I had a “wellness visit” scheduled for last week. That’s what they call “physicals” for seniors now. A new name, but the same old doctor’s appointment.  I had written down a long list of concerns I wanted to discuss with my GP. Things I used to shrug off now seemed more important. But not a […]

Recently, we drove out of state to visit our daughter and son-in-law. Everything about the visit was lovely—except for the drive. My aging body no longer appreciates long car rides. But there was one shining star amidst the monotony of highway miles: the toll stations. No more frantic searches for loose change in the glove […]

“Write what you know.” That’s the advice everyone gives new authors when they’re struggling to figure out what to write. My mentors gave me that same guidance. “OK then,” I thought. “I’ll write about things that have happened to me.” But here’s the problem: my life is boring—with a big ol’ capital B.  I don’t […]

My husband and I have reached that stage in life where we are officially “hard to buy for.”We don’t need more “stuff” — clothes, jewelry, gadgets (especially gadgets, because half the time we can’t figure out how to use them anyway). We’re happy with what we’ve got. But, I’ll admit, there’s been one thing I’ve […]

I love making lists. There’s just something so satisfying about checking an item off—Accomplished! Yay! Lists help me stay productive and give me hope that I can finish what I start. Except…my yearly New Year’s Resolution list.I just can’t seem to master that one. Then, my lovely son-in-law told me about a New Year’s Resolution […]

This weekend, my computer screen broke. Instead of shelling out money for a new screen, it made more sense to invest in a whole new computer—my old one was, well, showing its age! Plus, with Cyber Monday around the corner, it seemed like perfect timing. But let me tell you, being computer-less was an eye-opening […]

Last week, I spent time in the Outer Banks for a little family reunion. It was lovely! There’s something about the ocean that makes seeing family feel even more special. But one of my favorite parts of the trip wasn’t a big gathering or a group activity. It was the quiet, early-morning walks on the […]

So lately, I’ve had an influx of doctor appointments. Pretty typical once you reach a certain age, right? I’ve got a rotating list of specialists to see! There’s the audiologist, cardiologist, urologist, rheumatologist, ophthalmologist, gastroenterologist, dermatologist, neurologist, and let’s not forget the dentist! Whew—it takes a whole village of “ologists” to keep an aging body […]

Like most people, I have a scale in my bathroom. And like most people, I’ve mastered the art of avoiding it. “I don’t have time,” I tell myself, or “The scale’s probably broken anyway.” Anything to delay that moment of truth. But recently, I had a legitimate excuse—the batteries in the scale were dead.  Hallelujah! […]

When I taught kindergarten, I avoided swear words like the plague. I figured if I let a few slip in private, one might pop out at work—and that would’ve been terrible! So, I kept my vocabulary squeaky clean. 😇 But then I retired. And, oh boy, I started developing a bit of a “potty mouth!” […]