How Do You Survive the Not-Yet-Empty Nest?

Some parents can’t wait for their kids to move out. Others talk nostalgically about the patter of little feet or living with exciting, high-drama teenagers. Me? I wouldn’t know. I still have my twenty-something sons living under my roof. And although I know this situation’s temporary, here are 5 things I’ve grown to love… They’ve […]

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Can a Husband and Wife Exist in the Same House Day After Day?

  It’s happened. My husband Randy now works from home. And I’m glad, truly. He deserves an easier life, having spent the past thirty-five years zooming around the globe on business trips. But now he’s here a lot–everyday. And it’s not bad. It’s just…well, different. In fact, here are the pros and cons for having […]

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Seriously…What Do You Get the Man Who Has Everything?

  I’m not being rhetorical here. I need help. What do you get the man who has every gadget, device, musical instrument, wine accessory, wine, article of clothing, and even neon-colored sneakers? This happens every December, the time of year I’m handed one of my biggest life tasks… I must buy a Christmas present for […]

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How John Lennon Saves Christmas

  Do you feel holiday pressure starting to kick in? Do you feel the need to get everything done…on time…on budget… and with a smile? The other day my inner Scrooge started up. The to-list was growing — trees, wreathes, cards, decorations, stockings, holly, cookies, gifts. I needed to get into the spirit. Then I […]

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Why Is Finding a Dog So Hard?

  Ever have one of those dreams where you’re pursuing something, but it keeps disappearing? That’s how I feel about finding my next pooch. Every time I see THE ONE on a shelter website, I come to find it was adopted. Or I’ll visit and there are three dogs left, all the size of mastodons. […]

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How Can Us Neurotics Survive?

Are you prone to nervous spells? Overthinking? Sweating not just the small stuff but, well… everything? Then like me, you may be neurotic. Over the years I’ve learned certain situations trigger the anxious, jumpy rabbit in me. Yet the good news is I’ve recently learned this fascinating coping technique…

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What Brings You Hope?

It’s been a tough week. Just when we think we can’t take any more violence, along it comes.  Like many, I find it hard not to despair.  I get that scared feeling in the pit of my stomach. That’s when I remember 9 things that always give me hope…

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7 Awesome Life Lessons from a Legendary Rock Star

I thought my husband Randy was crazy for getting tickets to this concert. It was Monday night. The venue was small. I’d rather be home watching Netflix. But there we sat in the third row, surrounded by other mid-lifers, raring to relive the glory days. And then Edgar Winter came out. His band started, “Keep […]

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5 Reasons I Hate Cooking (And The Ingenious Way I Got Out of It)

  Ever have something you’re expected to do, but never like? As a wife of 35 years, I’ve resigned myself to bed making, vacuuming and dusting. I get almost Zen-like about folding laundry and emptying wastebaskets. But cooking? It pushes me to my limit for these 5 reasons…  Cooking comes at my tired time of […]

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Who Were the Great Teachers in Your Life?

They taught you. They challenged you. They changed you. They’re the memorable teachers in your life. The other day I heard the rumble of a school bus and thought of those educators who made a difference. What made them special? What made them succeed? How did they get under that “school-sucks” barbed wire? Maybe it […]

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