What I Wish I Knew Before I Retired
"Grief is love with no place to go." Helen Macdonald Less than one month ago, my husband and I sat atop a cliff in Mt. San Jacinto, just outside of Palm Springs. Surrounded by friends, health, adventure and each other, we were acutely aware, and immensely grateful, that our lives were deeply blessed. Days later,… Continue reading With Heartfelt Gratitude
When I was cleaning up some of my digital photos this past week, I ran across the above baby picture of our dog, Cody. He is such a handsome dog (truly, see below) that I had forgotten what an incredibly adorable pup he was as well. I stared fondly at the photo, lost in nostalgia. … Continue reading What Has Your Dog or Cat Done for You Lately?
I LOVE the idea of taking part in a blogfest (even if I only found out about it twenty-four hours in advance). I also LOVE writing about a wide range of topics. But writing about an object--and a most cherished one at that--well at first, that just seemed wrong. I have previously written about some… Continue reading BLOGFEST: MY MOST CHERISHED POSSESSION
A few weeks ago, I read a post criticizing Canada for not adequately providing for its retirees, and depicting Canadians as not willing to speak out for themselves. As these comments were not made by a Canadian, and only referenced a single news report, I could intellectually dismiss them as not being the whole story.… Continue reading Why I’m Proud to be a (Retired) Canadian
This past week, I hit the one-year mark both of being officially retired and of living back in Canada. With a full year behind me, has it been all that I anticipated? Yes and no--in equal measures. I remember a conversation that I had with one of my daughter-in-laws the day that we arrived back… Continue reading Reflections on Retirement – One Year In
We spent this past weekend in Victoria, BC, watching our youngest son, Creighton, compete in a half marathon. A priority for our retirement years is to attend family events as often as we can. It was a beautiful weekend—with our dog in tow. While waiting for Creighton to pass by the 16 K loop, we… Continue reading Reflections from a Half-Marathon
It had been a perfect evening on the beach. The campfire was intoxicating and the s'mores (with their melt-in-your-mouth chocolate, and gooey marshmallows, precisely smushed between two crispy graham crackers) had never tasted so good. While we savored our meticulously roasted treats, marvelled at the majestic skyline, laughed and reminisced, our dog fervently dug a… Continue reading An Unforgettable Evening
Out of all of the gifts for which I am most grateful, being blessed with a kind, caring, and generous mother stands out among the best. This single good-fortune has helped prepare me for so much that followed. I grew up with the confidence that comes from having a central person in your life always… Continue reading Thanks, Mom!
Recently, I’ve been in a Nora Ephron phase. No, not lying around watching endless hours of ‘Sleepless in Seattle’ or ‘When Harry Met Sally’. Jennifer Abrams, a communications consultant that I follow, mentioned Nora’s 'What I Will Miss and Won't Miss" list from I Remember Nothing and Other Reflections. I picked up a copy of Nora's… Continue reading The List
When I worked overseas, I used to marvel at the trailing spouses (usually Tai Tais) who I would hear busily planning their weekday afternoons – a workout, perhaps some shopping and then lunch with friends at some great restaurant. Lunch? Midweek? During the daytime? That, I honestly could not fathom. Being a school principal, I… Continue reading Ladies Who Lunch
Retirement Reflections 