Focused at Fifty

Last week, I was shopping in a consignment store and was drawn over to the tie rack. Was that it? Was that the tie? My heart felt like it stopped momentarily. It was slender, cloth, very "Mod", late 50's/early 60's. I looked at it closer and deeply sighed, "Nope, wrong color." I would have to still keep looking. After all, I've been looking for the last 3 decades. What's another year? Unfortunately, no it was not THE tie. The tie I am looking for was very special. It was my Grandpop Herman Newman's tie. I remember I came across it in a box of stuff that my Mom was giving away. I asked if I could have it because it was his and without a seconds thought she replied of course! I kept it for years, hanging it in a special place on the tie rack for those ties. There are my favorite ties from the early 90s when I would go dancing with Sheryl at clubs across Philly. There are two ties from the 80s which were my Dad/s. There is a dophin tie my stepdad Ba...

 

 

I often feel sorry and guilty for relegating certain ornaments to the back of the Christmas tree just so that the tree is not lopsided. You know those ornaments. Not the most favorite anymore. The older ones. Or the broken ones. The poor Mouseketeer who lost one of his hands and his sword in battle, probably with one of our two cats. 😂 Oh Sir Squeak-a-lot, you have served us well and we will keep you... Guard the back of the tree well my loyal mouse-knight. ❤️

"Baxter State Park, Maine" What shall be my third act? Or what shall it become? Sure, one can guide one's life, but you never truly know what will happen. I had so many plans 3 plus decades ago. Most of which never came to fruition. One may think it's frivolous and a waste of time to try and figure out what I am going to do for the next 2-3 decades but you can still guide your life in a direction which brings you love, good friendship, integrity, respect and satisfaction.  You all know me, I'm just being my normal perhaps overly reflective self. 😏 My first act was childhood, school and my 20s. I lived my second act through my 30s and 40s. The third act will hopefully include Maine and making plans with the Big Ragu for the next two decades. Who knows after that? I do know that I want to become empowered with the decades that I have left.  Forgive me for the overtones of one's mortality. You notice I have not called it my FINAL act. And there may perhaps be a ...

  Happy 90th Birthday to my wonderful Dad whose birthday was on Sept. 23rd, 2020! He is simply my hero, my mentor, my best friend, my inspiration, and my role model! I am in awe of you Dad! Love you! ♥️🥰😏

"Heather and I. She's drinking a Blue Moon. LOL" Last Saturday, I was asked, along with good friends Jamie and Miss Morag, to pay my respects and speak at the memorial service of my dear friend Heather Boyer. She had recently passed away after a valiant fight with a rare brain disease. Heather knew she wanted to battle this disease, if only for the very reason of helping to advance the treatment and understanding of it to hopefully prevent others from suffering from it in the future. She lost her battle but she made such an incredible impression of bravery and courageousness on her friends and family. Being asked to speak at a dear friend's service is one of the most honorable and humbling requests of service that one can be asked of. I did it without a second's thought. It was a sad day. It was one of laughter and tears, as it should be. Her husband and children were so strong. God bless them.  Many of you have asked me to reprint my eulogy so I am obliged to do ...