Living in a very small, semi-rural town is important to me and I can’t imagine ever embracing big city life. I grew up one town over, although that town has changed dramatically since 1960 when my parents bought my childhood home. I believe the planners call it urban sprawl. Fortunately my current small town has … More The Essence of Community
I believe in the phrase, ‘better together’. My friends and family like to joke that it’s just Vicki’s sunny version of ‘misery loves company’. No…it’s not. Misery is coming…if you haven’t experienced it yet, you won’t be immune forever. Living, loving…misery. It all swims together and the ocean of life can become bumpy with high … More Gratitude & Grit
A few weeks ago Brenda, who writes at Curiosities, Castles and Coffee Shops wrote a great post about logic versus emotion and the ways in which she is influenced by both. She talked specifically about how she believes that allowing her emotional side to prevail brings her greater happiness, a sense of balance and significantly less … More Lines and Barriers
Image by Karolina Grabowska via Pexels. On the top of the letter, I wrote the date, folded it up, and placed it in an envelope. I wrote in a past blog post that I try to write my mom once a week. I’m good some weeks, some weeks not so much. One letter, though, that … More Wednesday Letters
Looking at the “ROI” of friendship… … More Letting You Go
Ah, Frank, I feel you. There are many days in which “I’m doing the best I can” is what I mutter to the Universe…repeatedly. But what about my view of what others are doing? I was in a meeting the other day with a colleague that was holding court and catastrophizing. That’s my description of … More Doing the Best I Can
I hope Grandma Lily would approve… … More Lily Windows
For the past couple of years, my daughter, Miss O, has slept in my bed most nights. At some point, I just gave up the pretense of having her go to bed in her own bed because she worried the “thieves” would get her when she would shift from her bed to mine in the … More Beds, Boundaries, and Beyond
Listen up…trust your gut… … More An Unexpected Gift
Before you roll your eyes, let me explain why this question does make sense. It came up in a recent conversation with a friend. No, neither one of us raises or plans to raise donkeys; it’s related to a retelling of an old Aesop fable that goes something like this: A grandfather and his grandson … More How Many Donkeys are you Carrying on Your Back?
The Heart of the Matter 