Like a bird up in the sky

I never could have imagined that I would one day return to the hospitality industry after a 30 year career as a school librarian. I mean, hadn’t I become a teacher to leave the restaurant life behind me for a place that promised an eventual pension, good quality healthcare and holidays and summers available to … Continue reading Like a bird up in the sky

That time LL Bean bought me ski boots at REI

Approximately 9 years ago, I raced into LL Bean looking to replace the bindings on my cross country skis. I can’t recall exactly what the issue had been, maybe it was something to do with replacing my boots and realizing that the new boots wouldn’t pair with my existing bindings, but in my dire need … Continue reading That time LL Bean bought me ski boots at REI

What day is it?

“I’m retired,” doesn’t exactly roll off of my tongue yet. Especially not when I’m still waiting for just one person to respond with, “you can’t possibly be old enough to retire!” In the midst of my second week of this new life chapter, I’ve got some observations - and some questions. Week One was a … Continue reading What day is it?

Fired Up, Part 2

(As promised, the second part of last weekend. This time, however, the Fired Up is refers to the fire tower out in Grafton and the going up it that was our plan for the early afternoon.) Just like Saturday, I spent much of Sunday outdoors, this time on the east side of the Hudson. My … Continue reading Fired Up, Part 2

Waiting on winter

As a kid, I remember winters felt really long. I understand that memories of childhood can be skewed but, as I recall, winters were cold and snowy. Perhaps not as extreme as the winters my mother told me about from her own girlhood in the Black Forest when, she said, they sometimes couldn’t open the … Continue reading Waiting on winter

Missing

The feeling of having a child you actually birthed nestled in your arms, asleep and lightly drooling. If time travel were an option, I’d like to have that sensation again - with each of my boys. My Christmas ornament which had been a gift from my kindergarten teacher. It was glass, originally red, with my name correctly spelled in … Continue reading Missing

Wishes for winter

If you’re a believer in the Farmer’s Almanac, you’re probably anticipating a warmer than normal winter with some extra snow. Or, as I like to call it, an ideal winter. While I’m totally psyched by the thought of a great x-country skiing season, there are a couple things about a snowy winter that I think … Continue reading Wishes for winter