juliefj1

Finding the Woman in the Well

It had been a long day, and Ellen’s tooth throbbed. She felt a bit warm, which meant she probably had an infection. But she didn’t have the money or time to have a dentist pull a tooth. With a husband and a young daughter to feed and clothe, she had to put herself last. ThereContinue reading “Finding the Woman in the Well”

The Sky Is Falling (or is it just me?)

I fell a few weeks ago. I wiped out. It wasn’t just a little stumble. I was at the grocery store and making a beeline for the cashier with the shortest line. Whoosh! Up in the air I went, basket and all. I’m not sure what happened because it was so fast. When the dustContinue reading “The Sky Is Falling (or is it just me?)”

You Deserve a Break

Have a break, have a Kit Kat. Yum, sounds good to me. This iconic slogan was created in 1957 by Donald Gilles, the executive at JWT London. I bet he never thought that some 69 years later it would still be popular! And while a Kit Kat may enhance your break from reality, it doesn’tContinue reading “You Deserve a Break”

The Ultimate Betrayal

I am feeling betrayed. Betrayed by Mother Nature. You see, I’m sitting outside, enjoying my lunch and feeling the heat of the sun fanned by a gentle breeze. Suddenly, I realize that breeze is cool, and it is from the North. And most importantly, it is not so gentle. In fact, it is creating aContinue reading “The Ultimate Betrayal”

The Art of Napping

Mmmm. That beautiful sensation of floating, that sense of timelessness, that feeling of surrender. I’m talking about how it feels just before drifting off for a nap. It’s wonderful, right? Whether it be from pure exhaustion, relief on a scorching summer day, or intentional meditation, a nap can restore us. I remember my mom usedContinue reading “The Art of Napping”

Purpose Without Pressure

Roll out those lazy, hazy, crazy days of summerThose days of soda and pretzels and beer Thanks for those familiar and motivational words, Nat King Cole. When that album was released in 1963, I wonder if he realized what an anthem it would become! On a side note, if you haven’t tried the Kirkland PeanutContinue reading “Purpose Without Pressure”

How Random is That?

My head is spinning! What should I order? When should I play? Where should I go? There are so many choices in life, so many decisions to make. So many reasons to second-guess those decisions. When did it get so complicated? Sure, my decisions are not life-changing. They won’t change history, and they won’t startContinue reading “How Random is That?”

Beautiful Backyard Birds

Lately the algorithm has been feeding me memes about aging and birdwatching. You know, the ones that say, “When you reach that age when you realize you enjoy birdwatching,” or “One day you’re young and fun. The next day you’re taking videos of the birds at your bird feeder.” Or my personal favourite, “As youContinue reading “Beautiful Backyard Birds”

How random is your kind of kindness?

You learn something new every day. And today I learned that Feb. 17 was Random Acts of Kindness Day. I missed that one. There are a lot of special days to remember, right? If you also missed it, don’t fret. You can make up for it on Nov. 13, which is World Kindness Day. DidContinue reading “How random is your kind of kindness?”

Getting Inked

I finally did it. Yes, I got my second tattoo. It’s a year late, but that’s okay. You see, my first one I got in honor of my 50th birthday. The second was to celebrate turning 65. But for several reasons, it took a year. It was worth the wait. Thanks to Brey at burntmoth.inkContinue reading “Getting Inked”