Dear newly pregnant person: I am getting adjusted to the thought that I am now qualified to enter the age group known as “grandparents.” I have mixed feelings about this. On the one hand, I cannot wait to hold your baby and give it right back as soon as he/she starts squalling. However, I am not really enthusiastic about being officially “old.” Because, of course, if you have a … [Read more...]
View from the Empty Nest: AN OPEN LETTER TO MY DAUGHTER (YAY, I AM HAVING A GRANDCHILD!)
Posted by on May 20, 2013
View from the Empty Nest: I Don’t Mean to Complain
Posted by on April 15, 2013
They now call the time of life that I am in “mid-life.” All of us in this generation know that this term is optimistic, because if I am in mid-life right now, I will live to be 120. So although the term is hogwash, I will accept it with hope and gratitude. But being in “mid-life” has its drawbacks. Yes, I know—people look to all of us for wisdom and guidance. Some of us have long … [Read more...]
View from the Empty Nest: Hats Off to Jane Austen
Posted by on March 18, 2013
As a writer myself, I am amazed at all the books that are now being published every single day by independent authors. These books are all over Amazon! It is now so easy for any old Tom, Dick, or Emily Bronte to cook up a novel on their laptops, do a little editing, and PRESTO, hit the publish button! Of course, not many of us independent authors achieve the success of that lady who … [Read more...]
View from the Empty Nest: Everything Gives Me Gas
Posted by on February 18, 2013
From all that I can gather from reading the news, following other people’s blogs and tweets, and watching television shows (ok, I know “The Golden Girls” is LONG GONE), sixty is the new forty. This makes me happy, and I am looking forward to experiencing the best years of my life, coming right up. However, I am also starting to discover some of the glitches of aging. I knew this was … [Read more...]
View from the Empty Nest: Mom Pants
Posted by on January 14, 2013
I have been warned by my daughters since they entered their teens. I mustn’t embarrass them. There is nothing worse than a mother who says things like “far out” or “gnarly.” Additionally, it is nearly a mortal sin to wear clothing that indicates the generation of the wearer, especially if this means the wearer is over the age of fifty. I am guilty as charged, and it is getting harder … [Read more...]
View from the Empty Nest: Perks
Posted by on December 17, 2012
I am an expert on getting old. Of course, everybody over fifty is. All of us approaching our dotage are very sad about it. Facing mortality and all of that. Enough has been written about “not going gently into that good night,” or whatever that famous quote says. Aging isn’t fun, no. But there are some real benefits that all of us dreading going into nursing homes can focus on. First of … [Read more...]
View from the Empty Nest: The Cake Parable
Posted by on October 6, 2012
Let’s just pretend there is a cake. It is sitting smack dab in the middle of the kitchen table, where everyone can see it in all its succulent and sugary glory. Stick with me, there is a point coming very soon. I think that life and those who inhabit our world can be divided into categories and examined under the microscope of just exactly how they react to that cake on the table. It’s very … [Read more...]
View from the Empty Nest: Dear Teenage Molly…
Posted by on August 14, 2012
Have you ever seen those letters that people put on their blogs “to their teenage selves?” Yuck. Here’s mine. First of all, for God’s sake, stop obsessing about your thighs. They are actually very small, and there is not one dimple on them. You need to show them off all the time, because—and take it from me—your thighs will only keep getting bigger as you age. Today, ok—and … [Read more...]
Twitter for the Twitless
Posted by on July 24, 2012
“Why would anyone care if you are having a bagel?” My husband doesn’t use Twitter. Furthermore, he is mystified why I spend so much time there. So I felt obligated to explain to him the workings of this particular social media giant. It didn’t begin well. “Twitter is a very fast link-up for people, and when you communicate, you use only 140 characters.” “Why?” “So it … [Read more...]
Molly’s Bota Picnic: “Bota Box Beats the Beastly Blues”
Posted by on July 10, 2012
In honor of National Picnic Month, our sponsor, Bota Box has supplied each of our writers with free boxed wine to take along on the picnic of their choice. Each of our writers will be reporting back to us on their adventures with essays and photos. Visit www.facebook.com/botabox to share your favorite Picnic spot and be entered to win a custom Bota Box Picnic tote. So the weather outside is … [Read more...]
