Recently, my 91-year old uncle had another mild heart attack. My favorite uncle is finally moving toward his transition and, although he is now back home again, he’s alone. Yes, he still lives alone and does not want anyone to be there with him. What a generation he comes from – strong and stubborn. But is that generational or is it just who he is? (more…)

This morning I woke up fuzzy and with a headache. I slept well last night, but I felt hung-over. No, it wasn’t because I had overindulged at a wild party. It’s been a long time since I’ve attended anything that could be classified as “wild”. I’m fast asleep before anything remotely resembling wildness starts. The reason for this hangover was a little less spectacular. I’m cutting down on sugar.

Again. (more…)

Many of my family and friends tease me that I’m a kid at heart. I still love reading children’s books and watching Disney movies. When my nieces and nephews were younger, we would have grand adventures together. I used to love playing dress-up with them – I had a whole trunk full of costumes they could choose from. They could be swashbuckling pirates, pretty-in-pink princesses, knights in shining armor, fairies…if I didn’t have the costume, we’d find a way to make it (although, as I recall, the knight was a bit of a challenge and we wasted an awful lot of aluminum foil)! I also had a puppet theatre and some puppets – my nieces and nephews still enjoy reminiscing about the elaborate puppet shows we used to put on…pure magic. (more…)

Mumsie and I had our first official “Mumsie Day” last week and, since the weather was lovely, we decided to visit one of her favourite gardens.

We arrived just in time for lunch (perfect timing by Mumsie) and enjoyed a delicious variety of salads. After lunch, I borrowed a wheelchair from the garden office, thinking Mum would need it since there was a lot of walking involved – some of it uphill. But I ended up pushing an empty wheelchair while Mumsie enthusiastically walked and walked and walked…. (more…)

Yesterday I walked to Barre — a town about 10 miles from my house. I wore a bright pink shirt that read “for the woman who had no support.” The shirt’s message gave me a boost. It was the reason I had decided to take a sunny day and spend most of it walking to get no place in particular.

My sister was diagnosed with breast cancer a few years ago. When Joan was in a Boston hospital getting chemotherapy, the woman who had no support inspired her. (more…)

Last Thursday, April 22nd, when I logged in to my computer and checked the Internet, I was reminded that it was Earth Day – “a day designed to inspire awareness and appreciation for the Earth’s environment” (Wikipedia).

Well, that got me thinking – have I been doing my bit to promote and care for the environment? Sure, on Earth Day we can make a point of turning off the TV (even though hubby would have a fit) or using less electricity and water – but shouldn’t we be doing this consistently rather than just on one day every year? (more…)

Call me cynical (many have) but I’ve never had much time for Valentine’s Day. Cards, flowers, little (or not so little) gifts, declarations of undying love…all reserved for just one day? (more…)

Once a week, Mumsie and I go to our local church to help prepare sandwiches and hot food, which we then serve to the homeless.

Someone once criticized our efforts at the soup kitchen, saying we were just doing it to make ourselves feel good. Well, that’s true – in a way we are doing it so that we feel good about ourselves. But if feeling good about ourselves can help others regain their self-respect and dignity, isn’t that a win-win situation? (more…)

Now that I’ve become a self-proclaimed enthusiastic expert in using my Neti Pot, I’ve been on the lookout for someone to share this great experience with.

And – all joking aside – it really is a great experience. I don’t even think twice about going through the process every night, now that it’s become part of my ritual. I’m convinced that Neti has helped alleviate my headaches, lower my high eye pressure, and enabled me to sleep better at night. (more…)

Have you ever woken up to the moon before?

Yes, you read right. Waking up to the Moon!

Well, I just did.

At first, I assumed it was the sun and thought “how odd” because I was looking towards the West. Then I made out the lines of the moon and was mesmerized by its beauty. (more…)