Why do I Write?

by Cynthia, posted in Lifestyle

A couple of weeks ago I mentioned that Mary Ann sent me a book written by her friend Mark McNease. The book, Blank Page to Bookshelf, is about writing fiction, developing characters, and self-publishing. I fall naturally into the self-publishing space. Several years have passed since I attended a weekend writers’ workshop sponsored by a publishing house. I enjoyed the weekend learning about others’ projects and hearing well-known authors talk about their craft. Yet, the thing that most stuck with me was when the head of the publishing house said – and I paraphrase here – there are so many people who want to write a book that it is virtually impossible to get the attention of an editor. One’s best bet is to self-publish.

Once you have sold 100,000 copies, the publishing houses are more likely to pick you up. The interesting thing about that concept is this: if I can sell 100,000 copies myself, why would I then give my publication to an organization who is now going to take 60% or more of my sales? That set the stage for me … and I self-published two books which I then used at workshops. Now all these years later, self-publishing is quite acceptable.

Woman writing in a journal at a desk with computer and books

Although I work more in the non-fiction space, McNease’s book sparked some thoughts for me to ponder. One such question he posed is “why do you write?”  Honestly, I had never thought about why I write.  I just do.  I sit at my keyboard, and words trickle out through my fingers and onto the screen. Is it important to know why I write? I don’t know.

When I was approaching my 30th birthday an astrologer told me I was a writer. This skill somehow showed up in several houses on my birth chart. (Is that even a thing?) I found the idea fascinating as I never had considered the possibility. Yet for some unknown reason I have always remembered Brenda telling me so. I had barely begun my career in higher education, having earned my first doctorate not long before. At the time my biggest concern was that I must “publish or perish” as they say in the industry.

I recall struggling to put words on the page – not because I had nothing to say, but I wasn’t certain I knew how to say things eloquently enough. Still, when I would reread articles, reports, research papers, and monographs months after completing the writings, I thought they were not half bad – some even pretty good. *smile*  And that has held true throughout my career.

When Mary Ann suggested (for three years before we finally got down to business) that we start publishing a blog, I figured it would be easy to write. The hard part, in all honesty, was setting up the site, learning the platform, and developing a schedule. The two of us over-planned, until finally we said, “it doesn’t have to be perfect.” We will learn as we go. When we were able to let go of perfection, we could do what we enjoyed. Write.

So why do I write?  I guess I just find it relaxing to record my thoughts. Not everyone enjoys writing but we all have outlets. What do you do that releases your creative juices?

Being Prepared for a Natural Disaster!

by sssmahh303, posted in Taking Care of Business

Mary Ann

I was living in Jersey City and working in New York City in 2012 when Hurricane Sandy hit the region.   Who would have thought that such a terrible storm would manifest in late October and cause as much damage in the NYC area?  This was not on my bingo card!

I lived by the Atlantic Ocean a good part of my adult life, so I was used to hurricanes and was prepared.  I was not ready in any way for Sandy to embrace my life as it did that year.  The storm itself did not damage my apartment even though I was located close to the Hudson River.  The water, however, was rising fast from the drains in the complex’s underground garage.  I had to move my car to higher ground.  As I returned to my apartment, the winds were picking up.  It was going to be a long night.  So, the cat and I cuddled up together and rode out the storm.  When the morning dawned, and Sandy went out to sea.  I began to realize how unprepared I was and that was the real storm in my life.  

Of course, the electricity was out so when you went out into the hall, it was pitch dark, no light anywhere.  I did have a headband flashlight and could use that to maneuver the building.  My phone was almost out of juice, but I could use my computer to recharge it for a while.  There was no way to get news, no idea of what was happening.  My refrigerator was beginning to defrost.  I was able to eat what was in there for a few days.  The frozen shrimp thawed out, so I had to cook it.  Thankfully, I had gas, and my stove was fully functioning.  I had to light it the old-fashion way with matches.  The bonus of having a gas water heater is having hot water for a bath even if you had to do it the dark.  Small wonder.  I was so thankful for a hot cup of tea. 

