Confessions of a Grandma

Well, May is coming to an end. So far we have had rain 21 out of the 28 days. Everything is very green -- it is the Green Mountain State after all. The spring blooms are coming and going in their timely succession so it has been beautiful to look at, but often wet. And often cold. I has the gas heater going tonight and a sweater over my sweatshirt. I do remember heading out for a Memorial Day weekend camping trip, 1993 as a matter of fact. We went back in the house to get winter jackets because it was snowing. And, yes, we went anyway and it wasn't too, too bad. Growing up Memorial Day was always a trip to Pennsylvania where my grandparents are buried. We would usually be making the trip at night after my dad got home from work. There was a trip to the florist the next day and then making the rounds of the cemeteries. At school we would have to memorize the Gettysburg Address and then walk from the school to the village green where there was a memorial. These days it seems fo...

I belong to a writers' workshop in Vermont and a private writing group (three writer friends who meet in each other's homes to discuss our writing and offer each other support) and feedback). I also participate in a poetry group when I am in Florida where we discuss our poetry and offer each other support. I consider myself very fortunate to have the people in these groups in my life. Some of them have become true and wonderful friends. The Writers' Workshops host all kinds of opportunities for writers -- fiction writing, creative non-fiction, song writing, all kinds of groups. I join poetry groups, whether workshopping our own work or discussing the work of known poets. I always learn something. Gotta keep learning! Today I spent my Saturday in a revision workshop. I know that would not be everyone's cup of tea, but for me it was an excellent way to spend a day. I have ambitions of being a poet when I grow up. I thought it was interesting that I was the only le...

My first week back from Florida was extremely stressful and hectic. I was little more than a spectator, but it still left me exhausted.  This second week was needed. I spent time with family and relaxed. I got to a couple of yoga classes, a poetry discussion, and a group meditation. I caught my breath. The week coming up is all about appointments. I will go to the dentist on Monday, the eye doctor on Wednesday, and my primary care physician on Thursday. My PCP is retiring at the end of this month and moving out of state to be closer to her grandchildren. I am happy for her but not at all excited about having to find a new doctor. One of the minor annoyances of aging -- doctors retire. So now do I look for someone young and starting out or someone who is very experienced and might retire in what remains of my life time? Perhaps I am just overthinking things? (Ha! Not that I ever do that. ) My eye doctor is annoying: Your eyes are very healthy; see you in two years. Your eyes a...

I got back to Vermont. It was gray and rainy. Even the daffodils seemed depressed by the run of rainy weather. But the next day was much nicer and those tender green buds that will soon be leaves made an appearance.  The grass is an emerald green that makes me just want to walk through it with bare feet. The soggy wet soil keeps from actually doing that. There are buds on rhododendrons and crab apple trees. Very soon there will be lovely blooms of pink and white.  I will take a short walk to the nursery across the street from the development where my condo is located and plan my mini garden for my deck. I had several containers of plants in Florida.  Usually I give them away at the end of season.  This year I planted most of them (except the herbs that I know will not make it through a summer in Florida) in my little yard. Most of the plants this year were succulents. It will be interesting to see what, if anything, will survive. Will be interesting to see if I...

Joe, the Cranky Old Man , recently wrote a piece entitled "Window." It told a story of a brush with near disaster that turned out okay by some miracle. If I may quote, his conclusion was: So, all you young parents, the reason your own parents don’t think you are capable of successfully raising a child is they know from experience that if you let your guard down for a second, stuff happens.  They fear you may not be competent, because they probably know the fact that you are alive to be a parent at all is a matter of their own dumb luck.   Dumb Luck must be my secret middle name. Many miracles have occurred and my children should be far more thankful to a higher power than I suspect they are. For example (and I may have shared this story before): My son was about a year old -- still in diapers, walking, but not totally verbal. We were visiting my first husband's  parents who lived in an upstairs apartment of an older house. I had cooked a big breakfast o...

It is time for me to be getting ready to close up the house and pack up for my return trip to Vermont. But it was way too nice a day not to go to the beach. Boca Grande I was going back because I had a follow up appointment to my sinus procedure in Boston. On Friday, the doctor's office called and rescheduled me for June. Grr. I could have stayed longer had I known that before buying my ticket. I suppose beaches all look the same -- sand, sky and water. Other beaches I visited this winter: Nokomis Beach Broward Beach, Venice View of Venice Beach Top rated Siesta Key Beach in Sarasota Perfect ending to a day at the beach:

I am not big on Easter celebration so I wanted to help those who do celebrate. I volunteered to do breakfast and clean up for the Family Promise program. This is a program that provides temporary housing for families with children in area churches in addition to a center based program that helps the families find services, employment and eventually a home.  The churches involved house and feed the families for a week or two at a time on a rotating basis. I have provided meals in the past. It's always such a heartbreaking experience to see young children homeless.  And yet there they are so excited to go out for an Easter egg hunt. It's really hard to accept that there are these kinds of homes for sale in the general nearby area: six bedrooms, 8 baths, $15,900,000.00 while affordable housing is so hard to find. Then I heard about the bombings in Sri Lanka. I spent the afternoon at the beach to ground myself. Beautiful, but even then I had to think about how an exten...