Author: Cynthia

Remember when we put pictures in albums?  We would secure the photo using glue or tape thinking they would remain in perpetuity.  Over the years photo albums have changed. At first there were black pages and white “corners”.  Then albums advanced. (Or did they?) Some had self-adhesive pages. Others had a cellophane-type covering for each page. Still others had “pockets” into which pictures could be placed. Each of the options allowed us to view the pages, providing solace in knowing the pictures were preserved.

Fast forward to today. Most photographs are taken with digital cameras, stored in “the cloud” and rarely retrieved for viewing. Instead of having 20 pictures from a roll of film, we now have thousands … dare I say millions of pictures stored.

I discovered Amazon Photos. Well, actually, my son-in-law told me about it. As a Prime member I can upload unlimited numbers of photographs. In fact, within seconds of taking a picture with my mobile phone, the image is uploaded automatically.  The really cool thing about it is I can identify people in the pictures and Amazon is able to catalog them with facial recognition. Recently, I was looking for a picture of my mother. I clicked on her name and up popped 2.7K worth of pictures of her. It’s not perfect – mom’s twin shows up in a lot of those pictures. Granted, they do look uncannily alike. But I digress.

What does one do with the photo albums? They take up so much space. The pages yellow, or worse tear from becoming brittle. Plus the albums are of differing sizes and shapes making storage even more difficult.  Not to mention the full shelf of picture albums and boxes on the top shelf of my office closet, I have four shelves of albums! Many of those were my mother’s.  What to do?

During the time mom lived with me, we slowly began to review the pictures. So many pictures included people I had no clue who they were. In several instances, mom could not remember who the people were or why she had the picture. Needless to say, those were trashed.   Now that she is gone, the task is left to me to figure out what to retain. A sentimental and taxing task.

I began the chore of scanning the pictures. This is a slow process, especially considering that my scanner is an all-in-one printer and thus scans 8.5” x 11” regardless of the size of photo. So after scanning there is a lot of cropping. Again, it’s a process. But there is an endpoint.

Shutterfly is a fantastic way to recreate picture albums that take less room. It is so much easier to turn a printed page than it is to wade through photo albums in which the pages or the pictures have stuck together. Additionally, the Shutterflys can all be a uniform size, ultimately storing thousands of pictures neatly while still being accessible for others to view.

I am creating theme-based Shutterfly albums. Recently, for instance, I made one from the scrapbook of my mother’s 70^th birthday party. It was fun reminiscing of that time 26 years ago when friends and family gathered. At times I wonder if all this work is worth the effort. Then someone looks at the album and conversations ensue with “remember the time when ….”

The most special aspect of this exercise is reliving and preserving precious memories for oneself and those who follow us. Plan ahead and be certain you are not only behind the camera (phone) taking pictures, but that you are also *in* some of the pictures.

At times I think about my childhood and believe things were much simpler then. Of course if I remember correctly, my parents said the same thing. As the summer has come to a close and autumn is now upon us, so too is the autumn of our years. Let’s take a deep breath and enjoy the change of seasons as we remember, fondly, years gone by. And know that

“Age is just the number of years the world has been enjoying you.”

“Remember when” is a phrase that conjures memories. It is commonly used to think about past events, former life experiences, and activities with a certain level of fondness. “Remember when” is a way to recall past experiences, places, or times. Usually these thoughts hold positive meaning or special memories. The phrase may evoke a sense of shared history.

Do you remember when ….

… we rode in the back compartment of the station wagon or the back of a pickup truck and no one thought our parents were irresponsible?

… cereal was considered a good-for-you breakfast?

… you were your parents’ television remote? (“Johnny, change the channel”)

… you played outside until dusk? My dad would whistle shrilly, meaning it was time to go in … and all the neighborhood kids went home.

… you walked to and from school, often alone?

… your parents did not lock the house or the car?

… good manners were expected, not amazingly appreciated?

… “Beam me up, Scotty” and watches you could talk into were science fiction?

… you enjoyed the funnies in color on Sunday morning while your dad read the news and mom clipped coupons from the newspaper?

… paper bags were bad because they destroyed trees; the solution was plastic bags?

… you had to memorize the “times tables”, aka multiplication?

