Category Archives: Stories

May3

Travel Adventure

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I recently took a mini vacation up north to visit my daughter, and her family. They have a small ranch, and live in a very rural area. I love it up there because I can sit in the middle of nature, and talk to all the animals.

I usually fly when I’m traveling alone, as I did this time. But things are different these days. The airlines have changed policies, and it’s a bit stressful trying to figure out exactly what is required of you. After watching many Youtube videos on the airline’s “New Rules,” I still wasn’t any further along than when I started.

I just didn’t want to get to the gate, and be turned away because my case was too large, or I had something inside that was the tiniest bit larger than they required. I’ve had my luggage gone through before, had things taken out and tossed. Some of it was my fault, I should have known better. Other times they pulled something that wasn’t too large and tossed it. That one really got to me!

All in all, because it was my daughter, there were many things that I didn’t need to bring because it was already up there. Lucky for me, the cary on’s that are required are really small now, and one has to be a really efficient packer to be able to get away with a mini cary-on.

The next thing was for me to mark my luggage so it would be easily identified. After spending hours selecting a bag that was just the proper fit at TJ Max, I then had to decide what to put on the side so it could be recognized. That took another day or so. After all it had to be my signature look!

Finally, after trying many different things, this is what I decided on. It took me about three days due to drying time. I’m happy with it, and it didn’t get scrapped up even after being thrown around by the people that love throwing baggage around.

I stayed twelve days, and had a very relaxing visit. My Granddaughter turned eighteen the 4th of April, and I love seeing her on her birthday. She picked a dinner place for us all to enjoy, and just to top it off, she had a very excellent place for the three of us girls to go for lunch the following day. It’s never an inexpensive trip, but it’s always a memorable trip.

How do all of you find these little get aways, or even big vacations? Do you get stressed out, or are you a chill traveler? Is it more stressful unpacking when you get home? If you are traveling with family, do you end up being host? My husband joyfully play host, and hostess every time. After all, what is Grandpa, and Grandma for?

I love going, but it’s really nice to get back to the comfort of my own home. Never do I feel unwelcome, but I am aware of the fact that my family needs to make me feel comfortable. I always feel relief when I can get on the plane, allowing my daughter and her family to take a deep breath, and get back to normal.

Thank you for stopping by and allowing me to share my little adventure with you. Until next time, “United we stand,” Karen

These are just a few pictures of the ranch, there are many more, and many more animals to be seen…

Mar1

Hair Color Choices for Older Adults

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As I adventured through all my years, I had so much fun with hair color. The only color I didn’t have was black, or anything dark. Being of fair skin, the darker colors washed my skin out. It just wasn’t done in the olden days. The days of Hippie Love, and sex, drugs, & rock ‘n roll. So having long hair with bleached blond was about where I belonged. I could never grow my hair very long. Maybe to my shoulders was about it. Probably because being a blond, I had fine hair, and adding it all up didn’t amount to the same thing a handful of dark hair did. The longer it grew, the more straggly it became.

Today as I’m approaching the Golden Years (ha, ha), I have let my hair go completely gray, or silver as I like to call it. Many of my friends have let their hair grow gray, and why would that be? It’s easier than taking time to color, they might be allergic to the dye, it’s very expensive in our present climate to budget that expense into our monthly obligations.

Don’t get me wrong, I’d like to look younger with even a slightly tinted hair color. I’ve thought about it, asked about it, but I’ve not done anything about it. Several of my friends who are older than I still color their hair, and it does make them look younger. They don’t seem to mind going to a stylist for color correction, and a cute cut.

For me I think attitude has more to do with looking younger than the color of our hair. And…I’ve always said I was going to grow old gracefully. Now that I’m saying it, gracefully sounds quite boring! So I’ll rephrase that statement.

I want to skid into home plate with a “paint brush in one hand, and a glass of Champagne in the other!” The other thing is, I’m not ready to skid anywhere!

