Author: othersideof50

Slow to warm up meets dive head first into the deep end of the pool. I'm throwing caution to the wind and with arms wide open I'm embracing the thrill of a mid-life career and personal life change. Older adults in America and their loved ones are calling out to me and I'm eager to offer my hand, my mind and my heart in reply. Never met a furry or feathered friend I didn't love at first glance. Love, love, love my amazing husband. And my son, I'll be forever in awe that I am privileged to be his mom. He is brilliant, kind, disciplined, with a sense of humor that is unmatched.

Go fly a kite

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kite

A joy shared is a joy doubled. Shared sorrow is half a sorrow. – Swedish proverb

Beach treks are an important part of life for me and my husband. The North End is our nickname for a leisurely hour+ rambling walk that is always on our beach agenda. He checks in with his surf-fishing tribe. Head down, I search for beach glass and seashells. We are people watchers and puppy greeters.

A few weeks ago we stopped to watch this gentleman happily playing with a kite. He may have been a dad or a grandpa but if so, his kiddies were MIA. As I tend to do, I concocted a story for him: retired beach town resident; divorced and soaking up the sun with a girlfriend he first met at karaoke night or online. He has an adult son or two he sees on holidays. You can find him at a local diner most weekday mornings. He knows he needs to lose weight and says he will start tomorrow.

I always enjoy watching children playing in the surf and building sandcastles. And on this sunny day I realized I was equally delighted to watch this fellow baby boomer living large in a moment of joy.

I have seen pictures and read on social media about “grown-up playgrounds” for the 55+ crowd. grownup-playgroundAt first I thought the idea was silly. Now I’m kinda loving the concept. I have decided that aging is life’s next adventure. Let’s never be too old for recess. Playtime is for everyone and their inner child.

 

(Wo)Man Plans, God Laughs

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Nothing in life humbles me as much as a child or a puppy. I may be semi-retired but the project manager in me lives on. I’m a driven woman, visiting my calendar multiple times a day. Be on time. Have an efficient, effective meeting/appointment/visit/errand. Write succinct, timely messages. Follow up. Keep a list. And above… Continue reading (Wo)Man Plans, God Laughs

5 things caregivers and their loved ones need right now

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Last Friday, mid-morning, I took a client to a department store and to lunch. My client lives in a memory care facility. She has dementia. She also is an 80 year retired English Literature professor, a mom, an aunt, a sister, a friend. She had a career before career women were common. My client likes… Continue reading 5 things caregivers and their loved ones need right now

Do you have this in pumpkin?

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I can feel autumn in the air today. The sky is a deeper blue. The crepe myrtle blooms have all but faded away. Leaves are showing that first hint of fall color. Dawn comes later and dusk earlier. Fall in North Carolina does not necessarily mean cooler temperatures. That young lady wearing the leather boots and… Continue reading Do you have this in pumpkin?

Status quo

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Currently: Listening: Sade’s Lover’s Rock from 2000. By Your Side is a love song for all time. I’ll always recognize it as the background music for SATC Season 4 when Samantha and Richard dance by the pool. Eating: Yasso coffee chocolate chip bars (only 100 cal, frozen Greek yogurt!) and not feeling guilty at all. Drinking: Starbucks Teavana… Continue reading Status quo

Southern rock

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My childhood home always had plenty of rocking chairs, chairs that invited our family and neighbors to sit for a while and visit. The porch always had a collection that included something for everyone:  big wooden rockers, child-sized rockers, spring-base metal patio chairs, to name a few. From Memorial Day through Labor Day we rocked a… Continue reading Southern rock

Travel Voucher

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The first time I stepped off a plane as a first-time international traveler the colorful scenery, smells, sounds and the muggy heat played tag in my mind. It wasn’t sensory overload, but rather a sensory feast. Jamaica welcomed me with open arms, a crystal clear sea, and humidity best described as a sack of wet… Continue reading Travel Voucher

Miss Assumption

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Cynics and skeptics have their places in the world. I am neither one. I tend to hang out in a happy zone, leaning in with an optimistic outlook. Glass half full is a good perspective to begin and end a day. That perspective isn’t without its challenges though. Looking at the world through rose-colored glasses sometimes leads to misassumptions which lead to disappointment and frustration. … Continue reading Miss Assumption