… when you dialed a phone number you actually turned a dial and the telephone number began with letters? FR2-2579

… the family ate together at the kitchen table and mom had cooked the food?

… the doctor made house calls?

… gay was a synonym for happy?

… kids had BB guns that would “shoot your eyes out” ?

… the family attended church and Sunday School or other religious traditions, as a family?

What do you remember about your childhood? Reminisce on days gone by, focusing on happier times when the world was your oyster. (What does that mean, anyway?!)

While we do not want to wallow in the past, sometimes nostalgia kicks in and we …

Remember when ….

My [third] beloved 2014 Toyota Camry is reaching 120,000 miles. So far, I have had no major repairs. I faithfully have kept up with the recommended maintenance, have occasionally replaced tires and a battery or two, and consistently vacuum and wipe down the interior. These cars last forever. Still, I decided to replace the Silver Bullet, if only so I can use the trade-in as a down payment, thus avoiding significant out-of-pocket expense.

Truth be told, I want a luxury vehicle. I will admit it. After years as a single mother, caregiver, and generous grandmother, I had decided it was time to treat myself. In the past I have been perfectly satisfied with a mid-range car. I have never been one to feel a need for a new car every few years, having had my last three Camrys 11, 10, and now almost 12 years, respectively. The cars look fine (although this last one suffered a couple of door dings and a scrape). They have been safe and reliable.

I spent several weeks reviewing cars, crossovers, and SUVs online. I read reviews, looked at features, searched for ratings.

Out I went in search of a new ride. Loving a good road trip, my goals were standard: safe, reliable, and comfortable. Those features that seemed like bells and whistles in years gone by are now standard in almost every [new] vehicle for sale.

I headed first for the Toyota dealership, being familiar with the brand. As is the case in most cities now, one owner holds the license to sell multiple manufacturers’ products. The autoplex or automall is not uncommon. On the way to Toyota, I stopped to look at other manufacturers’ offerings.

Admittedly car shopping is overwhelming. I dreaded the “hard sell” – but was pleasantly surprised that I received none of that. Some places had an abundance of inventory. Toyota had very little. What I found interesting was how similar cars are and how varied the prices can be. For the day, I settled on two that I test drove – one was a smaller SUV, and one was a larger, more elegant model. The larger was, as you may guess, almost $12,000 more, but still under what I believed I would have to pay.

I came home and searched for more information. The salespeople both gave me a printout of the car I drove. The printouts included the VIN and basic information about the vehicle. I used that information to find out more on the U.S. Department of Transportation National Highway Traffic Safety Administration website. https://www.nhtsa.gov/  It has a wealth of information. You can look up safety ratings and additional information. You can enter the VIN of your car to get full information on it, which I found was invaluable.

I was hoping to take advantage of the new provision to take an income tax deduction on the loan interest. The deduction is phased out for taxpayers who have a modified adjusted gross income of over $100,000. My research yielded the following additional criteria that must be met to take the deduction (even if you do not itemize.) https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/one-big-beautiful-bill-act-tax-deductions-for-working-americans-and-seniors . To summarize the vehicle interest deduction:

1. The vehicle must be new and purchased in after December 31, 2024, or in 2025 – 2028.
2. The vehicle must be for personal use and must be secured by a loan, not a lease.
3. The weight of the vehicle must be less than 14,000 pounds.
4. The vehicle must be made in or put together in America. Use the NHTSA’s VIN decoder to discover the vehicle’s plant of manufacture. https://vpic.nhtsa.dot.gov/decoder/
5. The lender must report the interest paid to the IRS and provide a statement to the taxpayer, similar to a home mortgage.

I am fascinated by how much information is available, yet one must be informed to know to look for certain results. At least one thing has significantly changed in car buying. Dealers are no longer allowed (by law) to play around with extra fees, unclear interest rates, and other deceptive practices they used in the past. Once you sit down to pen the deal (supposedly) everything is open and on the table. So, off I go to finalize a purchase.

Wish me luck!

