I watched the fire crackle and spark for a couple hours last night. No one else around, just me and my thoughts. With my journal and pen I began wading through the…
Category: Editorials
From the sunny side: Rain Days
Having grown up in Florida, where it hardly ever snows, I have often wondered what it was like to have “snow days.” I have heard stories from my friends who grew up…
Learning As I Go: The power of staying
Life has been extra tough lately and my emotions have been all over the place. Tears are a sentence away in every conversation and sadness hangs heavy over so many things that…
Emerald’s Gem Box: Catching wild pigs
Political season is once again upon us. I pray that voters really consider the fate of America before casting their vote! So many of the Democratic Presidential contenders are running on socialist…
From the sunny side: Cranky old man
I have to admit, I am making progress. I am able to walk now, with the help of a cane. I admit, it would be easier with a walker, but my stubbornness…
From the sunny side: Remembering Kimmy
It’s not something you think much about when you’re young, but as you get a little older, it becomes obvious that friends are going to pass away. It’s just one of those…
Learning As I Go: Don’t Waste the Drive
One of my favorite weekend pastimes is riding dirt roads. No destination. No time limit. Just exploring and taking in the scenery. It’s been a long while since I have taken the…
Emerald’s Gem Box: Love
Happy Valentine’s Day! The smell of love, flowers and candy will soon fill the air. Whether it’s love for your spouse, your children, parents or a best friend – everyone has someone…
Childhood reflections with a touch of grace: When Tarzan needs an Uber
My generation didn’t have all the superheroes to enjoy at the theaters that the kids are bombarded with today. I did have Adam West and the Boy Wonder, running around in tights…
Learning As I Go: But we didn’t lose home
It was in the wee hours of the morning on Feb. 9, 2005, that our phone rang. David jumped up and answered. Even in my sleepy daze, I knew something was wrong….
Emerald’s Gem Box: Integrity
Integrity, according to Dictionary.com, means, “adherence to moral and ethical principles; soundness of moral character; honesty.” What is integrity? It is the quality of being honest and having strong moral principles. It…
From the sunny side: Toes
Over the last couple of months, I have become more aware of the toes on my left foot than I have been in the past. Having your toes sticking out of a…
Childhood reflections with a touch of grace: Man’s best friend
My earliest memories include a dog always being somewhere in the mix of things. When I was four years old, there was our loyal and protective mutt, Smokey. He once rescued me…
Learning As I Go: Rip up the carpet
When my oldest was a toddler, I became pregnant with our second child. As winter turned to spring, we found ourselves in the midst of the biggest flea outbreak our home had…
Emerald’s Gem Box: A good attitude is something that can be managed and learned
So many times in life, we take such small incidents and we blow them up into what we believe to be huge, life-altering incidents. There are so many things that happen to…
From the sunny side: Seeing the finish line
Many of you know by now of the ordeal I have been experiencing since early November. For those who don’t, here’s the “Reader’s Digest” version of the story. On Friday, Nov. 8,…
Learning As I Go: Stop Closing the Door
There are days where my world feels completely out of control. No matter what I do, I can’t seem to get a grip. I find myself grasping at straws simply trying to…
Emerald’s Gem Box: Happy Birthday, Brooke
Tuesday, Jan. 21, marked the 25th birthday of my daughter, Brooke … my “baby.” I was 25 years old when Brooke was born. My second child. We are not as “scared” with…
From the sunny side: Modernized cartoons
I have very fond memories of Saturday morning cartoons from my youth. I may have shared that little nugget of personal information with you in the past, but it is very true….