Musings
About retirement… and random other things!
These blogs first appear as weekly columns in the Red Deer Advocate
My Allowance
Here we are, smackdab in the middle of paying bills for a holiday that feels long since past. Even with that burden of attention that’s required to juggle the things necessary to pay the other things off, I often find myself with a bit of extra energy at this time of year. Maybe having gotten used to tackling the long list of seasonal to-do items...
Talk to strangers!
Ah, a brand new year is underway! A clean slate, an opportunity to pledge to do something better, an annual chance to nag yourself to finally follow through on a New Year’s Resolution (do people still make those?) How about trying something a bit different this time around – how about making a commitment to talk to strangers! A campaign is...
Packing up Christmas
Christmas trees look so strange once Christmas is over, sitting there in the middle of the room all disheveled and dusty from their former glory days of a few weeks ago. They had risen again in triumph back then, in the month’s earlier days, to stand watch over the festivities, the joys and the love sparkling all around.Did I appreciate Christmas...
It’s a wonderful life
(Here we are, young backpackers atop one of the amazing pinnacles in Kalabaka, Greece. I'm the one on the right - the big hair makes me easy to spot!) My mom used to admonish me for ‘wishing my life away’, even when I was just a young girl. I was often looking for something else to be happening even though I was surrounded by pleasant people and...
Enjoying the season
Here we are, smack-dab amid all the festivities. My wish is that your days are filled with kind visits and good cheer enroute to a happy holiday feast! My second wish is that my own festive gathering will be free of the mini calamities that seemed to haunt our Thanksgiving celebrations. Although we had spent much time and effort to create a...
Address book adventure
I bet you’re right in the middle of writing Christmas cards. I am, although I’ve cut my list down to just a dozen or so in an effort to keep things simple. I’ve always found this tradition to be a top seasonal stressor – as I wrote about in this article that was first published in The Globe and Mail several years ago: If you are a writer, you...
This time around
There used to be a commercial for my favourite brand of jeans, reminding people to take a softer approach to life ‘this time around’. When that pair of jeans was new and a whole host of experiences were waiting for you and them to experience together. ‘This time around, I’ll slow down and appreciate. I’ll be kinder to those around me, etc.’ ...
It takes a village
It really does take a village to accomplish things successfully – from raising healthy children (where the saying originally came from) to accomplishing your career goals to navigating retirement. The old proverb implies that the entire community should provide for and interact positively with children for them to reach a state of healthy...
Left holding the bag
I got busted for having a sheathed knife in my purse at airport customs once, but I can explain. It happened several years ago, when I had been at a Christmas party with a dear friend soon after both of us were divorced. He insisted I needed a ‘night out’ which, given how pleasant the dinner and entertainment had been, I think he was right. Plus,...