I just returned from my daily walk. I say daily because I have no set time to venture out.  I just know I have to walk every day, if possible.  As the temperatures continue to rise, it becomes harder to motivate myself.  Wishing I had heeded the recommendations when I was much younger, I now engage in some form of exercise every day.  The more aches and pains that arise, the more exercises I add. Once they become routine, they are not so bad.  The exercises take over an hour-and-a-half to complete.  I have to remind myself that I am retired and exercise will keep me healthier as I continue to age. It beats the alternative, I suppose.

As I stepped off my front porch and up and down the bridge-like front walk I heard the sounds of suburbia.  Across the street an old fence was being loaded onto a flatbed and new panels were being unloaded from another.  The voices of men instructing each other as they carried panels and installed the new fence reverberated through the neighborhood.

Continuing along my usual route I saw yard crews mowing and edging. In front of one neighbor’s house the man was visiting with a contractor about a repair that needed to be completed. A new air conditioning compressor was being installed at another home.

Rounding one of the cul-de-sacs I was deep in thought about the various flower beds and landscaping when I noticed a pair of legs, crossed, at the edge of an open garage door.  As I came closer, I noticed a hand waving, although I could not see the man’s face in the shadow of the structure.  I said hello and continued my turn toward the uphill slant of the street.

Later today Mosquito Militia will spray (organically) my yard and deck – my Urban Oasis – to cut down on that pesky population that I seem to attract just by stepping outside. Another indication of life in suburbia.

At last my house was in sight – a welcome abode where I would cool down and drink a whole glass of water before carrying on with my day’s objectives. I reflected on my observations, noting how grateful I am to have a comfortable home, food in the refrigerator, relatively good health, and a neighborhood where I feel safe enough to walk alone at any time of the day.

The 5 Types of Wealth: a Transformative Guide to Design Your Dream Life by Sahil Bloom is an easily readable, non-fiction treatise on the value of Time, Social, Mental, Physical, and Financial opportunities. Mr. Bloom finished writing this book as he turned 32. Yet, my observation of his ideas leads me to believe Sahil is an “old soul.”  He seems wise beyond his years, quoting from many of the [business] gurus of our Baby Boomer professional lives; ancient philosophers, scientists, and mathematicians; and contemporary writers and speakers.

While much of the book focuses on building one’s life along with their career, he has wisdom to share with those of us who are retired yet still active. Thus, I share his perspectives which also serve as a catalyst to my own thinking – past and present.

In his introductory section Sahil reflects that he was in a very successful career, however a mentor he respected began asking him poignant questions. He was certain that he knew what success was but when he had reached that goal, he found happiness was elusive. His mentor suggested he visualize his ideal day at eighty years old. Through these visualizations and after several interviews with more mature people he came to “a powerful realization:  We all want the same thing – and it has very little to do with money.”  He determined most people’s ideal future dealt with Time, People, Purpose, Health.

Bloom provides a quiz in the beginning, offering the reader a look into his/her perception of each of these environments. Then he provides an avenue for reviewing each aspect.  In the Time Wealth section he highlights the importance of spending time based on your personal goals.  Of course this is a basic management concept. Yet have we stated the importance of spending time with family and friends?

As senior citizens many of us now wish we had more time to spend with other people, such as our parents, many of whom have passed on. Our friends, children, siblings, and others.

Many years ago I failed to take an extra step to locate contact information for a person whom I had respected and wished to tell him so.  When I finally took the time, I learned he had just passed away. I vowed that day to make time for people – family and friends who are loved ones, along with acquaintances I admired.  I have since made a point to reach out with a quick note – handwritten, emailed, or txtd – just to let them know someone remembers them.

Recently I invited a couple of friends to join me for coffee with a woman who had been a local leader. Ruth was always encouraging and supportive of women, yet now at 89 and in an assisted living retirement community, no one visits her. People who were “best of friends” have not reached out. While I would not have said we were good friends, I always visited with her at various meetings, occasionally enjoying a dinner out with her. I now make it a point to see her at least once a month.

As Bloom points out, it is important to understand that our time is finite. It is impermanent. In our winter years, we know this all too well. Still, are we making the effort to take advantage of the time we have? Are we allowing ourselves the freedom to choose how we want to spend each minute of each day? Are we tending to and focusing on the things that leave a legacy and that matter most to us? Bloom asks his big question: “How many moments do you have remaining with your loved ones?”

It is never too late to take control of the time we have. Time marches on. Let’s step in line and make the most of the time we have.

