years, closing in on the Nineties by this time...but still Eighties. Before deciding to blog about it, I was just visually dissecting it. How many things can I find… Continue reading …An 80’s Girl

Blog, Happy, Lifestyle, Loss, Memoir, Stroke Survivor, Struggle, Writing

The Human Tragedy Consists in the Necessity of Living with the Consequences

  I gave myself a pep-talk the other day; a look-me-in-the-eye, in-my-face kind of pep-talk. I think I need to do that more often. Most of us probably could use them more often. Sometimes I suddenly think about the fact that I am me, and it kind of hits me right then…I am me…all the… Continue reading The Human Tragedy Consists in the Necessity of Living with the Consequences

Blog, Canada, Family, Happy, Lifestyle, Memoir, Nature Photography, Summer, Travel, Vacation, Writing

In the Summertime When the Weather is Hot

  I’m sitting here lakeside today, our last full day here at the “compound”. My husband and much of his immediate family are scattered around enjoying this beautiful summer day. In a couple of cases there are three generations present. Currently two nephews, a niece and her friend are out playing together in the paddle… Continue reading In the Summertime When the Weather is Hot

Blog, Happy, Lifestyle, Maine, Memoir, Nature Photography, Summer, Travel, Vacation, Writing

Long Hot Days, Cool Sea Haze

Jukebox plays… You know those movies and episodes of television shows set in little seaside enclaves, filled with beach rentals, sand sculptures, clam bakes and ice cream stands, right? Places like Martha’s Vineyard, Nantucket, Myrtle Beach and Old Orchard. The idea is such an archetypal part of a classic American summer. I’m sure it’s not… Continue reading Long Hot Days, Cool Sea Haze

Happy, Lifestyle, Memoir, Struggle, Writing

What the World Needs Now…

Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle. ― Philo of Alexandria It’s not too difficult to hurt me; I’m a pretty easy target. I don’t have a proverbial thick skin. I let things get to me, as if they got right inside and into my heart. I wear my feelings on… Continue reading What the World Needs Now…

Family, Happy, Memoir, Music, Sisters, Summer, Writing

Never Be Again, Never Been Before

All my blogs [essays] have been titled with song lyrics. I just love lyrics, so much expression poured into an on average, two-to-five-minute poem, set to music. Love that. Today though, I'm feelin’ a song that’s quite possibly my favorite song…you know, if I had to pick just one song because my life depended on… Continue reading Never Be Again, Never Been Before

Happy, Lifestyle, Memoir, Self-Acceptance, Stroke Survivor, Writing

Just the Way You Are

And so it begins, I'm kicking off this blog with a personal essay that hopefully ties together two major parts of my life right now, dealing with the aftermath of a stroke and learning to accept myself despite the obstacles; past & present. Also, May is "Stroke Awareness Month", so I hope to bring attention… Continue reading Just the Way You Are