So, one day turned into another, and each day I had a mission.  I went out to find food or ice to keep what I had cold.  The hardest thing was getting money.  The ATMs were not working making it hard to buy food when it became available. Some of the local restaurants were able to make food.  They had gas so they could cook. You had to have cash because the credit card machines were not working. The local banks would only make money available for their clients, so it was a hike of a few miles to my bank for cash.

As the week progressed, the surrounding buildings got electricity.  My apartment was on a different grid, so I remained in the dark.  I found that I got up with the sun and went to bed when it set in the evening.  Electricity allows us the freedom of extending the day well into the night.  Something that we take for granted for the most part.  Eventually, the apartment management brought in trucks with giant generators that gave us light in the common areas.  They showed movies during the day to entertain and set up charging stations for our phones and computers.  If you had an extension cord, you could plug it in the outlets in the hall.  Humans are so adaptable that we immediately create systems to survive.  

What we were dealing with were inconveniences, not real problems.  No one was dying.  You had to put on an extra sweater to keep warm, you had to read rather than watch TV or play games with the family.  The cat enjoyed watching me play solitary, and I think she liked having me around all the time.  I had plenty of food for her, and she was wearing a fur coat.

My school was in Lower Manhattan, so it was closed.  No electricity and several streets had water issues. You couldn’t get into the city if you wanted, because the subways were flooded.  The lines for the ferries were for hours long.  Upper Manhattan had electricity, and you would not know that there was a hurricane.  My boss lived there.  Life was going on as usual.  After a week, the school opened so I had to get into the city.  One of my teachers gave me a ride through the Lincoln Tunnel on Sunday.  I ended up sleeping on my boss’s couch for a week.  The show must go on or rather the school bells must ring.  I was there to greet the children. (In case you were wondering, my cat sitter was able to come to take care of my beloved cat.) 

The next several months, New York got back on its feet.  The surrounding areas did not recover as fast.  Anyone coming in from New Jersey spent double the time getting to work and double the time getting home.  My half an hour commute became an hour.  Thank God for the ferries and buses.  You never appreciated the subways as much as you did when they didn’t work. 

This was my Sandy story.  What did I learn from the whole experience?  You need to be prepared.  I bought an energy block so I could charge the phone and computer. You must make sure it is always charged so you are ready.  I bought a land line phone – a little Slimline.  When the phone towers went out, for some reason the land phone lines were working.  I am not sure if that would work now.  Many landlines are not functioning today.  I bought a battery powered TV so I could get the news.  It also had radio function.  It is an analog, so you are only getting a few channels.  I can’t seem to get any channels in PA.  I also keep a stash of money in all dominations.  I use it for emergencies sometimes, but you must replenish what you use, so you have money when you need it.  

Of course, you need to squirrel away extra non-perishable food and water. I bought a month’s worth of survival food in case there is a Zombie invasion.  Just add water!  Oh, so yummy.  I have Life Straws to use for purifying water from a creek or pond.  I also keep extra medicine in case there is a delay in deliveries.  A first aid kit is a must.  Prepare a go bag for you and your pets if you must evacuate and have your important papers organized to take with you if needed.  Have a deck of cards or other games available to play or books to read or hobbies items like yarn for knitting.  You never know what you may need or how long the ordeal may last. 

As the world heats up, we are going to experience more extreme weather. There is not much we can do about it until the Earth cools if it can.  In the future the inconveniences of what I experienced with Sandy may be real problems.  Be that good Boy or Girl Scout and be prepared.

A Pain in the Back

by Cynthia, posted in Wellness

I have mentioned before that I’m having some back issues. I join approximately 75.8 million adult Americans who experience low back pain, and 28% of those have chronic pain. It seems back pain is one of the most common and disabling health conditions globally. At least I am in good company.

I have had x-rays and MRIs and several different doctors have reviewed the films. I have had Dexa scans and echo-light scans to determine the density in my skeleton. All those fun things our doctors order because that’s the thing to do.  The process has been interesting to say the least.