I have oh so many thoughts and ideas. Thoughts that you only have when you get “Older Than Dirt!” I share them with you because many of us seem to have the same thoughts and ideas about staying upright, and the challenges facing us as we glide through our Golden Years. Hair, and hair color and/or length is only part of the exciting process of growing old, we have to make sure we have a positive attitude even if it seems impossible.

Well, what do you think? Gray or Red?

Let me know what you think about this subject, I would love a different perspective.

Thank you for reading my blog, don’t forget to send me a quick not with your thoughts and ideas. Much love to all of you, Karen

Feb8

Things You Need To Know

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This morning I picked a journal from my very large stack of journals, and found this. I thought it might interest you, so here it is…..

There are a few things one needs to know and remember…

  1. Diamonds are a girls best friend! This I have known to be true, but in the most recent years I personally have found they are really expensive, and what I really love is their bling. So I have now settled on Moissanite instead. Moissanite is just as hard as a diamond, and they sparkle their little hearts out! I’m happy!
  2. Shop ’til you drop! It’s easier to do once we reach a vintage age, however we can still make a pretty good effort doing retail therapy. Maybe stop for a coffee, ice tea, or soda just to rest up for a second round.
  3. Travel, Travel, Travel! As long as you can pack a bag, grab a friend, or join a travel group do it! There are so many interesting things to see even here in our own country. Just do some research, and the places will find you even if you don’t find them. Personally I think research is the most fun, because it gives our minds a chance to dream. And dreaming is the best thing ever!
  4. Always have a home to return to! Knowing there is a cozy, comfy home waiting for the day you return is also the best. I love traveling, but I also love returning to my warm, and comfortable place I created.
  5. Always value your friends, and family! They will support, and give you strength at a time when you don’t have much energy, or inspiration for yourself. From my experience, my friends have supported me during my darkest times.
  6. God doesn’t give you a dream without a way to achieve that dream! That dream doesn’t fall into your lap, you have to do your share also.
  7. Eat lots of cake, and blow out all your candles! Don’t stop celebrating your birthdays just because you are getting old. Many of our close friends haven’t lived as long as we have, so in their name, celebrate long and hard. Blow out your candles, be proud of getting to the age you have, don’t look back. Look ahead with a positive attitude, and you will enjoy life just a little bit more.

This I wrote to our Oldest Granddaughter on her Seventeenth Birthday.

I hope you enjoyed my seven most important things to remember. Oh, I can come up with more, but for now these are a good start!

Thank you for stopping to read my blog. Don’t forget, “We Stand Together!” Karen

Dec21

Fun, What’s That?

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Lady in a hat.

We all had fun years ago. Some more than others. Sure life isn’t always a bowl of chuckles, and it comes differently to each of us, but at one time or another we had real fun. I hope in our own way, we still do have fun.

Growing old isn’t always fun, and it definitely isn’t for the faint of heart! Since we can’t change any of the old age stuff, negativity is a waist of time. I’m not waisting my time being grumpy, and complaining. The flip side of that is always being positive. That isn’t always easy either. What I can tell you is that each time you have a negative thought, be it nasty or just plain down, if that thought is replaced with a positive thought it will go a long way. Of course, that’s difficult also. But, if you keep doing it, soon it will work. I’ll be the first to admit that the bad stuff doesn’t go away, but before you know it, those negative thoughts will be much less consuming.

Dr. Weil from the University of Arizona is a man I’ve listened to for years. He is progressive in the sense that he believes we can go a long way by thinking positive. He also believes in clean food, but that is an entirely different blog..

Since we are heading into the Holiday season, I’m keeping this short. As usual, these are my ideas and opinions, you don’t have to agree with me. I’m ok with that, I think we should all have our own opinions.

Happy Holidays, Merry Christmas, and Happy Chanukah, and if you have a different holiday you celebrate, I wish for you a magical holiday. Much love.

Thank you for stopping to read my blog,

Together we Stand, Karen

Nov16

Spots or are they Freckles?

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We all have them, the question is what do we do with them? What can we do?

