"There's a difference between loneliness and solitude. Loneliness is a part of you that needs people around you, somewhere to go, noise, activity. When you don't have that, you feel deserted. Solitude is being ok to be alone. It's being comfortable in your own skin, being your own best friend, knowing that you are good enough - all by yourself." (WLBarton)
Tuesday, February 11, 2025
The Difference Between Solitude and Loneliness!
"There's a difference between loneliness and solitude. Loneliness is a part of you that needs people around you, somewhere to go, noise, activity. When you don't have that, you feel deserted. Solitude is being ok to be alone. It's being comfortable in your own skin, being your own best friend, knowing that you are good enough - all by yourself." (WLBarton)
Friday, February 7, 2025
Time for a 'smell good' change!
Tuesday, February 4, 2025
A Love Affair With Paris
I'd gotten pretty discouraged and down-in-the-dumps over all this dental work and was in a pretty low place the other day. As she always does, Shirley was attempting to pull me up outta that hole.
She says 'now, you can't say you're too old, you can't or you aren't able.' Okay I answer.
'Where would you love to go if you want to?'
Well, that's a no-brainer!
I said.
You see, my love affair with Paris started back in 1985 when Susan (who had started modeling in New York) needed to go to Paris to get work for her portfolio. It's the dead of winter, there's one way air tickets to Brussels for $99. Remember those days!!! So, we took off. We'd never been to Europe before so this was quite an adventure.
It's nearly nightime by the time we got to our hotel (by their time zone). We walked into the door, no reservations (boy, were we naive) but he did have a room. We lugged our baggage up a black wrought iron staircase, down a long, dark hall and was shown into a room which I would describe as a cabin in the woods kind of establishment. Wooden single beds covered in those old scratchy woolen like blankets, (sort of like what you'd throw over a horse), We had a large wardrobe, a chair, a phone on the wall and that was about it.
I'd been so proud of myself for having bought a Frommer book 'See Europe on $5 a day' or some such thing. Picked a hotel out of it's pages 'cause it advertised that the staff spoke English (a definate requirement). And, here we are stuck in a place that is like a hostel. The one bathroom for the entire floor was down the hall.
We are so exhausted we didn't care! We lay down on the hard beds, pulled that scratchy blanket over us and realize that these French people don't heat these places very well. So, I pile our coats and anything else I could find over us and we fell asleep.
Well, nature called in the middle of the night so I get up and head down that long hallway to find the bathroom. I feel around for the light switch.... it's a knob that you turn but it gave me a bit of light. I'm sitting there taking care of business shivering... the dang window is up near the ceiling and it's open. Did I say it was January? About that time the room turns pitch-dark. That 'knob' was a timer for the lights. The French are cheapskates, too. I do make it back to the room safely.
And, Susan is sitting up in her bed so I said 'Susan?'. No answer. I call her again. Nothing. I shake her shoulder, no response. She is sound asleep. So, I just pushed her back on the pillow and she slept right on.
I guess you are scratching your head about now... how was this part of a love affair with Paris. Doesn't sound like it to me, does it you? But, it was.... We had just gotten there and there was so much more to come.
By then I was busy thinking about Paris and what I'd do if I could go back. Yes, I am too old! At least I think I am. But, it pulled me partway outta that hole i'd dug for myself.
Sunday, February 2, 2025
Snowflakes and Ground Hogs.
Feb. 2nd... Groundhog Day, they say. Don't know where that tradition started or why. I just know that I don't believe that an animal who is too stupid to get out of the middle of the highway when a car is gonna crush it, is smart enough to predict the weather!
So, P. Phil (can't spell the name of that town in Pennsylvania where this groundhog lives) says there's going to be more winter. Well, heck, I could have told you that and I'm not a groundhog!
So, prepare yourselves if you are living in wintertime right now, don't pack up your coats and mittens just yet.
Friday, January 31, 2025
Doing Some Rambling!
If you follow me you know that the past 2 months have been filled with dental work. 7 visits so far in two months time and there's more on the schedule. Guess my teeth decided it was time to call it quits!
Tuesday I was sitting in the dentist chair while she did the last segment of a root canal. I'm thinking that I am more than thrilled to be over with that part of it and then she drops a bombshell on me. She's found another tooth which has to have a root canal! Good Lord, when is all this going to stop!
I really enjoyed reading your comments you posted about recalling the good ole days! I'm so happy you took the time to respond to that. Seems that most of us had some cool memories of those long gone days. Although we lived in different places, in different parts of the country, at different times we all had these really neat things that we recall from our childhood.
I did not want to get out of bed this morning!! So, I just snuggled down deeper under the covers trying to convince myself I really should start my day. I find that it's so much easier to make excuses for not getting out of bed (now that I'm older). Do, you ever do that?
I feel so badly for those poor families who expected their loved ones to come home from Kansas City the other night. Such a tragedy and one I feel could have been prevented. I just don't like to fly anymore. Yet, my kids tell me all the time, 'It's safer than being on the highway, Mom'. I know that! But, I can choose not to like to fly if I don't feel comfortable with it. Right?
Yes, I know.... I am rambling.... will try to have my act together next time I post. I certainly hope you all have a wonderful weekend. Can't wait to catch up with the latest!
Tuesday, January 28, 2025
The Good Ole Days!! haha
Last Thursday a bunch of us met in the Common room for a gab-fest (we call our gathering 'Chat and Chew") and some lunch. We brown-bag it and then just visit.
We got to talking about how much life has changed in our lifetime. Oh, my gosh. Well, just look around you and you'll get the picture. It was more than fun to relive some of those old days although I am not sure I'd want to go back to them.
Mom didn't have a telephone 'til after I had married and left home. Being out in the country had it's challenges for sure. We could see one house... and they didn't have a phone either! Imagine now we just carry our phones in our pockets or hands wherever we go.
