How is it not a blessing?! 4 blocks from my 2 granddaughters, my son and his wife; 6 blocks from my daughter and son-in-law and granddog. That’s plenty of blessing without even going on longer!

How can I let my dear children know how much I love them??

Brother David leaped to mind. I’m grateful to have met him several times, and also observed him interacting with others at a conference. He is indeed the kindest person I know. Thinking of him warms my heart.

I still remember a day in college when I said something mean to a classmate, and now she is no longer alive, so I can’t apologize.

Mary Oliver t-shirt at cafepress!

Tell me
what is it you plan to do
with your one wild
and precious life

Mary Oliver

The opportunity to read all your wonderful responses!

Yes, Ed – consensus would be a challenge! I was delighted that the lovely condo community I found has 992 units, so all sorts of stuff can go on around me without seriously affecting me, and there are plenty of other residents to serve on the board. We’ve had new managers pretty much every one of the 6 yrs I’ve lived here – the 1st one is in jail now – she had a gambling ‘problem’ that took quite a bit of the condo assoc’s money.

Thank you!

Go, Kevin! It’s fun to read your novel interpretation of the question at the end of this long series of replies in a different vein.

What fun to chuckle over your delightful descriptions, dear Cora! Thank you

I like the unusual light picture

Could Awinchen be the one pictured with you name under him/her?

Don’t feel ashamed, dear Francine, and give yourself big hugs!

No, Anna – you made no mistake!! ‘Uphill’ is a perfectly correct idiom. I’ve decided a ‘rocky road’ is the idiom I’ll use in the future, knowing how bad ‘downhill’ feels on my knees. May you and all of us have mostly smooth roads, not roads too rocky for us to handle!

Hoping to cheer you – I never saw Benji holding a stuffy like this. Hugs to you – and give yourself hugs too!

“laughter, the best medicine” – still true! in addition to many other good and needed medicines. I liked that bit about your sons in your post.

Magic could be without cause. I guess that’s where it’s coming from. Causes and effects are sort of comforting, thinking of them that way, tho sometimes I’m clueless about the Cause that produced the Effect.

“Life is messy” – I like that.
Therapists tend to become therapists because they have issues. This one sounds as if she may be effective, in spite of being difficult. Give yourself hugs!

Thanks, Anna – as my line dance teacher said, uphill is easier hiking for her [and me] – not so hard on the knees. I just thought of that when you mentioned ‘uphill.’ Take care-