Broken in, not distressed

When I changed into my “chores” jeans, I paused for a moment to consider how many years it had been since I purchased this particular pair of Levi’s. I did the math, thinking back to that long ago trip anniversary to Maine and our visit to the outlets in Freeport. My first and last, so … Continue reading Broken in, not distressed

Bloom where you’re planted

Over the more than 30 miles I walked last week in Chicago, it seemed like everywhere I looked there were flowers - hibiscus, black eyed susans, coleus, lilies and hydrangea were all present and accounted for. It was beautiful. Since arriving back at home, I’ve made it a point to take notice of all of … Continue reading Bloom where you’re planted

Chicago top 10

My (nearly) four days in Chicago went by in the blink of an eye! There was lots of walking, some lounging by the pool, a few historical sites and a couple of tremendous meals and a fair amount of silliness. It was a terrific getaway and I’m already looking for pet sits so I can … Continue reading Chicago top 10

Blowing into the Windy City

Even though I didn’t take a “big” trip this year, I do feel as if I’ve still gotten around a bit this summer with last month’s visits to the Cape and Northampton and concerts both north and south of home. It’s felt good, in spite of the paralyzing heat, to be home and spending time … Continue reading Blowing into the Windy City

NoHo (area) top 10

My stay in Northampton last week provided me with a wonderful opportunity to spend some real time in an area that I’ve come to know over the years only superficially. I’ve attended shows there numerous times, in a few different venues, and have experienced some of what NoHo has to offer, but in no way … Continue reading NoHo (area) top 10

Morning meander through Smith’s botanic garden

This week, I’m house and pet sitting in Northampton, MA. It’s my first “sit” for Trusted Housesitters, an organization I joined in the hopes of providing myself with opportunities to explore the country, and the world, during retirement. I’ll write more about this experience in an upcoming post, but for now, I wanted to share … Continue reading Morning meander through Smith’s botanic garden

“Lost time is never found again” – Benjamin Franklin

If you could have anything, what would you want? Since making the decision to retire I’ve had some intense moments of panic. How do I walk away from a career that brought me much professional satisfaction and a strong sense of belonging to a community? Will the absence of students and colleagues from my everyday … Continue reading “Lost time is never found again” – Benjamin Franklin