I voted. I live in the State of Oregon where we vote by mail. This means, when our ballots are mailed about three to four weeks in advance, voters can choose to vote much sooner than the actual election date. In the past, my husband and I have chosen to wait for the last minute…
Today someone brought to my attention the difference between the authentic self- who we really are, and the presented self- what we feel comfortable expressing to others. I unfortunately don't know the scholarly source but am familiar with the idea of "true self" and "false self" (though I like the words authentic and presented much…
Today I'm grateful for my Dad and Sue's dog, Josie. Dogs always make me smile. I was driving home the other evening feeling blue and I saw a dog with his head out the window and just living life to its fullest. It was a reminder to me that I need to spend a little…
Today I'm grateful for sun breaks. I really don't mind the rain. It's refreshing and makes me feel at home. But on the days when it's drizzling or dumping rain nonstop- and the rain slows down and the clouds open to reveal the beautiful blue sky- it's a break, a pause, a stop in the…
Today I'm feeling grateful for the mornings when it's cold and crisp and the tips of the nose gets chilled. There's something about walking outside and it being cold enough to wake me up that I feel alive and motivated to get through the day. As a side note, I'm equally grateful for those cold…
I'm grateful today for sunshine coming in through a window. It can light up a dark room or warm a soft kitty who sits in the sunspot. Feeling grateful for the small things.
I've shared Brandi Carlile song lyrics before. She's a songwriter who speaks to me in many ways and who I admire very much. One of her songs "Things I Regret" is my latest personal anthem. I appreciate it because I think it can be easy to get lost in the sea of regret or the…
As my regular readers know (all four of you), I am always looking for something or inspiration so that I can write. I long ago realized that the people who I have met in my life- for better or for worse- have taught me so much. Whether someone just crossed my path for a moment…
I had a cat. My first cat that I knew from kitten to geriatric. Nieve passed away on February 1, 2015. I’ve wanted to write him a memorial since the day he passed away, but can’t seem to adequately convey how I felt about him and how I will remember him always. Strange how I…
Four years ago today was the darkest moment of my life. The moment my sister's first child came into the world stillborn. The dark came in-without a warning- and it clouded over us- like a nightmare with no end. I'm not sure what was worse- the sadness and unjustifiable truth that Alexander was gone before…
9a Clock 