Women's Issues Midlife And Beyond
“While you’ll feel compelled to charge forward it’s often a gentle step back that will reveal to you where you and what you truly seek.” ― Rasheed Ogunlaru I took myself on a date today. Isn’t it strange that I felt as though I was cheating on my husband? Seriously? Cheating by doing something for me? Yes, I felt that way…. Read More
“I am committing suicide by cigarette,” I replied. She thought that was reasonably funny. I didn’t. I thought it was hideous that I should scorn life that much, sucking away on cancer sticks.” ― Kurt Vonnegut My husband and I pulled into the cemetery, hoping the thick gray clouds would hold off the rain awhile longer. My brother and sister-in-law… Read More
Persistent online fraud is here to stay. At least that’s according to data from Forter, an e-commerce fraud-prevention company, in its annual Fraud Attack Index 2017 My “spidey senses” were tingling. A man had contacted me, via email, with the following message: Hello There, My name is Bill Jack from Oklahoma. I actually observed… Read More
“I consider the 70s to be the youth of old age. So all you women out there who are afraid of getting older, just keep your orgasms in place, eat a lot of vegetables, take exercise, and you’ll be fine.” – Dr.Betty Dodson I missed it. I. Missed. It. Unable to make May’s Accidental Friends book club meeting,… Read More
“She turned to the sunlight And shook her yellow head, And whispered to her neighbor: “Winter is dead. –A.A. Milne “Try not to step on them,” said my daughter. I looked across the woodland floor and sighed. The carpet of Trout Lilies was impressively thick and wide. And, ironically, I was smack dab in the middle of nature’s spring gift…. Read More
“The TV shouted an old black-and-white film he didn’t recognize, wheelchairs facing it like church pews.” ― Seré Prince Halverson, All the Winters After I don’t know about you, but I’ve long held a fear of nursing homes. There’s sadness that prevails despite cheery seasonal decorations and attempts at community. (It’s hard to play bingo when you can barely hear.)… Read More
“Most of the things that stop us aren’t things that we can’t do, but things we refuse to learn.” ― James Woosley First I’d like to give a huge, uncomfortably long, group-hug to ya’ll for the love you sent my husband and me during his stint in the hospital and beyond. The way life can change in a moment leaves… Read More
“There was a red button on the wall labelled EMERGENCY, but no button labelled BEWILDERMENT.” ― Michel Faber, The Book of Strange New Things My husband does not like going to the hospital, and yet here he was, waiting for the emergency room doctor to appear. It was early Saturday morning. My husband’s leg was blood red, hot, with his… Read More
Turnaround, every now and then I get a little bit nervous That the best of all the years have gone by Turnaround, every now and then I get a little bit terrified And then I see the look in your eyes Turnaround bright eyes, but every now and then I fall apart Turnaround bright eyes, every now and then I… Read More
“In the old pre-technology days, it would have been almost impossible to replicate Facebook or Twitter. The closest you could get would be to mail dozens of postcards a day to everybody you know, each with a brief message about yourself like: “Finally got that haircut I’ve been putting off.” Or: “Just had a caramel frappuccino. Yum!” The people receiving… Read More
A vigorous five-mile walk will do more good for an unhappy but otherwise healthy adult than all the medicine and psychology in the world. – Paul Dudley White “Twirl!” Each night I train our dog, Booker. And by train I mean shamelessly plead with him to do a few simple tricks before rewarding him with a treat… or ten. Depending… Read More
“I’m selfish, impatient and a little insecure. I make mistakes, I am out of control and at times hard to handle. But if you can’t handle me at my worst, then you sure as hell don’t deserve me at my best.” ― Marilyn Monroe Valentine’s Day. Be it spent with a partner, a friend, a lover, or alone, may love rule… Read More
“To be alive is to be dizzy and not to know exactly where to go.” ― Ander Monson Turning my head to observe whatever mischief our cat, Giese, was into, caused the room to swirl and sway. My dance with vertigo had started the day before and was apparently not ready to call it quits just yet. If you’ve ever… Read More
“Death leaves a heartache no one can heal, love leaves a memory no one can steal. –From an Irish headstone” He sat in the front row, head bent forward, listening as the chaplain ‘s eulogy both soothed and disturbed his blessed mental fog. His wife was gone. Too soon. Too young. Seated next to the man were his two sons,… Read More
“To make this decision, to risk her fortune and the company that’s been her entire life, well I think that’s brave.” — Tony Bradlee (played by Sarah Paulson) in the movie, The Post The cats circled the bed, crying for their breakfast, as sunlight splattered on my face. I rolled into my husband’s chest and kept my eyes closed. If… Read More