I was in my teens before we ever got an indoor toliet. I definately do not want to go back to the outdoor kind! Nor the Sear, Roebuck catalog toliet paper!
I was eighteen when I took my first plane ride and I was scared to get out of my seat. How, stupid is that! But, hey, I was a country girl and knew nothing about flying! It was a propeller driven plane. The first commercial jet came into service in 1952, the year I flew to San Diego from Alabama with my 3 month old daughter in tow.
We lived with my grandmother and grandpa and I remember my grandmother walking through some of the weed-grown fields near the house, her apron tail gathered in her hand so she could place in it the eggs the hens had laid out there, just anywhere they pleased.
Everyone had their own tales but me being the oldest at the chat and chew, I think mine were the most shocking.
Did any of you have things happening like that when you were growing up? Nah, probably not. I'm older than the hills, I am.
I am sure by the time all you youngsters (and that includes anyone 85 and under) you came along, you had it easier!!
Saturday, January 25, 2025
What Came Over Me!!
Monday, January 20, 2025
Mystery Solved!
Yesterday the temps started to drop. It was Sunday, gray skies, a slight drizzle so I decided I'd just be a lazy bum.
I walked into my bedroom, retrieved a large throw outta a basket there. This throw is LARGE and it's fluffy on one side and soft, cuddly on the other. It is wired for heat and even has, now get this.... two large pockets on one end so you can stick your feet into them. A nice gift at Christmas from Susan.
I sat down in my recliner, pulled that throw up over me, stretched out my legs to put my feet in the footy pockets...
I felt something solid... firm... a chunk of something.
TA DA............
It was that lost shoe!! Oh my gosh. Well, at least now I can wear that pair again!
Friday, January 17, 2025
Lost, not found
Update on Lost Shoe Saga!
It's still lost!
There have been 4 different people that have given this place a good search. No shoe! This is weird. Gee, I hope I don't just disappear into thin air like that shoe did!
We still have a tad of snow in shady areas from the snow that we had a week ago. And, it's supposed to be bitterly cold next week! Guess it won't melt then either!
My daughter called the other day. We exchanged greetings and she headed off on a report of all she had been doing lately. Twenty minutes into it, she said, 'Well, I just called to check on you.' then said goodbye. So, if I answer the phone that means I am still alive and she's good to go? I just laughed and laughed.
Saturday, January 11, 2025
Paint and Snow
I was disappointed in awakening this morning to a light snow after being promised a bigger one! But, I'll take what I can get! There is just something so magical about snow!
Thursday, January 9, 2025
A Lost Shoe!
My ghost Mabel is at it again !
(when I can't find things, I blame it on a ghost that I have named Mabel)
January 1st I was sitting in my recliner waiting on my nieces to arrive and I slipped my shoes off. Man, I hate to wear shoes in the house! The Roomba was making a last minute attempt to vacumn the floor.
The nieces arrive, we visit a bit and then head out for lunch. I start to slip my shoes on and there is only one sitting by my chair. A quick search... nothing... so I put on another pair and we have a nice lunch.
Here it is over a week later and I still have not found that shoe!
Both recliners have been turned over... no shoe. I ran my cane all under the couch and it didn't drag out anything...I've even looked in other rooms. That shoe has to be somewhere! My guess is, the Roomba pushed it in a hidden spot and then left it there.
Shirley promises me she'll do a more indepth search when she is here Friday.
I'll let you know where we find it! .... if Mabel hasn't flown off into the night with it under her wing.
My orchid is blooming again!
Tuesday, January 7, 2025
A Milestone!
Yesterday I hit a milestone!
I celebrated my 91st birthday and I think that was quite an accomplishment!
It was cold, rainy, sleety, snowy...
no way was I getting out in that so I stayed home, all by my lonesome, and had a great day!
Had lots of phone calls, text messages, facebook greetings and I even got a hug or two.
Oh, I won't forget the beautiful flowers my granddaughter's family sent. She knows I love pink and carnations!
I thought about my precious mother, newly widowed, giving birth to me and not a cent to her name. No plans for the future. All that had been linked to Daddy, who was now gone. It must have been a frightening time for her.
But, we made it and just fine, I might add. And, here I am 91 years later! Gee whiz! So many blessings over the years, so many heartaches, too, but I love my life.
I spent the day in reflection, in meditation, in looking forward....
Friday, January 3, 2025
End of Year Fun
Okay, Ladies. I have no idea where to even begin! What a month December was. Full of family, fun, food and trips to the dentist. Can I lump all that together? I just did anyway. hehe.
The area where my abcess was is still touchy. I've been back to the dentist for a couple of fillings, go next Wednesday for the followup on the root canal...
Oh, heck, all of this is so boring....
So, I move on to more interesting stuff.
The day after Christmas my baby Susan (isn't it odd that we call them baby no matter how old they get!!) and her son, Tighe, who is my youngest grandchild, drove in from New York for a few days visit. He is 17. I just loved every minute of it.
We ate too much, lounged too much, visited a lot, slept too little, reminisced about old times, watched movies, played scrabble. Visited other family members, too. And, too soon, it was time for them to head home.
I had one day to pull my act together, then two nieces and a nephew in law arrived for an afternoon visit. Hadn't seen them in quite some time so we had a good visit.
And, I kid you not. As much as I loved all the activities and visiting and such, the minute my nieces walked out the door I curled up in my recliner, covered myself with a soft blankie and watched tv til it was time to go to bed. Man, I was spent!
I've had such little time to check in with all of you. I am going to be catching up in the days to come. I am sure there are lots of wonderful Christmas stories on your blogs that you've shared.
Here's to a wonderful New Year!