On the 15th of every month, I have a “My Musings” column due for this magazine. Okay, so I usually get it in by the 20th, but that is not really the point right now. The point is that I always have to come up with a topic, which is easier some months than others.
It happened. I adopted a cat. For three decades, my home has been filled with big, slobbery, goofy dogs and suddenly – slam on the breaks – I found myself driving home with a cat in a carrier in the back seat. I am not trying to say I was in some sort of blackout
A life lived with no regrets … Who really does that? Who goes through life without couldas, shouldas and wouldas? Aren’t those three things sort of unavoidable? It sounds like an impossible dream to me. If I woulda paid more attention in school, I coulda been a doctor or something. Shoulda done it. If I
As I type this, I am sheltering in place – at my place. Why is it that the minute someone tells you that you can’t do something, you suddenly want to do it? How many times have I mulled over the idea of staying in my cozy house, a little stay-cation of sorts, just me
If you are really lucky and have a friend who is a teacher, they may just ask you to read to their class this month. Don’t say “no” – if you do, you’ll miss out. You’ll never have a more captive audience than a classroom full of elementary school kids, listening as you make a
Every February 11, something incredible, even magical, happens. No, Valentine’s candy does not go on sale half-off. It’s something even better, if you can believe that. February 11 marks the beginning of “Random Acts of Kindness Week.” This is also the week of Valentine’s Day. Just so you don’t get this twisted, sending your girlfriend
It’s a new year, and not just any year, either. We get an extra day! This is way more intense than that extra hour you get at the end of Daylight Saving – this is an extra 24 hours. Something about that feels like pressure. I mean, you have an entire extra day to not
As a kid ripping the wrapping paper off my Dream Veterinarian Barbie, Barbie Camper or pretty much any Christmas present, I never questioned why. All I could question was whether, buried under the stack of gifts I had to open, I might find a Mod Hair Ken doll, so Barbie could finally date. Christmas really
Preparing to write this piece, I decided to research thankfulness, gratitude, gratefulness – you know – the stuff we talk about as we stuff turkey down our throats every November. Technically, the holiday is called Thanksgiving. To some people, it is simply a day to be grateful for what we have in this life. Gratitude
If you’ve waited until this month to start your Halloween shopping, you are way behind. Way. Behind. Halloween stuff starts showing up in stores before the back-to-school merchandise goes on clearance. If you haven’t been Halloween shopping, you are missing out, my friend. Take, for example, pet supply stores. What’s your guinea pig going to
How would you describe a good neighbor? To some people, it’s someone who minds their own d@#n beeswax. I guess that is okay, unless someone is breaking into your house. Then, you probably wouldn’t mind having someone next door with at least a hint of Gladys Kravitz in their makeup. Obviously, nosiness is not a
All I really need to know, I learned in kindergarten.” Robert Fulghum’s famous words were published the year I graduated from high school, 1986. They are as true for me at age 51 as they were at 18. Math? I still don’t use long division. It’s called a calculator, Mrs. Hammond. So, there. English? People