Recently I met with a neurosurgeon. His staff was attentive, asking me to turn my legs this way and that and to twist and bend to the best of my ability. When the doctor came into the examination room, he pulled up the MRS and told me I had mild-to-moderate arthritis which probably caused some scoliosis. He recommended physical therapy and pain management. Surgery was not currently necessary, thankfully.

Woman standing on street holding lower back in pain

I had just finished six weeks of physical therapy and continued to do as many of the exercises at home as I could. Next, I met with the pain management doctor.

Once again, the pain management doctor reviewed with the MRI. He, however, painted a much gloomier picture. After setting out a plan of action, heavily influenced by health insurance, he started out of the room. On his way out he commented, “You are doing great! Looking at your MRI, I expected to see you in a wheelchair.”  What?! How did I go from “mild-to-moderate” to needing a wheelchair?! Which doctor was closer to being correct?

The experiences reminded me that the most important person in one’s health regiment is oneself. Each of us must decide which recommendation to take. In the case of back pain, there are a few things you can do to prevent or to lessen the pain as you get older. The CDC and others recommend tips to help. Following are some that have helped me.

Maintain a healthy diet and weight (for everything, not just your back!)

Remain as active as possible, under your doctor’s supervision

Avoid prolonged inactivity or bed rest; movement lubricates the joints

Warm up or stretch before exercising

Maintain proper posture

Always listen to your doctor. Ask questions. Discuss solutions.  If your doctor is not open to having conversations with you about your health, you may wish to seek out a professional who will. You are in control of the solutions you ultimately use. No one knows you, better than you.

*This post is the opinion of the author and should not be construed as medical advice!

Secure Online Accounts

by Cynthia, posted in Taking Care of Business

For many years we have heard how to create a strong defense against cybercriminals. We have been told to change passwords every three months, at least. Never use the same password for two or more sites or accounts. Don’t tell anyone your password. Use a combination of lower case, upper case, and numbers … and maybe even special characters. As the guidelines change, so do the cybercriminals and their tools – or is it the other way around?

While I do change my passwords frequently for well-used accounts, I have random accounts that don’t get updated quite as often as they should. You know those accounts that you are forced to create when you want to order food or items online. Those annoying restaurants and stores that really just want to spam you with unnecessary coupons, advertisements, and enticements to try to get you hooked on their products.

Person creating a secure password with tips like mixed characters, numbers, symbols, and long length
A person learning how to create a strong, secure password at their computer

Going through those accounts and attempting to close them or at least to change passwords and email addresses can be a chore! Still, wading through the barrage can be somewhat satisfying, knowing that your online footprint will be a bit smaller.  Some accounts are more difficult than others. There is no clear way to close the account and have your data expunged. It takes much more time and effort.

One thing I have noticed, however, is that many of the accounts automatically add the multifactor authorization (MFA). And on those that do not, it is a good idea to add it yourself. MFA is the requirement to use more than just a password to get into the account. It may use a passkey, a code sent to the phone, or even an authentication application.

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) publishes new warnings and guidelines periodically. One of their recommendations is to move beyond passwords, stating passwords are not as secure as other methodologies. Hackers steal passwords through data breaches and through phishing attempts.

NIST suggests that if you do use passwords, make them at least 15 characters long. They also recommend to use a password manager, so you your long password will not have to be remembered; and always use MFA.

With over 3,000 data breaches in 2024, it goes without saying that some of your data has already been compromised.  Yet, if you are vigilant, you are less likely to have your data taken by those evil people who prefer to lie and steal for a living. (She said with a smile). Seriously, in this world of “everything online” do your best to protect your information. And keep smiling!

Marc Levy Books

by sssmahh303, posted in Reviews

Mary Ann

I would like to introduce you to author Marc Levy.  If this were a true introduction, he would say “Bonjour.”  Marc Levy is the number one best-selling author in France of 26 books.  The 50 million copies of his books have been translated in 50 languages. He is an international literary superstar. 

His first book, If Only It Were True, was made into a Steven Spielberg movie, Just Like Heaven, with Reese Witherspoon and Mike Ruffalo.  What a way to begin a career!  

