“We keep moving forward, opening new doors, and doing new things, because we’re curious and curiosity keeps leading us down new paths.”  Walt Disney

Apparently, we are not quite ready to settle in to the country life of retirement; the life of mowing 5 acres of grass and then watching it grow again.  And, what we find ourselves embracing in this chapter of life is that we don’t have to play by the rules.  It’s called redefining retirement for a reason, and that’s what we’re doing – again – we’re redefining our path of retirement.

It was on our calendar.  We’d take a daycation to Washington, DC to see the Cherry Blossooms at their peak.  It would make two years in a row after missing them for more years than I care to remember.  But, mother nature had her own game plan. The early unseasonably warm weather fooled the trees in to an early bloom and then just when the blossoms were peaking, in rolled an arctic blast and 10″ of snow fell in some of the surrounding areas.  We weren’t going anywhere!

There are times when words absolutely fail me.  And for someone who enjoys the fine art of jibber jabber and the written word, to have words fail me really sucks.  If I could voice the speedway of thoughts and emotions that are zooming through my brain at this very moment you’d be begging me to STOP!

I’m pretty sure it’s not a real thing, but I’m also pretty sure I have a Women’s March on Washington hangover.  I woke up with a headache, my body aches and I’m beyond tired.  But at the same time I’ve never felt more empowered.  #protesthangover.  We left home at 7:00 a.m. yesterday morning and didn’t make it back until 10:00 p.m.  To say it was a long day, well… judge for yourself.

One year ago today the men in my life were not feeling well.  They would have risen to the occasion but since I had not yet come to terms with the beginning of my sixth decade, I opted to let them rest and I ignored the day.  How could “I” possibly be sixty-years-old young?

I’ve always embraced the belief that life is what happens to you while you’re busy making other plans.  A well-known phrase quoted by many, but a guiding force in my life.

It’s just a little yellow envelope, maybe 2″ x 3″ with a little red heart sticker to seal the deal.  But, the message inside…

Did you read any good books in 2016?  When I pick up a book, I usually know within the first 10 pages if it’s going to take hold and keep my attention.  And, if it does take hold, then I’m in it until the end, meaning I go deaf, dumb and blind to the world until I’ve devoured every page.

On this soon to be upon us day of giving thanks, I find myself thinking of something a guest said during a newsmaker’s panel discussion I watched, in reference to the results of the 2016 presidential election. The panelist suggested, that when we sit down to give thanks this year surrounded by those important to our lives, instead of stating what we’re thankful for, take time to think instead, of what we’ve learned.