Do you have this dilemma? I have plenty of clothes. My closet is full. Yet when it comes time to get dressed, I cannot find anything to wear.  I even shop for outfits; that is, when I am deciding what to purchase, I make a point to find two or three tops for a pair of pants, shorts, or a skirt.  I think I am being organized, and travel packing is easier. Still …. well, you get the picture.

So summer is in full swing and still I have not repositioned my clothes for easier access. Of course I have the added challenge of having moved my linens from another closet to make room for my grandchildren’s clothes. (One lives with me full time; the other when she is in the mood. Both have their own rooms at my house. But that is another story.)

I have boxes and boxes of shoes that likely will not be worn again, but I can’t bring myself to get rid of them. I have several tops that are nice but that have not been worn for a couple of years. There are dresses that I “may” need one day. And, oh, those jackets, ponchos, and pullovers for winter that were useful once upon a time. All this in addition to the fact that I donated my professional clothes – suits, blouses, slacks, jackets – to Suited for Success soon after I retired eight years ago!

Last year I got the bright idea to put a tag on each hanger.  When I wore an item, I removed the tag and the item stays in the closet. At the end of the season, those items with tags still on their hangers were to be donated.  It was a brilliant idea! And it worked – sort of.

I’m disgustingly organized, too. One rack has long-sleeved blouses, sorted by color; another short-sleeved and sleeveless, also sorted by color. The pant rack is divided with hanging labels (yes, I made labels!) for shorts, capris, summer slacks, winter slacks, summer sweats, winter sweats, jeans, and athletic pants. Dresses, nightgowns, and robes are in the taller space. Shelves hold shoes in their original boxes, labels facing out to remind me what is in each.  Still, my closet feels messy and I can’t find something to wear!  It’s time to pull everything out and start again!

So how do I attack this project? Wendy Rose Gould in Real Simple suggests first, set a goal – how much do I want to clean out? Deciding on an amount ahead of the project may seem too confining. However, with an amount in mind it takes some of the emotion out of clearing. Next, gather boxes and trash bags to immediately place pieces for donations, resell, repair, and trash. 

As I look at each item, I can ask myself: Do I enjoy wearing this? Does it make me feel comfortable and attractive? When will I wear the item? With what will I wear it. Would I love to wear this if I have something to complement it? Kaitlyn Yarborough wrote in Southern Living that she uses the Rule of 3.  If she can’t visualize wearing the item in at least three different ways, it’s out. In this way I suppose you are setting an intention for donning the item in the coming weeks. As for those clothes that are too big or too small, get rid of them. I once bought a dress I adored but I needed to lose about an inch in the waste for it to fit properly. That dress hung in my closet for several years before I finally concluded it was never going to fit. It would fit someone – just not me.

Another challenge is “Why am I holding on to this item that I haven’t worn?”  Was it a gift, thus I feel guilty about ridding myself of it, even though I have not enjoyed wearing it?  Is it an item I wore for a special occasion or on a memorable trip? By identifying the nostalgic reason opposed to the practical I will wear this when …. I can more easily put it in the donation pile.  I can take a picture of it, if I don’t already have one, and thus remember the item without leaving it unused and taking up space. Kaitlyn suggests an “Outbox” much as email uses.  Put sentimental clothes that are those you are not sure of into a temporary storage box and put it away.  If you don’t go to it in a month or two, it is time to donate the items.

And then there is the item you love but it has to be dry cleaned or it must be treated carefully in the laundry, so you put off wearing it for days you are out and about. Especially now that I am at home several days of the week, I don’t wear high-maintenance clothes for cooking, cleaning, reading, writing, and gardening. I even find myself wondering if it is worth “dirtying” the outfit for a one-and-a-half hour meeting. In this case I really have to decide if I want to keep the item … and wear it!

Now, there are those items I love to wear but really, really need to go – and probably not into the donate pile, if you know what I mean. How many pants and shirts do I need to pull weeds, paint, or just lazy around?

Finally, just do it! Looking at the messy closet, overthinking and procrastinating do nothing to help move the project along. The clothes are washed and ironed, so I need to pull things out of my closet, instead of telling you how to approach this task. Wish me luck!