I discovered Marc Levy’s books from one of the ads that are page savers on your Kindle. I was hooked after reading the summary and since then, I have read three of his books.  The stories are just charming with lively dialogue and interesting characters.  It is a pleasure to get lost in the plots, and it is sad when the stories come to an end.  If I could read French, there would be more stories to read.  However, there are still a few US editions I have yet to read, and I look forward to checking them out. 

Amazon offers both English and French editions and a few in other languages as well.  So, you can get started enjoying his books.  I might suggest The Heart of Everything – a humorous story of a father-son relationship with interesting plot twists.  All Those Things We Never Said is another charming story of an estranged father and his daughter who are making up for lost time learning life lessons along the way.  P.S. From Paris is a love story set in City of Lights with actress Mia meeting writer Paul and how their relationship unfolds in a lovely ooh-la-la fashion!  These stories would all make great films – Hey, Netflix, it is time to take a look.

Lately, the world has been rather dark and gloomy.  Marc Levy’s books are wonderful ways to escapes it all with funny, interesting plots and appealing characters who will be like old friends by the last page.  That is why I wanted you to meet this clever author and discover his enchanting stories.  His newest book is, The Bookshop of Forbidden Books – Not all heroes wear capes. Some carry books.  Doesn’t that sound enticing?  The US edition will be released later in 2026. Meanwhile, check out his other books that I mentioned, and then you can introduce Mark Levy to others!  Bonne Lecture! – Good Reading! 

Blowing in the Wind

by Cynthia, posted in Lifestyle

Remember the Peter, Paul, and Mary song “Blowin’ in the Wind”? Well, I don’t know if the answer is blowing in the wind, but I do know there is a lovely way to know the wind is coming through.

I can’t remember when I first fell in love with the sound of wind chimes but for as long as I can remember I have enjoyed hearing the melodious … and sometimes tinkling … sounds as the breeze hits the paddles on the chimes. The wind finds its way through the hanging structures and tickles the components designed to strike one another.  Today as I sit with nothing particular to do or place to be, I can enjoy the music of the many wind chimes hung along my deck.

Usually, I just subtly enjoy the sounds emanating from the chimes but today I am focused on the joy of these little additions to my urban oasis. Often, I have wondered how the neighbors react to my chimes. My deck faces the side of one neighbor’s home and the gentleman who lives there is the nicest of people. He recently married. I was delighted when his beautiful wife added a chime to their front yard, joining mine in chorus.

I am reminded of a fun city – Casey, Illinois – where their tag line is “Big Things, Small Town.” Jim Bolin owned a pipeline business. On a family vacation his daughter fell in love with a tea shop in Colorado and asked her parents if they could start a tea shop in their small town. Jim felt they needed a way to draw people off the interstate to their tea shop. One day when he was listening to his wind chime, he wondered “what is the world’s largest wind chime?” Using pipes from his business it took two years to create just that. And the town caught on. This little town is full of “world’s largest” items. While some of their items may not be the world’s largest, all are still amazingly huge. The town is creative, innovative, and just plain fun. They love their visitors who stay, shop, and eat there … and who of course, take lots of pictures!  I even bought a couple of wind chimes at the tea shop to take home as gifts along with the story of the town.

When selecting wind chimes, I admit I am a bit picky. Okay. I am very picky. I want chimes that have a lovely, tonal quality.  Some chimes are pretty, festive, or cute but they have that shrill tinny sound that is more distracting than calming. Wind chimes don’t have to be large to produce soothing sounds. In fact, some of my lovely chimes are so heavy they only ring when the wind is blowing really hard. Those I enjoy just watching them sway while the others take on the responsibility of creating music.

Do you have a wind chime? Next time you have your door open or sit outside, take time to allow yourself to be enveloped by the sounds emanating from your chime. And then smile as you remember this is one way nature calls to you.

