Predictably, upon seeing yesterday's Rag Tag Daily Prompt of "Graceful," images of ballerinas, swans, and supple yoga practitioners popped into my mind. None of these images fit my modus operandi, not today, not ever. I have managed moments of gracefulness, I am sure, but as a general rule I'm a duck, not a swan. …
Inheritance
Today is my mother's birthday. Although she died almost 16 years ago, the day feels significant and in need of some kind of acknowledgement. If she were still alive, I would bake a cake, set up a small party and find some small gift to give her. She would smile, particularly if her grandchildren, nieces…
Eternal Vigilance
Yesterday a dear friend and fellow blogger posted a link on Facebook to an article by John Pavlovitz titled "No America, It's Not Gonna Be Okay, " which my friend said accurately reflected what she is feeling about the effects of the past several years and the poisonous social and political atmosphere that exists in…
What Do Your Eyes Behold?
"Beauty is in the eye of the beholder." That may be true, and there is certainly no one definition of beauty. But the perception of beauty varies widely depending on the individual beholder, and the eye of the beholder is influenced by the prevailing social ideas about beauty, often with negative consequences for those whose…
Living Until the Curtain Falls
Newly retired and eager to prove that my life was still going to be useful and exciting, several years ago I set up my blog and named it "The Golden Years Revisited." From the name it was obvious to me that I believed most of the myths about retirement and growing older. In a youth-obsessed…
Constant Friends
"I think you need a dog." My husband had just informed me somewhat sheepishly that he was considering getting me a puppy as a Mother's Day present and there were a few possible candidates he was checking out on-line and wouldn't I like to go see them, you know, just to look. No pressure, no…
A Pacifist’s Daughter and Veterans Day
Sitting rather uncomfortably on a cold metal chair, on a stage in front of about 30 veterans, family members, the local police chief and a few others from the community, it must have been patently obvious to everyone that I was a fraud. Clearly I was stuck in a grown-up version of that Sesame Street…
