There’s an analog for this in life, where disparate events, spread across years, come together to reveal the path forward. It goes by a nicer name, though: serendipity. #tbt 

Let’s do it Monday, of a brand new week. With a day of appointments and possibly disappointments, I wonder what time my first disappointment is. I’m ready, I’ll just push it away Mamala, choose the road most traveled, and like Sheryl Sandberg advises go to Plan B.

As the possessor of a vast collection of go to’s on rainy days, keep your chin up activities and when in doubt negotiate your way out -I’ll get a ticket to ride and wait for Palisades Park to open at 10:00. There I’ll find my way out of the maze of disappointment ride and quiet the noise in my head.

When unbridled passions, limited limitations and plunge-like energy offered a mainstream consistency it was a breeze. When I think of the numerical reality in which we stand I have become accustomed, I have accepted it. What I can’t grasp is the shift in physical abilities which have always been the object of easy sailing in our arena of navigation. But in a no sissy style, add a spoonful of sugar to your get happy medicine, use your aphorism of choice and buy the ticket book at Palisades so you can go on all the rides. Make it a good one!

A friend’s daughter has a company that makes jewelry out of personal signatures. It’s called “Sincerely”. She came up with the idea to use your personal penmanship, if you will, and creates a hanging memory. It could be a name signed, a written message of an “I love you.” She started it as one way to honor the memory her dad Steve. I had her make one up for me and just unwrapping it was a thrill. And I quote- I walk down memory lane, cause I love running into you. Collecting memories, the universal hobby of the heart. 

As Mother’s Day is quickly approaching it offers a binary rush of my Soph. I allow the feelings to come to the forefront and I love her and miss her simultaneously. When she died I lost hope. As the years have moved on I am able to tap into that hope that she always offered. One take away and a huge lesson was her constant reminder when you “do good” it doesn’t matter who gets the credit. Just “do good.” She was a smiley gal. She always had a kind word and was the person who called just to ask how someone was feeling. 

So mama and to all the memory collectors – it’s your day- enjoy the daylights out of every minute. And Romy thanks for my memory.

You bring me up with predictability. Always there to add to a good time. You have helped to make the simplest events happenings. In big celebrations you know how to join a room and get everyone up there doing the hokey pokey. When I’ve needed you most you came through. It was clearly love at first sight. You are my go to as you ask nothing in return. You listen without judgement and you know I always do my best. When we are together I let you boss me around. My biggest responsibility when we meet up is not to fall or make a fool of myself. Anytime I’ve dared to abuse you, I woke up with extreme regrets and vowed to never do it again. Whatever I adorn you with is just fine. A lemon, an olive you’re cool, you know who you are. At times when I have been fickle, you waited and knew your appeal would win out. Thank you for adding a dimension to my life that I can return to happily. And you know what, you were right when the tough get going let it be, they were not part of the Plan A that were getting the seat when my music stopped anyway. #Stoli you rock!

Dear Facebook, Just when I think my memory might be lapsing a bit you bring it back for me. Quite frankly I don’t love everything about your persona, for sure. However, you are spot on with spreading the news that’s fit to print. And— then we learn much more than we need to know. Various brands of diapers, who got food poisoning and reminders of the dress we wore to the prom that we never loved to begin with we could have skipped. Shout out to Gail Kuritsky Kwiat. Mea culpa, our political stance is over done and well cooked. Not going there- ugh! 

Our Julia’s were a spinoff of high school dejavu. My niece Ali got to tell her story and spread extremely important news about Planned Parenthood and healthcare. Love you dear Nini girl with all my heart. And just today the picture below popped up on my page of Alexei from several years back. With a mixed bag of emotions, in an inquisitive way, we open you up to see what is happening in our immediate population of 400 people plus. And now on to Instagram and words with friends. Let’s do it Monday!

Source: On A Clear Day…

Dear Stress     You’ve had your way with  us. We caved, gave in and took the stomach issue that was on your “shiz” list. The ravages that you create by just showing up and worming your creepy little self into us is disgusting. Just for today we got it under control. We are kinda done with the good and the bad. We’ll begin with a pastrami on rye, well done fries. The only doctor We want to see at our proverbial table is Dr. Brown. He promised to be bring the diet cherry soda. Btw We’ll have a side of Beach with that. Make it a good one!

A dear equestrian friend who owned the stable in town died this week. We shared many a days, walking, trotting and cantering through life together. He had a sign above his desk that proclaimed in Latin, “Culpa equestribus non equis,” loosely translated as “It’s always the rider’s fault, never the horse. He was one more piece of my history taken away and lost too soon this year. In an effort to make some sense of it all- just to get through today, I am adopting a Tempus fugit (time flies) attitude. Easier said than done-perhaps. I will make the most of my bran muffin, sip the coffee as if it were going out of style and enjoy every moment of Jodi’s Gym while watching a piece of my heart bounce around the mat. Perhaps going back to the roots of Latin and being reminded to carpe diem -(seize the day)- is sicut enim medicus (just what the doctor ordered.)Make it a good one!

Looking for someone to go back in time with. The days when no one In your immediate family got Cancer. The days when “hide and go seek” meant fumbling your way onto the floor of a shoe clad closet. Remember when Hostess and Sara Lee were your go to tarte tartin? Or perhaps the simpler times where a doctors appointment consisted of merely a pricked finger and a height check. No ominous machines in site. How bout when loss applied to a Spaulding ball under a parked car? What happened to only two apps. on the cell phone, Date and Time and much longer battery life. How bout before you couldn’t get into trouble sending a text to the wrong person? Remember when call waiting was a daily rush. Actually the simple act of communicating without thumbs. So on just one of these “rainy days” let’s treadmill our way to coming out when you hear the words ” I found you,” or “tag your it.” We will wait to hear the real story about how United Airlines banned women from wearing leggings on flights. So for today let’s get out of our comfort zone. Mix a little nostalgia and know that somewhere mid-day the sun will come out and we won’t have to wait for a better tomorrow. 

In addition to “The Julia’s” one of my greatest take away treasures from Junior High is Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice. I own an old copy and refer to the story with euphoric recall from time to time. In Cliff’s note fashion -Mr. Darcy was enamored by Elizabeth Bennet, the novels protagonist. He portrayed the romantic hero. He was aloof and rich and couldn’t be bothered with anyone who wasn’t. Ultimately as the story unfurls we learn he really was compassionate and a “benevolent” despot. He wins Elizabeth’s admiration and her hand, as he proved to be the most kind hearted man she ever met. Non-sequitur admirer’s listen up.

On this day of extreme importance where the House of Representatives has our “life” in their hands all the “nasty” despotic type Mr. Darcy’s are brought too close to mind. Only this time -He -“ain’t misbehaving.” What we see is what we got.

Abe Lincoln and I quote “Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man’s character give him power.”