And So, The Countdown to the Summer of 2017 Officially Begins . . .

I always have mixed emotions with the arrival of spring. Don’t get me wrong; I love the longer days, the warmer weather, and the explosion of color that’s replacing more of the gray shades of winter each day. But spring is petal-to-metal busy around here. The next eight weeks is when Tim and I transition our home from a winter sanctuary to the welcoming lake house so many friends and family help us enjoy each summer. Continue reading “And So, The Countdown to the Summer of 2017 Officially Begins . . .”

The Joy of a Sick Day

I’m in my third day of a head cold, and thus far my aggressive attempt to muscle through it hasn’t gotten me very far. Gallons of water, vitamin C and Echinacea – normally reliable remedies– have let me down. My energy level seems to have declined in direct proportion to the increase in sinus congestion. So, after a feeble attempt at working out I decided a long, hot shower might help clear my head and maybe even shake the chill that has been with me since the arctic blast blew through the south earlier this week. The shower did both . . . but only for about ten minutes. Continue reading “The Joy of a Sick Day”

Retirement Lessons from a Six-Year-Old

One of our local morning shows ran a segment providing tips for a fulfilling retirement. The life coach being interviewed gave the advice touted in hundreds of magazine articles and books; much of it centering around the familiar stopping to smell the roses and finding new purpose sort of themes. Having just spent a couple of days with my grandson, Caleb, it struck me that quite possibly the best role models for making the most of our senior years are young children.

Here are four lessons I learned this week from my six-year-old retirement mentor: Continue reading “Retirement Lessons from a Six-Year-Old”