Never point to anything beige and call it cool. ~Lea DeLaria Yesterday, thanks to NPR, the “Coastal Grandmother” TikTok trend became real to you. Jen White, describes a dreamy scene of a woman draped in a cream colored cashmere sweater sitting on a porch facing the ocean while reading a…

“People need to feel seen, heard, and valued to have the desire to grow.” ~ Marcia Reynolds — There is nothing lonelier than an unfulfilling married life. Emma Thompson became Nancy Stokes in the movie titled, Good Luck to You, Leo Grande. She was a retired religious education teacher, widow, and mother of two adult children. She thought her son was boring and her daughter was daunting. …

“Oh, the places you’ll go!” ~ Dr. Seuss I wanted to be a travel writer. There were two things against me. I didn’t travel, or not to places people wanted to read about. My only writing experience was a weekly grocery list. It was long. I had to feed five people every day. As a young mom, I…

“I think a hero is any person really intent on making the world a better place for all people.” ~Maya Angelo Maverick: a lone dissenter, as an intellectual, an artist, or a politician, who takes an independent stand apart from his or her associates: someone who goes against the group…

Teaching is the only profession where you steal supplies from home and take them to work. ~Unknown This year I celebrated teacher appreciation month by leaving the profession for good. I knew without a doubt the time had come. I didn’t get the kids. …

“I don’t know where I’m going from here, but I promise it won’t be boring.” ~David Bowie New Year’s Day. I want to write something inspirational. I want to be filled with gratitude. I want to be happier and more optimistic. I want a do over. If you seek ten…

“Everyone is a moon, and has a dark side which he never shows to anybody.” — ~Mark Twain I set my alarm for 1:00 a.m., crawled out of bed, and drove to Sweetwater Preserve still wearing my flannel jammies. I wanted to witness the partial lunar eclipse for myself. My destination was an empty parking lot out of town. …

“Ask not what your country can do for you — ask what you can do for your country” ~John Fitzgerald Kennedy “I don’t get it. What was in it for them?” ~Donald Trump I joined the United States Navy not to protect my country, but to save myself. I enlisted in 1973, the tail end of the Vietnam War. The military was not popular, and neither was I. Terrible grades and lack of financial support made college out…

“Is there anything that doesn’t happen to you?” Asked a friend of a friend. Good question. In the last eight months, I broke my foot, was rear ended at a stop light, and on Wednesday, I tested positive for COVID. Given where I work, and what I do for a…