One of the best lessons I learned in high school was the joy of making friends and the importance of those lasting relationships.
The Adventures of Having Six Children
One of my favorite tales occurred after Leslie and Aaron started their lives together with their six children, who ranged in age from three to thirteen. The couple had their hands full with their sweet crew, but everyone pitched in when it came time to complete their chores. Still, the best-laid plans can still go awry.
One spring, my daughter did her usual seasonal cleaning, going through closets and donating items to the local thrift store. And yes, she made the kids help.
A few days later, while I visited with my daughter on the phone, she was shopping at this local thrift store. She was going through the clothes when she stumbled across her favorite denim jacket, which she could not find. One of the kids had placed it in the donation bag! She told me she had to buy it back! At that moment, I laughed until I cried. I couldn’t speak as tears ran down my cheeks. She hung up on me since I could no longer communicate because I could not stop laughing. The clerk witnessed her actions and chastised her for hanging up on her mama. When Leslie explained what happened and how the kids “helped” with the spring cleaning chore, the clerk told her to call her mom back and tell her, “Haha, I didn’t have to pay for it.” Good Times!
Yoga
One positive change that I have made in my life is incorporating chair yoga into my weekly activities. The stretches and poses have helped ease arthritis pain and the pain of my back injury, and it has helped me become more flexible. Some stretches and poses are so relaxing, that I even sleep better at night! Win Win!
Anne
Daily writing prompt
If you could be a character from a book or film, who would you be? Why?
If I could be a character from a book or movie, the child within would definitely be Anne of Green Gables. I loved the series of books and the movies. What a character, this Anne!
Plate facing p. 156 of the first edition of Lucy Maud Montgomery‘s Anne of Green Gables
Dogs!
I truly believe that dogs are a man’s best friend, or more precisely, a woman’s best companion. Each furbaby has its own unique personality, and most know how to wiggle its way into the hearts of a loving owner. Every dog that I have ever owned has loved unconditionally and has provided endless amusement and enjoyment. The only drawback is that our pups do not live long enough!
Photo by Hannah Lim on Unsplash
Post Covid
Daily writing prompt
How have you adapted to the changes brought on by the Covid-19 pandemic?
I am not sure if I have quite adapted to the changes brought on by the Covid-19 pandemic. Our world has changed in so many ways. We lost too many people, family, and friends. Unfortunately, people are angrier and more stressed. Our country is divided. Students are struggling academically, for many are behind due to the isolation. Corporate greed is out of control without regard for the well-being of our people. In general, while I try to remain hopeful, I worry about the quality of life people now endure.
Photo by Fusion Medical Animation on Unsplash
Laughter 101
- Grandchildren
- My Muttley Crew
- Family
- Friends
- Jokes – usually inappropriate ones – can I blame it on a nervous response?
- Comedies
Photo by Stanisław Skotnicki on Unsplash
A Librarian
Daily writing prompt
When you were five, what did you want to be when you grew up?
Once I discovered libraries, I wanted nothing more than to work in a building that actually allowed others to read such prized possessions! When I was about nine or ten, I even opened my own library with help from my parents.
Here’s the story.
Photo by Ishaq Robin on Unsplash
Spring Break and Snowy Magic
Sometimes, I believe my friends and family do not understand my need to get away and hide from the world. I love the mountains and try to find time to rent a cabin, get away from the hustle and bustle, and slow down.
This week, during spring break, I ran away to a little mountain retreat not far from where I live. This place is perfect. Right now, as I write my blog, I am reclining in a comfortable leather chair next to a fire in a one-hundred-year-old fireplace! My pups are curled up on the back of the sofa as warm sunlight shines through the window. Sunshine lights up the snow-covered grounds and sparkles through the towering Ponderosas.
Perfection! A girl could get used to this lifestyle with deer and wild turkeys for neighbors. Something is comforting about this way of life. I would enjoy a life of retirement watching the daily routine of wild turkeys marching up and down the driveway each morning and afternoon. I would love sitting on a porch covered in blankets, sipping hot tea, and watching the pups ramble and run between the forest of trees.
My Teacher
One special and influential teacher was my first-grade teacher, Mrs. Lewis. She taught at Paden Elementary School in Alameda, California in 1967. She was such a kind and loving soul, and she made learning so much fun!
During my junior year of high school, I returned to Mrs. Lewis’ classroom as a teacher’s aide. It was another wonderful experience, an endeavor that pushed me toward my own dream of teaching. I often think about her and the impact she made on so many children. She was a remarkable educator who left her heart imprinted on so many little lives. Thank you for your inspiration and bless you for touching my life.
Tales of a Family 