The old witch with an autoharp

autoharp
An autoharp

In the 1970s, I was just a small girl going to elementary school in eastern Pennsylvania. Each class level had about two teachers, with the students divided between the two. Other than “library time” when we all got in a line and made the procession to the library (to see the librarian), all classes were held in the same classroom. A separate art teacher came to our class with a cart full of art supplies, and the designated music teacher came with numerous instruments, like tambourines, triangles, egg shakers, recorders and kazoos. You can imagine the “music” we created with that lot of instruments, but it was so fun! I remember the music teacher even having us dance around the room as if following the Pied Piper. Continue reading

Hazel was a spicy lady

mouth on fire
Now THAT is really spicy!

Our friend Hazel was a 6 feet tall Amazon, with a wit and intelligence just as high. Nothing matched her infectious teasing humor, and she always said what was on her mind.

Over 20 years ago, it was Hazel that first guessed that my hubby and I caught each other’s eyes.  Continue reading

I like bird baths, too

parrot bowl bath
Taking advantage of any chance to do my birdy water dance.

I don’t have flappers like penguins to swim through the sea. I may not float on deep lakes like a duck, swan, or goose. I don’t dive deep into the water like a puffin or coot, but one thing is sure, I really like bird baths very much, too. Continue reading

Simple yet extremely memorable stories

Grease truck
Grease truck

Not all favorite stories have to be from significant events, like a marriage or a first love. Sometimes there are little past stories you tell again and again that may seem insignificant to some, but are highly memorable to you. Perhaps you start to tell the story for the tenth time and your spouse finishes the story, with a roll of the eyes, but gosh, you love telling that story! They’ll hear it again! Here is one such story about my love of tea. Continue reading

The young candy connoisseur on her Misty Rose banana seat bike

Misty Rose bikeI was a little kid back in the late 1970s. My most prized possession was my Misty Rose banana seat bike. I rode it around the whole neighborhood, all by myself. Back then, parents (or at least mine) had no fear of children being abducted or otherwise harmed. I certainly didn’t grow up with such fears. I guess my only dangerous encounter was when I was riding down a quiet road one day, daydreaming, only to be snapped out of my trance by the sound of a braking car. I then looked, and quickly stopped my bike staring head on with the car. I remember apologizing to the driver, and them warning me to pay more attention.

There were a couple little stores in the area, Continue reading

The love of gardening persists

Each spring, my father plants seeds in flats, placed by a full length window in his dining room. He does this sometime in early May, and then waits patiently for the seedlings to pop up. When they do, it’s like they grow an inch each day. The beauty of new life and growth erupts. Continue reading

Why am I having trouble losing the last 10 pounds?

looking into mirror

I know that a lot of people out there have asked that question, and there are usually at least a couple of reasons for this final struggle. Yes, I think many of us share at least one reason, but maybe not all. I decided to write this post because one of my main struggles in taking off that last bit of weight is not often talked about. But is it that rare? Continue reading

That driver is definitely loopy! Watch her do a loop de loop.

car dancing 2
Doin’ my car dance

Anyone whose known me for a while, knows I love to dance. Sometimes I crank up the music in my car, and have a blast! Yea, I definitely sing my heart out. Being in the driver’s seat doesn’t prevent me from dancing up a storm or shout. A favorite song gets me hopping in my seat, waving my arms, slapping the steering wheel like a drum. I put my foot on the clutch, shift that stick, step on the gas pedal moving my whole body, and shifting my bum . Vrooooom, vroom, vroooom, vroom, vroom, errrrrrt! Don’t worry, nobody ever gets hurt. Continue reading

Brief puncture, then super inflation on a trip to Utah

Supapu Bridge in Arches National Park 1
Sapupu Bridge in Arches National Park in Utah

Have you ever arrived at a vacation destination to find it an immediate disappointment, or near one? Before the trip your excitement built up and upon arrival something put a puncture in the balloon of enthusiasm? That happened to my husband and me upon arrival in Utah for my husband’s 40th birthday vacation gift. Luckily, however, the puncture in that balloon was quickly repaired and the excitement built back up again quickly because of a very quick change in itinerary. Continue reading

Summer work abroad in Poland

Poznan main square
The Old Town Square in Poznań, Poland

One day in the summer of 1991, I was hanging out at my university campus bus stop near the student center. The bus stop had numerous flyers advertising various activities. One read “Teach English in Poland through the Local Democracy and the Citizen’s Foundation in Poland.” Continue reading