The challenges are only going to get bigger As my birthdays ticked by, I decided my goal was to “age gracefully.” Little did I know how hard it would be to achieve that goal. Years ago, my best friend, Helen, was twenty years older than I, and when she retired…

Lawn, pasture, ocean, desert… all speak to our primitive selves — I never go barefoot anymore; my feet are too tender. It has been decades since my feet had that end-of-summer toughness from many long days of going barefooted everywhere. As a child I practically lived outside. My mother taught me names of birds, trees, and wildflowers; Dad gave me a…

It hurts when friends drop friends — Not every friendship lasts. We can expect many acquaintances to fail to develop into friendships. No one loves everyone they meet, and it takes time for an acquaintance to become a friend. Sometimes, too, a friendship melts away. You move on in different directions and are no longer friends. …

Lasting Friendships Are My Life’s Great Joy — Friends are my greatest blessings today, but this was not always true. Throughout my working years, my career came before my social life. Then, when I moved alone to the California central coast 25 years ago, I prioritized making friends. Fortunately for me, this area is ideal for making friends…

Tips Gleaned from My Experiences and Observations — At eighty, I have some opinions about wills and trusts. I share these, hoping they stimulate you to review yours with fresh interest. #1. Different states handle estates differently. State laws change, too, so staying current on your state’s processes is essential. #2. Hire a competent estate attorney. Most of us do not have the time, interest, or expertise to stay current…

Bonnie Garmus’s Lessons in Chemistry — I have aged into a three-person book club that meets even-numbered months to discuss our selected book and the other six to discuss whatever else we are reading. We laugh about what we want in our book selections. Mary insists on a good story, and I want excellent writing. Joyce…

Thinking about Why Photographing is Important to Me — I have made a few photographs in recent years. However, I have missed that activity, and I am starting to brush up on my skills and enjoy the hobby again. My intention in this practice session was to improve my compositions. Images are straight from my camera, an iPhone 11…

Tantalizingly Close but Unattainable for Me — A few years back, I was excited to learn that a local land conservancy had acquired nearly 400 acres that rose above the city of Pismo Beach from Hwy 101 to the hilltops. …

A Convenient Getaway for Many Californians There are vast flat lands in California’s San Joaquin Valley west of Merced, California, where the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service maintains about 45,000 acres of habitat for migrating birds using the north-south Pacific Flyway. A visitor center north of Los Banos, CA offers…