Malcolm's two grandchildren, who love to ride in cars and smile like their late grandfather You would have loved this milestone birthday. Anytime you could party surrounded by more friends than I thought one person could have, you were in your element. That beautiful smile would light up the room, and everyone was drawn to... Continue Reading →
I Wish AI Wouldn’t Try to Tell Me What I Want to Say!
I made the mistake of putting Grammarly on my computer. It was free until I graduated in May, but it was still available to me. Admittedly, it improved my grammar for my schoolwork, and when you are writing 20-30-page papers, it is a good thing to have. But when I write my blog posts, I... Continue Reading →
When I Need Help, I Will Ask! Fandango Story Starter
The older she got, the less sure she was about anything. Her children kept telling her she was wrong about nearly everything, from how she cooked a roast or grilled chicken to the Christmas tree ornaments she wanted to place on the tree. She was tired of the constant surveillance of her activities, just because... Continue Reading →
Learning to Let Go of the Unfair Standards for Women Freed Me to Stop Judging Other Women Harshly
Raised in the 1950s and 1960s, there were standards for how women dressed and carried themselves to be viewed as a "good" girl. Any violations of those standards subjected young women to awful name-calling, and their reputations were ruined. I did not want to be viewed as a "bad" girl. I dressed modestly, I didn't... Continue Reading →
Being A Non-Traditional Student Makes You Feel Like An Outsider, But Not For Long
I was 36 when I went to university for the first time! It was Dr. Mary, my psychologist, who suggested it, because when we talked about my unhappiness and feelings of uselessness because of a divorce, she said the words that changed my life. She told me, "Go to college! Your brain is going to... Continue Reading →
A Walk in the Beauty of Nature Keeps Us Grateful and Joyful
I had back surgery on November 24, and yesterday, the staples were removed. The doctor advised me to take small walks; just don't overdo it. In two weeks, I can return to the gym, but what I have missed is walking on the hiking trails near my home. I want to hear birds sing and... Continue Reading →
I Saw Deer and Felt Such Joy!
Daily writing promptWhat are your favorite animals?View all responses We were out walking one week, and out of nowhere came bounding across the path two deer. I was feeling down because I will have back surgery tomorrow, and I'd just had a PICC line placed in my upper left arm because of the difficulty in... Continue Reading →
Time is Indifferent to Our Needs: We Must Live Each Moment Fruitfully
Daily writing promptDo you need time?View all responses Time moves on, regardless of the need for more time by all of us. Everyone has experienced days when you wish you had more time to complete a project ot tell someone you loved them. As I near my seventy-fourth birthday, I often wonder whether I would... Continue Reading →
Global No Social Media Day: A Time of Freedom to Be Oneself
Daily writing promptInvent a holiday! Explain how and why everyone should celebrate.View all responses There is something about seeing the lives of young children chronicled on social media platforms that disturbs me. It may be a generational issue, but I wonder if we are not creating a cohort of people who don't live life; they... Continue Reading →
The Blogs I Follow Add So Much Joy, Education, and Sweet Poetry to My Life
Daily writing promptWhat are your favorite websites?View all responses My favorite websites are the blogs I follow on WordPress. I haven't actually gone on Tumblr to look at the blogs, although I do post my blogs there. Nearly all of the blogs I follow are by poets or fantastic storytellers. I also love the ones... Continue Reading →