Honk Honk from the Porch

by Cynthia, posted in Lifestyle

The idea of porch geese became an outdoor décor frenzy during the 1980s. Recently they have made a comeback. The fascinating thing is that it’s not just us old timers! TikTok and Instagram videos have gone viral, attracting Millennials and Gen Z-ers to the “sport” of displaying their goose in relevant holiday style. Yes, minimalism is out, at least when it comes to one’s porch goose. What makes them fun and unique is they are adorned with a variety of outfits.  It reminds me of playing Barbie when I inherited my great-grandmother’s hatbox which became my Barbie clothes and accessories suitcase.

Porch geese can be created from any number of materials: concrete, ceramic, and plastic are the most common. These “dolls” are not cheap. Concrete ones cost around $150.00.

There are even Porch Geese clubs! One such club is The Porch Goose Club of America which offers “holiday contests, laughs, and most of all a safe place to be silly with friends from all around the world.” There is a Facebook group for Porch geese aficionados. These people are serious collectors – in a fun and light-hearted manner!

To be honest, I don’t remember porch geese or the garden goose as a trend in the 1980s. Of course, I was finishing graduate school and building my career while rearing my daughter as a single parent. Having a porch goose would have been unnecessary even if I had known about them. I do remember my sister having Gooseberry cookbooks. I wonder if those were popular because of porch geese.

Recently I learned about the porch goose craze because my 84-year aunt, whom I adore and hang out with frequently, had one on her porch. It was dressed to the nines! The goose and several outfits had been given to her by her granddaughter. Lucy (Goosey), as she calls the little darling changes clothes frequently. She was so much fun, I decided to get one for my sister for her birthday.

Lisa loves to decorate for every holiday imaginable (not sure where she gets that – ahem) and she lives somewhat in the country, so I knew she would enjoy a fun little addition to her front porch. Her goose is Flo(rence). I sent Flo to her along with outfits for gardening, birthday, and Independence Day.

On May Day I usually give flowers or plants to people, but I failed to plan ahead this year. I went out to lunch and when I returned home, I noticed something flowery was on my deck. I assumed it was my aunt (rightly so) who left me a plant. But when I went to the deck, I found Daisy Ganderella in a ruffled dress, holding a small straw basket that contained a fresh Gerbera daisy (hence her name, you see).  So, I have officially joined the porch goose craze.

I can’t help but smile when I see Daisy G. on the deck. I wonder what the squirrels think of her.

Reading Always Saves Me

by sssmahh303, posted in Wellness

Mary Ann

When I look back on my life and was faced with life challenges, I always found that books saved me.  I could have been depressed or discouraged, but somehow, I escaped to an alternative world or enmeshed myself in stories about different people and places.  Books were a great bridge to better times. 

When I learned to read, phonics was taught.  It is an excellent way to teach children to read, unless you are a sight reader which I was.  Beginning phonics was a foreign language to me.  I never understood what I was learning.  I must have faked it well because my report cards don’t mention any problems.  I asked my mother if teachers ever mentioned that I had trouble reading, and she said no.  So, I read Dick and Jane, but I did not enjoy it.

Somewhere around 4th grade, something clicked and suddenly in the middle of an Old Mother West Wind book, I was reading and roller coasting over words I didn’t know. However, I knew what was happening, and I loved it.  A flood gate opened, and I was constantly reading – maybe that was the reason I got glasses that year?  I read the entire Bobbsey Twins collection and then on to Nancy Drew.  It was easy reading with the same format – a great way for a beginner reader to get a foothold on books.   I even won a reading contest in 5th grade for reading the most books.  Truly, how could that have happened when I was flailing in the early primary grades?

By the time I entered Junior High, the forerunner of Middle School, we were reading classic literature.  If I had a kerfuffle (isn’t that the greatest word?) with some catty girls or a dispute with my mother, reading Jane Eyreor The Count of Monte Cristo or any other timeless classic, I was relieved to come home and be whisked away to imaginary worlds.  My parents would say that I always had my nose in a book, and I did!  A perfect summer day for me was to lie in our hammock being gently rocked by a breeze and read a book by a favorite author.  I would read until dark.  

