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

My last desktop calendar

Earlier this month, my new desktop calendar was delivered. Yes, I still appreciate a paper calendar on my desk at work. There’s a wonderful ritual, to me, in tearing off the sullied top page and enjoying a fresh start each month. Disposing of the doodles, notes and reminders to reveal a clean slate, always leaves … Continue reading My last desktop calendar

Have you ever been experienced?

As my Italy departure date draws closer, I’ve been filling in the days of my trip (conservatively) with activities. I am not a traveler who feels the need to allocate every moment to an organized tour or event much preferring to select an item or two for each destination. For me, traveling is about being … Continue reading Have you ever been experienced?

I’ll take Italy

Prior to my recent (2018 and 2022) trips to Rome and Naples, I’d visited Italy twice. Both of those trips were with my former husband, once just the two of us and once with the boys in tow, along with friends. They were both good trips, particularly the one in 1995, sans kids. Our original … Continue reading I’ll take Italy

Speaking mountains

It’s the mountains that I find most compelling. When I'm there I can’t stop looking at them, almost as if I’m trying to commit their peaks and points to memory. On Friday the mountains were shaded, something I don’t recall witnessing previously in this place which lacks little but shadows. I stared at them intently … Continue reading Speaking mountains

Hands on. Hands off.

The hotel where I spent the night in Ischia had spa facilities, a term which is not defined universally. In Europe, I’ve learned, it generally means an array of water and steam baths and showers and a generally low key attitude.  The view from my balcony I appreciate that definition because I enjoy moving from … Continue reading Hands on. Hands off.