Life Lessons
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Go and Do Likewise
Okay… so I did a really crazy thing last September. Over the Labor Day weekend my sisters and I rode the Amtrak route across the northern states to enjoy a sister weekend. I boarded the train first, picked up a sister in Chicago, and another in Indiana. The three of us met up with two more sisters in New York for a weekend of girl-time. Sounds like fun, right? Except, if you have read some of my previous blog posts, you know I had been dealing with severe back pain since May, and sitting up all night on a train was not exactly the best thing for someone with…
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There’s No Place Like Home
I just finished painting my new kitchen. What used to be “canary yellow” is now a combo of “slate smoke” (gray-blue) and “shoelace” (not quite white, but not cream either…picture a slightly used sneaker shoelace…did I just say sneaker?) The important thing is the kitchen is not yellow anymore – not that I have anything against yellow. But it wasn’t what I chose for this kitchen. I wanted to make it mine. A dear pastor’s wife long ago told me, “When you move into a new home or parsonage, give it a good cleaning. That way, when the cob webs show up, at least then you know that they’re your…
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Cyber Time vs. Family Time: Taking Technology to Task
“My kids and grand-kids will be coming for Christmas but we don’t talk anymore. Most of the time I’m competing with cell phones and hand-held games!” shared a friend recently. I looked at the group of women around me and saw nods of affirmation and understanding. My mind flashed back to this past Thanksgiving. Yep. It was the same at our gathering. We did some talking, lots of eating, but more often than I liked, I witnessed heads bowed – no, not in prayer – but in rapt attention to Facebook, Solitaire, and countless internet-accessible games. I’m not going to attempt to address the whys and how’s of this…
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I Ate Yesterday
Recently, my husband and I were walking the streets of Hell’s Kitchen in Mid-town Manhattan. We happened upon a homeless man sitting against a building. After talking to the man for a few minutes, my husband offered to buy him some food. He declined. “I ate yesterday,” the man explained. As if that explained anything. Similar phrases from the past replayed in my mind. “I took a bath last week.” (That one always made me chuckle.) “I washed my hands yesterday.” (Really? Nice try!) Now, “I ate yesterday.” Hmmm. I walked away wondering, was the man ‘half in the bag’ and that’s why he refused to eat? Or did daily…
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Pain: Friend or Foe?
I have a new “friend” in my life. Day after day he’s with me in varying degrees. Sometimes more obvious, sometimes more subtle, but always there. On my good days, I try to ignore him, careful not to irritate my constant companion. On bad days, he can’t be ignored. Pain is his name. Recently our family moved to another house. All the packing, lifting, and moving took a toll on my lower back. Since Pain joined me on my journey he’s drained my strength, my activity level, my pocketbook, and especially my joy. Wait! Before you abandon this blog, let me assure you, it will not be filled with…
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The Challenge of Choices
My daughter and I recently explored Woodman’s for the first time. Wow. Now I’ve shopped Costco, Sam’s, and a host of other “super centers,” but Woodman’s blew me away. If you’re not familiar with this chain, it’s known for its huge variety of grocery items. The cereal selection alone takes up two, (yes, TWO) aisles!! Thankfully, I know our favorites and could locate those fairly easily. But I wondered, what if I was new to the world of American breakfast fare? What if I had no idea what I wanted? Would I need to spend an hour just reading labels? Or would I just grab something and hope for the…
