Oh Those Tacky Christmas Lights!

December 5th, 2013
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Christmas lights take me back to the innocence of my childhood, to a time when my parents would gather me and my five siblings and put us in the station wagon with winter coats over our pajamas and we would ride around the neighborhood and look at the Christmas lights displayed on other people’s houses.
Did you do that too?
One of the houses on the Richmond Tacky Lights Christmas tour
Photo courtesy of Richmond.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Those were the days when

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A Silly Ode to October

October 16th, 2013
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I know the calendar says it’s the month of October but there have been days when it has felt as though it were July. When it feels like summer I am definitely one happy camper!!  It’s all I can do to stop myself from driving to the beach!!  But then there are the shorter days when it now gets dark earlier and earlier and that is difficult for me to deal with.  It’s really a downer to come out of work at the end of the day and it’s dark already.  Autumn may not be one of my favorite times… Read More

Alicia Keys — Listen To Your Heart

September 6th, 2013
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My new thing is to listen to Alicia Key’s “Girl On Fire” CD on my way to work. Alicia Keys is amazing!  I have loved her music from the first time I heard her groundbreaking song, “Fallin”,  on the radio about 10 years ago.  I didn’t know who she was but I googled and youtubed until I found out.  I have been lucky enough to see her perform live twice and that is the best!! Alicia Keys “Girl On Fire” CD She has a beautiful, smooth, soulful voice, is an incredible songwriter and her music pulls you into some kind… Read More

It’s All About Our Stuff

September 5th, 2013
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Earlier this week I wrote about finding my deceased husband’s tweed jacket in the back of a guest room closet and what it felt like to discover it. Now, unfortunately, it’s time to say good-bye to his Irish wool jacket.  It doesn’t fit my son and the jacket doesn’t really hold any special meaning for him.  Even though it once belonged to my husband, I have arrived at that point in my life where I know I can’t save everything that holds meaning for me.  Some things you just have to set free into the universe. In my head, I … Read More

Insight From Grey’s Anatomy

September 3rd, 2013
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I was clicking around on Pinterest (which is truly a guilty pleasure!!!) yesterday and found this insightful and timely quote on one of my niece’s boards. How true! Grief is unpredictable!  And that’s why people don’t like to talk about it, or acknowledge it, and hope, hope, hope, that it will go away all on its own. But Cry, Laugh, Heal is all about having an honest dialogue about grief and resilience and sharing what helped me after my husband sadly died nine years ago.  I have found that time and support from friends and family have helped me but … Read More

A Peaceful Soul

July 20th, 2013
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Thought For The Day. . . Photo Courtesy of The Secrets of the Sea For it was not into my ear you whispered, but into my heart. It was not my lips you kissed, but my soul.                        ~ Judy Garland… Read More

Cheerios With Nana

July 18th, 2013
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While watching television last night, this commercial came on twice and I had to stop and watch it both times. It’s only 31 seconds but it’s so sweet! It reminded me of my wonderful Nana and how I miss her so much.  She died a long time ago but she is still very special to me and also to many, many of my cousins.  We all adored her!  How I would love to be at her house today just to hear her talk or sing or play the piano.  I think food also brings back strong memories of loved ones;… Read More

Freedom & Bravery on Memorial Day

May 27th, 2013
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The smell of charcoal lighter fluid has been heavy in the air in my neighborhood this weekend which means that the grilling season is now officially open. Cookouts and parades are just two of the many ways we Americans mark the holiday of Memorial Day, a day when we pause and remember the bravery of the Americans soldiers who are thankfully still with us and those who are sadly deceased because without them we would not have the freedom to enjoy such leisure and peace. American flag displayed at Vietnam Veterans Memorial I recall as a teenager when the draft… Read More

Socially Yours

May 22nd, 2013
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Stories are constantly written about why we should strive to unplug from our computers, ipads, Smartphones and other electronic devices but I read a work colleague’s Facebook post yesterday and was reminded of how amazing social media truly is. I work with a young guy named Aaron Knights and he was at the incredibly tender age of seven when his beloved father died from cancer at the age of 38.  Think about that for a minute.  Think about what you were like when you were seven.  The idea of losing a parent at that stage of your life is profound… Read More