When I was around nine or ten years old, I spent a lot of time with my Grandma. Grandma’s mother was from Scotland, and had bright red hair and a personality to match. My Grandma also had bright red hair, I don’t know about her personality, she didn’t seem very fiery to me. Grandma was always patient with all of us kids, and very kind to us. By the time I was old enough to spend time with her, she had gray hair, and lots of freckles! I mean all over her arms, her legs, and some on her face. I loved her so much that I use to sit and wish for freckles like my Grandma’s.

I now wonder if they were all freckles or…..were they age spots like we get as we get older? I’ll never know now, but be careful what you wish for! I now have spots!! I wished for them, and I was given them! I just hope I didn’t wish for something I’ve since forgotten and will get the shock of my life one morning upon awakening.

“Freckles are small, concentrated spots of melanin on the skin, often appearing on areas exposed to the sun, such as the arms. They can be a beautiful and natural part of one’s appearance. Embracing freckles can lead to a positive body image and self-acceptance.

To celebrate arms adorned with freckles:

  • Acknowledge Their Uniqueness: Freckles can highlight your individuality and tell a story about your experiences in the sun.
  • Skin Care: Consider moisturizing to keep your skin healthy and radiant. Sunscreen is essential to protect your skin from further sun damage, which can also intensify freckling.
  • Makeup Tips: For those who want to minimize their appearance, using a light foundation or tinted moisturizer can help create an even skin tone. On the other hand, embracing them with a sheer, glowy highlighter can enhance their natural beauty.
  • Fashion Choices: Wearing sleeveless outfits can showcase your lovely arms, allowing you to embrace and celebrate your freckles.

Remember, freckles are a unique and lovely feature that many people cherish. Embrace them with confidence!” This information is donated to us from AI.

So you see, we should be proud of all the spots we were given.

It’s funny, but as I age I certainly have a different attitude. Of course, I want to look my best, and I put effort into that, but there are so many things we need to learn to live with that a thousand or more spots really doesn’t have much weight any more. So much of what we have to deal with in older age is difficult, some things unbelievable, and shocking. I’m healthy, I don’t always feel good but those are the days I treat myself gently.

We’re all in the same boat, and it gives me a small sense of comfort to know my sisters and I are all in this together.

Together we stand, Karen

Oct19

We’re Getting Better & Better

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We’re Getting Better & Better

How do you feel today? As the weather gets cooler, everything changes, but we still can look fabulous even if we are a little off inside. For me I’m more stiff, everything aches, and now I need to get use to the new winter challenges. We are all alike, our challenges are different, but the boat is large, and holds us all!

I mentioned a while back about the Advanced Style, so now I’d like to show a video featuring some of the ladies from that group of very interesting women.

I love watching, and listening to all of them talking of their creations, how they feel about aging, & much more. It’s not a long video, but an interesting one.

The first thing I realized was that they are pretty much all from New York. I’m sitting here on the West Coast!” I know a lot of you are not in California, but I’m guessing we have different ways of dressing depending on where we live. So even though the women in NY are fabulously dressed, we are much more casual here in the west. Maybe it’s just an age thing. We dress up, it’s just a more casual dress up.

I went to the Opera several years ago, and my husband and I were all dressed up because it was the Opera. Hardly anyone was dressed nicely, and more than half were dressed in what I would call cleaninng clothes. The T-shirts. and jeans were dirty, and yes they were younger, but I was younger at the time too. The whole experience was so disappointing to me. The opera was great, but the people around me not so much!

As I watch women get all dressed up for little outings, ie: Doctor appointments, grocery shopping, even going to fuel up the car, I now understand why they do this. Is there any other time, or any better time to dress up? Now I’m loving being home, safely tucked away, able to do what I want, listen to my own kind of music, and dress up in my PJ’s if I want.

Personally, I put makeup on to make me feel good. It’s only to help me feel better each day, and just for me. Sometimes it’s a effort, but I still do it.

Let me know what you think of these interesting women…..

Thank you for taking time to read my blog, have a beautiful day.

Karen