Category: American Culture
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Life is what happens…
“Life is what happens to you while you’re busy making other plans.” John Lennon from the song, Give Peace a Chance I love this quote by John Lennon. I’ve always mused on it from the perspective of folks (including myself) who are too busy keeping up with “rat race” related concerns that they miss the…
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As Unready As I’ll Ever Be…
I am nowhere near ready. Yes, my bags are packed. Tickets purchased. Itinerary sorted. I’ve even wrapped my head around it. No, it’s my body. My physical readiness. Basically, I’m doomed. Day after tomorrow, Rick and I will ride from our front door to Kingston and catch the ferry to Edmonds, Washington. There, we will…
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It’s the Water
“Now, turn it all the way until these padlock rings line up. Exactly.” Standing over our water meter, my neighbor, Chris, guides me in the nuanced skill of turning off, or on, water to any of the 73 homes in our neighborhood. It’s one of the jobs I’ve acquired now that I’m a board member of…
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The Retirement Report:
My Year of Adrenaline My first year of retirement was intended to be a primer in the Beginner’s Mind, the Buddhist concept of viewing and interacting with life from the mind of inexperience: as a novice, a child. It’s the practice of cultivating a sense of wonder, curiosity and joy through mindfulness in any given…
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60 Shades of Gray
Reflections on Retirement When I tell people I’m from the Pacific Northwest, they invariably say,” it rains a lot there, doesn’t it?” Yes. Sort of. Like the Scots, said to have 421 words for snow (for example, the Scottish word for a large snowflake is ‘skelf’), those of us in the PNW have many many…
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Brides, Bouquets and Baby Goats
“Does she love the artichoke?” my friend and neighbor Angeline asked in an adrenaline fueled kind of way. I looked at her blankly and she continued. “If she loves it, I will need floral wire, wire cutters and floral tape.” With two hours until “go time”, my answer was simple. “She hates the artichoke.” In an instant, said…
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Unrequited
“I know we’d be best friends”, I thought as I finished the epic book, The Storyteller: Tales of Life and Music by Dave Grohl. I imagine that if we were introduced at some dive bar, we would hit it off instantly. I mean, Dave and I, we have a lot in common. He’s witty. I’m…
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I Heart Millennials
My statement was met with disbelief. So, I repeated myself, very slowly. “When I was a kid, no one used olive oil. We used Crisco or Wesson oil.” Both sons just shook their heads sadly. Finally, one son said, “But mom, how did people make dipping sauce for artisan bread? How did they make Aglio e Olio? How did they…
Gonzo Girl 