Retire In Style Blog Too

 Lets just get this out of the way right now...I cannot play games in life or on a playing field. I do not play cards or golf or even word games unless I am coerced into it. Oh you can coerce me but it will not make me happy. Playing is entirely different...I love to play at golf or, back in the day, even tennis. Playing at something is just fun. Reality is suspended for a piece of time and a person can pretend to be good at something or other. So the fascination with games and the people that play them both seriously and in life is interesting. Take the game of golf for example. Golf is a sport where the word "cheating" some easily to people's lips. There are no "mistakes" or "misunderstandings". Certainly no second chances. But cheater is attached to those people who made a mistake or are new to the game and just don't understand how it goes. The tag will follow them around for a very long time. Don't play that game unless you are clear abo...

My Back Patio View...Arizona  The title probably give away too much...but then my life is an open book and has been since I started blogging 2006. The words have always been about ME: my thoughts, adventures and everything that I "think" I know. It has been a take it or leave it kind of blog but I still get hits on blogs about my lifestyle. I have, during that time, spent over 25 years of retirement with a husband of 61 year. The changes have been remarkable I think. Travel, adventure, writing, moving houses, aging and now the loss of my spouse in December. A whole new stage has begun. My life is NOT over in case you were worried. Everyone is so sympathetic and I understand that they know what they would feel at their age. But for those of us that have lived much longer that they ever expected, it is simply what it is. I saw it coming for quite a while but my husband put on such a good front that everyone else including my children were shocked at his death and experienced gr...

I was at the grocery this last week searching for a greeting card for a friend that was turning 101...yes you heard me right, one hundred one years old! As I passed the first of the cards, my eyes went to a very cute pair of Tom's with a colorful cat design. "I love your shoes" came out of my mouth without thinking. The lady that turned to me was beautiful. "Oh," she said, "my daughter buys them for me. I have several pairs." The conversation had begun. I told her that I was buying for my 101 year old friend. She turned to look at me with puzzled eyes. "Well, I am 92." she said. She was not nearly as impressed as I thought she would be. The exchange turned to all those things we talk about with strangers. Then it was time to leave and as I moved to go, she told me she was buying a card for her daughter-in-law. "I don't like her very much but oh well" she said. Unfortunately, there was not a card for that sentiment: I think I nee...

Our 61 wedding  anniversary in November. I have a picture of my family by my desk here in Arizona. I love it. My grandchildren were only beginning to be. It was our 50th wedding anniversary. My grandchildren still talk about that wonderful weekend.  Time passes so quickly and our lives have changed as is only right. We have gained so much during the last 11+ year. New spouses for our grown grandchildren, new grandchildren and now even great-grandchildren. College degrees have been earned. I am proud and gratitude doesn't even come close to explaining how fortunate we all are.  Oh, we struggle to get it right...don't think everything is perfect. It isn't and yet, even on the worst of days, I felt grateful. My husband passed away just before last Christmas. He had been ill a very short time so none of us had a change to brace ourselves for the shock. And yet, on that day we celebrated his life...yes, we were wounded...but still grateful. He was such a lovely man and we...

 I was reading a Malcolm Gladwell column the other day. As you probably already know, Gladwell is the author of books such as The Tipping Point, Outlier and Talking to Strangers as well as a writer for The New Yorker since 1996. I am a fan...what can I say...I just think the guy has something worthwhile to say. So, anyway, the question was "Can you say what you need to say in 60 seconds or less" and still tell the whole story. Gladwell podcasts are long and deep. He needs every second to tell you or convince you that what he is saying might be important. An advertising person can tell their story in 60 or less. I have written posts that I actually went through eliminated all the unnecessary words. When I was done you could still understand the story. Most of those words just didn't make the story any better. I like the idea a lot but...the real question might be "why do we write?". I for one am not a best selling author and do not need to satisfy a publisher or ...