The Last Seat Dilemma: Finding Space

The last one on the plane, ugh, is an unenviable position. The only seat available is surprisingly in the front row, the Bulk Head middle seat. All the other passengers have walked by and as the very last passenger boarding the plane, the only choice was that smooshed seat. Arms stretched straight by my side. Other … Read more

Managing the Going and Coming

Leaving home feels so different than returning.  Both have challenges and rewards.  There’s nothing normal about the day right before leaving or conversely the last day of a trip. Our minds begin to anticipate the change. Sleep is restless. Emotions are mixed. Caught unawares, we’re readying ourselves for a transition. Life is about to be … Read more

Little Inconveniences or Slowing Way Down

Yes, traveling can be exhausting.  We want to figure out where to eat breakfast, how to get from the airport to the hotel and around the town, purchase tickets to the top sights, procure dinner reservations etc…lots of logistics.Then, it’s the little things, the small inconveniences that remind us we’re in a different country and … Read more

Remnants or Caboodles: How To Remember

Remnants, little messes, of a trip sprinkle our home, inconvenient piles of receipts, phone chargers, small change, and sight seeing brochures. They represent small, grateful monuments to happy memories.  After traveling to Spain and Portugal we’re just not ready to store our reminiscences away. What vignettes will stand out? What will we remember from this journey? … Read more

The Right Thing For The Right Thing

Much had changed.  Packing for a recent trip felt different. Instead of three bags, there was one, a “Roll-Away” that fit in the overhead bin. No baggage fees! Check! Clothes worked for both daytime and evening activities. Check!  The coat was helpful in light rain and windy conditions without being cumbersome or difficult to pack. … Read more

Little Black Dress…Little Black Backpack

Fashion experts often extol the virtues of the “Little Black Dress”, a “must have” staple for any woman’s wardrobe.  This “classic” dress is perfect for almost any occasion and pays dividends quickly. Its worn all the time, becoming a  favorite “Go To”. Life and getting dressed for an evening becomes simpler. Wear and Go! The … Read more

Looking for Pool Debris and Food in our Teeth

Not too long ago while in the pool there was another “swimmer” walking down the lane and wearing a face mask and snorkel, examining the water and pool bottom with every step.  To the chagrin of the other swimmers, he was looking for debris.  His mature age played a factor as walking was less strenuous … Read more

“Stoked-ness”: Tuning-In to the Vernacular

Heading on a bus to ski some Spring “powder” a fellow passenger asked, “Are you stoked (about the new snow)?”.  With the constant deluge of precipitation falling outside, we indeed felt full of “Stoked-ness”, hoping to experience fresh white stuff on the mountain trails.  Although being “stoked” was not necessarily an adjective in our vocabulary, … Read more

Good To Be Out in the World

Thank goodness we’re not all the same.  How refreshing not to laugh at the same jokes. One person’s laughter sounds different than another’s!  We love hearing all types of giggles!  Last week a sold-out crowd of mostly women enjoyed “Mental Pause” at The DTC Comedy Club.  Some of us gathered earlier for Happy Hour and … Read more

The Light of Observation

With the advent of cellphone cameras our sight has improved.  We snap away anytime and anywhere and often end up with a decent image.  Using these “cameras” translates to increased focus on what we’re seeing. This tendency can be a lovely centering exercise, bringing us to a moment at hand. Of course, taking tons of … Read more