Then you go to high school and college, and you are so busy that finding time to read was a real challenge. Of course, you had assigned literature to read from your classes. Thank Heavens!  So, I often would read myself to sleep catching a bit of a pleasure book, and I would always carry a book with me so I could steal moments to read.   

After those rather carefree years, you enter adulthood.  You then might spend more time reading Good Night Moon or Where the Wild Things Are to your children instead being deep in a steamy romance novel.  It is all part of growing up, really growing up.  I can remember being in grad school, teaching full-time, raising young children, and running a house, and my only reading was the People magazine once a week as I soaked in a bubble bath.  The time was precious. 

Life becomes very real when you get a divorce.  It is such a sad time.  I was reading a lot of self-help books trying to figure myself out and understanding the pain my broken heart was enduring.  I have written before how the right book always comes, and it did.  I am so thankful for that gift.  It made all the difference.  However, I missed reading books for pleasure.  It was reading to survive. 

When my children were on their own and had left the “nest,” I spent a year or so reading reflective, inspirational books.  They all helped me heal my soul and allowed me to move forward to embrace the next phase of my life where a new, independent chapter awaited.  At midlife, it was truly a foundational time.

 At work, there were always professional books to read on teaching and learning treads.  All deepening my knowledge of children.  I would read fiction on the weekends and holiday vacations, but there was never enough time to really dive into all the stories I wanted to read.  

With the passing years, my pile of books to read and my lists of new titles grew and grew. Then one day you retire.  For the most part, you must grow old to retire, and therein lies the gift of aging, you have time to read!  Thank you, Thank you!  You may need stronger glasses or bigger font to read.  They do make large print books. However, before you is an endless supply of books to read.  I have taken full advantage of this gift and enjoy reading every day.  I often have three books going at once – the nonfiction I am reading with Lisa, my nature book for book club, and whatever I find of interest on various websites or a recommendation from a fellow reader.

You know that I love books.  My blogs this month are all about different aspects of reading.  I feel blessed.  I do know that a day will come when this will all slow down.  I may have to switch to audio books should my eyes fail or turn up the volume on the various audio book if my hearing goes or I might forget what I read the day before.  I once knew an elderly lady in her 90s who told me she forgets what she reads each day but still enjoys reading it again.  I think that is a great attitude to have and just keep reading.  It might be time to get the children’s books out again, so I can read the whole book in one setting.  Maybe there will be a great-grandchild to read to as they begin reading, and I will be ending my reading.

SSS

by sssmahh303, posted in Friends and Family

Mary Ann 

Do you have a word or a set of letters or numbers that keeps appearing in your life?  I have. Strangely, I have had SSS show up several times in my life, and it is not the Selective Service System. 

In college, I belonged to a local sorority.  It was Theta Gamma Phi that later went national, and we became Sigma Sigma Sigma – SSS!  The sorority was the center of so many wonderful friendships. A few of those women have remained close as the years passed. 

I never thought much of it until I joined a children writer’s group with three other women writers in South Carolina, and we met the second Sunday of each month.  We called ourselves the Second Sunday Sisters – once again SSS.  These ladies were so creative, and we watched the birthing of many books over the years. We critiqued each other’s work and pushed one another forward being cheerleaders to the group.  We would visit the first hour, share yummy treats, discuss any critiques that were pending, and then off to quiet areas of the house to write.  

One of the ladies wrote a series of children’s books entitled Down Girl and Sit, and she dedicated one of the books to the Second Sunday Sisters.  Boy, that is so special having a book dedicated to us!  We began such close friends while I lived in South Carolina.  I am still in frequent contact with one sister, occasionally with another sister, and one who I  completely lost touch.  They all hold a dear place in my heart. 

Now, we come to the last or my maybe my most current SSS.  It is Silver Sage Sisters, and you are part of that. When we were naming the blog, we originally tried for Silver Sages.  The name was already taken on Go Daddy, so we added sisters and bingo, we had our name, another SSS.  It was not planned, but I guess SSS wanted to reappear again in my life. 

