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Just Go Down the Chute: An Indecisive Introvert’s Mantra
What should I be when I grow up? Do I stay an extra day while I’m on my trip? Should I rebrand the blog? I need a new Twitter handle – what should I change it to? Be it a big question (life goals) or a small one (do I get the fish or the pasta?), I all too often get easily and stupidly overwhelmed. “Why”, you may ask? I overthink EVERYTHING. It took me a long time to realize that this is primarily rooted in fear. Fear of the unknown? Maybe. Fear of making the wrong decision? Fear of looking STUPID? Totally. So I research. I Google. I ask questions. I…
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10 Sentences: Luck
“Es regalo” she said as she offered a sprig of Rosemary. “Free. For good luck.” But I knew if I accepted, she’d grab my hand to read my palm – and as she would consider a coin to be “bad luck”, the least she would accept is a €5 note. I smile and say “No gracias”, firmly. And repeat it four more times. But as I pass on her offer of luck, think about the good fortune I do possess. I’m grateful for the opportunity that allows me to sit here on the steps of the Cathedral in Seville. It is a gift to be able to slow down the sometimes overwhelming…
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Thoughts on the Erma Bombeck Writers Workshop. Finally.
Two weeks ago today I left for the Erma Bombeck Writers’ Workshop. It’s a bi-annual writing conference held at the University of Dayton – Erma’s alma mater – and yes, it was every bit as funny and sentimental as the grand dame herself was. Over three days there was much laughter, networking, conversation, learning, wine, and for me, introspection and self-discovery. I’m already counting the days until the next one. But first, I really needed to write something about THIS one. To say that I learned a lot would be an understatement. In fact, my brain hit content overload at about 2pm on Saturday afternoon, right about the same time…
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Funny or Not, Dayton, Here I Come
One of the first hardcover books I remember truly loving (that wasn’t a children’s classic) was an Erma Bombeck lifted from my mother’s bookshelf. I was about 10 years old when I read the book – yes, I was a very mature child – but there was something about the dry wit in Erma Bombeck’s writing that I just “got”. I was ten, so it wasn’t that I was necessarily relating to the content, particularly when her mentality towards housework was such was a direct opposite of my mother’s own style; I mean, for a child whose early morning directive was “you can be late for school before you leave…
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It’s Good To Be a Kid….
Some days, I don’t want to be the adult. I want to be the kid. Why, you ask? Let me tell you: ONE: Grocery Shopping As a kid, you ask mom if you can have something, and if you’re lucky, it magically appears in the cupboard/refrigerator (or you get to go with her to the store where you can try to sneak things into the cart). Now I know how all that food must get there, and it’s not so “magical”. *sighs* TWO: Cleaning toilets As a child, you might have to set the table, or take out the trash or make your bed, but my mom never made me…
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Independence Day
As one might imagine, here in the UK the “4th of July” is merely the day that follows the 3rd of July, a fact that still continues to mystify my children. Go figure. So while we would historically be watching a parade in our hometown and then heading to my Aunt Merrie’s for a party in her pool and maybe a drink or two….(gone are the days of Mom’s cousin Gary’s sideline-style drinks cooler of Long Island Iced Teas, thankyouverymuch, as I’ve got my kids with me now), we play it low-key now. Very low-key. Since it’s a work/school day for us here. Still, we gave it our best attempt.…
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Outside My Comfort Zone
My comfort zone is rather smallish area which I am forced to step out of more often than I’d like. I am not a risk taker. No siree. I don’t like to ski – I don’t like the feeling of being out of control. The first and last attempt was on a bunny hill in Wisconsin (which the Hubs insists isn’t proper skiing). All I remember is a lot of packed icy snow, and ending up in a heap off-slope, under the ski lift, skis akimbo and stuck in the ground. Descending steep flights of stairs make me really, really nervous. My kids are well aware of this and when…
