Rhyme and Reason from my Empty Nest

                                                                                                                                                           Are we old enough to even have this discussion? Guess so. My husband and I have been having this discussion a lot lately. Last year he reduced his work load to 3 days a week. That was an adjustment but not as much of one as I expected. We survived and even still like each other.  The plan is for him to transition to 0 work days per week in the new year. This is a big deal. It's a big change. In 40+years of marriage, he's worked every work day...

                                                                           A little goes a long way...  A pinch of salt. A hint of cologne. A short power nap. A good deep breath.  "A  dab will do ya!" - not "daba daba do," as Fred Flintstone would say. More often than not, a little is enough...     a little encouragement       a little thanks          a little attention             a little intention                a little heart                   a little compassion                      a little forgiveness                 ...

                                                                      Most dogs have big hearts. Some master's do too. This master's heart could use some work. What about you? All I know is we all could learn a lesson or two from the heart of a dog... Yes, we have a lot to learn. Dogs too, but they learn more naturally. Our learning typically comes through strife and struggle. They accept things more readily. We are less accepting and more skeptical. We find it harder to gain a positive perspective. We could benefit by looking into the more positive viewpoint our dogs display most of every day.  Dogs are generally happy creatures. Accepting creatures. Their cups are half-full even when their dog bowl is empty. They are trusting we will fill it to the top when we get the time. Dogs don't know what we do with al...

                                                                       My dog is a cat and that's that! I had this realization early. He must have learned his behavior from his sister. I loved her. I had no choice. We have to take all our children as they come. She could be cold and calculating. She didn't want much to do with me. I was only welcomed in her wake-up minutes when a nice ear rub gets the day started off right. Don't try such tenderness later in the day. She's not having it. Guess I'm particular on when I want my ears rubbed too. She would lay on the couch. I would arrive offering my companionship. She wanted none of it. None of me. I paid good money to get a dog. I got a cat instead. Sometimes we don't get what we expect...hope for...pay for. As I approached, she would promptly sliver to the othe...

                                                                 I just got back from an over 22-hour trip home. I arrived safely and thrived abundantly from a wonderful trip. You know...the trip I don't want to go on. 😕 This one was great. Just like all the other ones. Life lesson to me. Go. Experience. Step out even if it's way out. You might enjoy yourself when you get out!  You're living the dream when a dream trip shocks you to exceed your highest dreams. You won't know if you don't go. A friendly reminder or kick-in-the-pants for me! On the flight home, I dream of home. My bed. My pillow. My dog. My grandkids. There will be 3 weeks of dust piled high as will be the mountains piled high of dirty clothes to sort, wash and dry. The empty refrigerator. The major grocery store run. And...do I really, actually have to ...

                                                                       Advice from a Tree Stand tall and proud. Sink your roots into the earth. Be content with your natural beauty. Go out on a limb. Drink plenty of water. Remember your roots. Enjoy the view! Anonymous Simple  Profound Enough Said Nothing more needed except if you have anything to add to the advice from a tree...

                                                                     Oh, for the good 'ole days. The days I thought my hips looked wide in my size 6 pants. The days of carefree photographs not caring if a hair was out of place. If my eyes were open, then the picture became more than acceptable. Looking back, I looked cute in every last one of them. No worry of whether I should do the skinny arm. Bend one knee. Stand more straight. Lean more forward. Move more back from the camera. Chin up. Chin down. Full grin or less of a smile to show less of my wrinkle collection.   If I raise my eyebrows, will I give myself an immediate face lift?   I don't even know exactly where I'm suppose to look when looking at the camera. There's a lot to consider. I don't recognize myself in the pictures of myself. Who is ...