Silver Sage Sisters has become a very important part of my life.  I get to work with my dear, dear friend, Cynthia making the distance between Oklahoma and Pennsylvania much closer.  We have grown so much in our writing and figuring how to do WordPress.  I can remember when it was so hard to add a picture.  I often would schedule blogs immediately by mistake and would have to correct the date so blogs would drop as planned.  We hope to add another dear friend, Lisa, as a guest writer sometime soon as she embarks on her retirement.

The blogs have given me a creative outlet for doing a bit of memoire, a bit of travel writing, some reviews of favorite books and films, articles on favorite products and services, storytelling, and lots of odds and ends like a SSS blog.  It keeps my brains nimble as I create. Cynthia and I appreciate your support and encouragement about the stories we tell.  Your feedback has meant so much as we write.  We have a small but loyal following. Thank you, Readers. Spread the word and tell your friends and relatives all about Silver Sage Sisters.  

Looking ahead, I wonder what the next SSS will be in my life.  The past SSS all revolved around friendships, my friendships with other women.   I hope that will be the case in a future SSS.  If I am still writing blogs, I will let you know.  Whatever it is, it has to be better than the Selective Service System! 

Finding A Little Slice of Happy

by Cynthia, posted in Friends and Family

Last week was mind-numbing. Without going into too much detail, I experienced a scary situation which filled me with anxiety. My mind was constantly racing with random thoughts of what to do. I felt violated, frustrated, and distraught.  At first I could not sleep.  While I forced myself to put something healthy into my mouth, I just was not hungry – which is quite unusual for me!  I even had to tell Mary Ann I would be unable to post a blog on Thursday. She, of course, came to the rescue. I spent the week dealing with the issue.

As the fog lifted I agreed to have coffee with a dear friend locally. My daughter invited me to a mother-daughter time at the nail salon – her treat – for Mother’s Day. The weekend would be for self-care.

Friday, a special surprise was in my mailbox.  Mary Ann had sent two books to inspire my writing.  One, *Blank Page to Bookshelf*, was written by her friend Mark McNease. I read the introductory pages of *The Joy of Writing Journal* by Lisa Tener and was – well you may have guessed – inspired! I was reminded that I have always wanted to create my own planner layout. So that project may be on the horizon. Who knows?

Saturday, I got up and started moving early.  I was just about to jump into the shower having eaten some breakfast, downed the morning supplements, and read my Bible chapters for the day, when I received a txt message from my beautiful, sweet granddaughter. She wanted to stop by on her way to work. I waited in my robe for her to arrive. She brought me a lovely nighty from my favorite lingerie store as a Mother’s Day gift. So unexpected!

Then, I met my friend Karen at a new coffee shoppe. It was spacious, light, and had the most delightful Yemini pastries. She selected a pistachio baklava, and I opted for a cinnamon chip muffin to go with our lattes. After we had visited for a couple of hours (yes, hours!) she pulled out a package. She had run across a lovely stained-glass dragonfly whose body was crafted from a silver spoon at the local art festival the previous weekend. It has found its way to a window in my office, allowing the light to shine through its amber wings.

As I was leaving the coffee shoppe I received a call from one of our local UPS stores.  A package I had sent to the wrong address had been returned! Unbelievable! So, I made my way to the store, updated the address, and sent the package on its way, once again. Of course I had to pay the shipping fee again, but for some odd reason, it was less expensive this time. Hmmm.

After working at my desk for a while, I took a call from my aunt and then my grandson called to say he was coming for a short visit. Such a delight! When he left I began readying the house for night and a potential thunderstorm. I was about to close the curtains in my office when I noticed my rose bush had suddenly bloomed! Just when you think people are horrible and life is harder than it should be, others find ways to brighten your days. It’s easy to become sad or lonely or unsure as you navigate your senior years. Yet if you allow yourself to be thrilled and amazed at life’s little pleasures, you will find happiness and maybe even joy!  Just the act of smiling, even when you feel like frowning, can lift your spirits. For the mothers who are reading – happy [belated] Mother’s Day!