“You can live to be a hundred if you give up all the things that make you want to live to be a hundred.” -Woody Allen The lovely blond, aged 20-something, sat next to me with pondering eyes. My question to her was this, How old will you be when you believe you are old? After a moment she… Read More
“I give you this to take with you: Nothing remains as it was. If you know this, you can begin again, with pure joy in the uprooting.” ― Judith Minty Our cat, Giese, lies curled amidst the chaos formally known as my desk. She is surrounded by boxes, tape, white papers, black markers and, inexplicably, a roll of eye-blinding,… Read More
“Women are made to be loved, not understood.” –Oscar Wilde In the movie, Grand Hotel, Greta Garbo famously said, “I vant to be alone.” I don’t look like Garbo or sound like Garbo, but there are many, many, times that I “vant to be alone” too. And, as my husband knows, giving me space to do just that is one… Read More
A flower does not think of competing to the flower next to it, it just blooms. –Zen Shin “You’ve never had a facial?” said an acquaintance. “How can you live without them?” At the time I was a single-mom of two young kids and dang proud that I was covering the basic monthly bills with my dental assisting paycheck. I… Read More
“I love that this morning’s sunrise does not define itself by last night’s sunset.” ― Steve Maraboli Like furry gargoyles, our two cats, Giese and Pudgy, perch on the headboard of our bed. Even though they have free-choice kibble, their expectation is that I serve up a can of wet food. Daily. And by daily I mean at 7… Read More
“It was a stark choice: shoes or food; beauty or sustenance; the sensible or the self-indulgent. “I’ll take the shoes,” she said firmly.” ― Alexander McCall Smith, Tea Time for the Traditionally Built I love shoes. They can make or break an outfit… or a leg. Does anyone else remember those uber-high cork wedges from the 70’s? Mine were white peep toes… Read More
“For darkness restores what light cannot repair.” –Joseph Brodsky “The voice clearly said, ‘Fake boobs,’ when I asked the spirit what he prefers,” said Connie Braton, a psychic medium at Psychics in the Cities. https://www.facebook.com/phychicsinthecities. Connie and I were having coffee and discussing the recent flurry of responses to my question about haunted locations along Old Hwy. 61, Minnesota. (By… Read More
“When someone tells you they are too ‘busy’… It’s not a reflection of their schedule; it’s a reflection of YOUR spot on their schedule.” ― Steve Maraboli It’s happened to me many times. How about to you? Plans fall through because a friend/family member/acquaintance is suddenly “too busy” to participate/visit/chat. Have you heard these statements or similar ones? “Oh I want… Read More
“If you are serious about changing your life, you’ll find a way. If you’re not, you’ll find an excuse.” –Jen Sincero My friend, Dee Kotaska, placed her finger on the book’s cover and slid You Are A Badass by Jen Sincero across the table and into my hands. “I have been energized by this book and wanted you to have… Read More
Carve your name on hearts, not tombstones. A legacy is etched into the minds of others and the stories they share about you.” ― Shannon L. Alder “What’s your favorite color?” Startled by a voice coming from somewhere behind me I turned around to see a woman smiling a genuine, yet concerned, smile. My usual shy,… Read More
“What would you be glad you did–even if you failed?” –Brene Brown Note from Gail…I wrote this as a guest blogger on http://www.agingbutdangerous.com about a year ago. Since my hunky hubby and I are taking some time away from technology this week, I thought a repost was in order! Stories To Tell You just knew she had stories to… Read More
“I am an artist you know … it is my right to be odd.” ― E.A. Bucchianeri, Brushstrokes of a Gadfly Twenty minutes. It was nearing the end of a two-day art fair and my husband was getting antsy to start packing up. That’s pretty much the worst part—tearing down when you’re exhausted/hungry/thirsty/exhausted. Twenty, feels-more-like-two-hours, minutes. I give my love the stink… Read More
Irish Spring soap for Restless Leg Syndrome? Whaaaa? My friend and wise woman, Valerie Lis, sent me that tip and I had to laugh. But, I also had to try it. It’s quirky! I like quirky! My RLS is reasonably managed by taking Padma, a Tibetan herbal supplement, but how could I pass up putting Irish Spring soap at the… Read More
Dog and Butterfly Lyrics by Heart We’re getting older the world’s getting colder For the life of me I don’t know the reason why Maybe it’s livin’ making us give in Hearts rolling in taken back on the tide We’re balanced together ocean upon the sky Another night in this strange town Moonlight holding me light as down Voice of… Read More
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