So about a year and a half ago I posted the following on my Facebook and asked for responses. I got a lot so I figured I would have some readers. It's taken me this long to get anything up and going. First let me say as a Disclaimer that I tried to do this blog on my own and I AM NOT tech savvy! Yes, it's a blog format but trust me, they still don't make it easy. I knew my daughter could do it faster but I didn't want to depend on her so I figured I had to learn how to d

I think empathy is harder than we realize. When people are so different from us (ethnicity, religion, political party, sexual orientation, social class, etc.) I think we often are not able to feel empathy for them. In the last year I have had family and friends vehemently oppose or challenge me because they did not agree with me or understand my empathy to the point of saying “they deserved what they got” and “they shouldn’t be here” all because someone was born under differe

Today I drove home from Tulare to St. George in 7 hours, record time for me. I didn't stop once; not for food, for gas, to use the restroom or to stretch my legs. I didn't want to stop, it's almost like I couldn't. I didn't want to leave Tulare but I couldn't wait to be home. It's so hard to leave behind the family and friends I love so much. This week I had two funerals, a wedding, and some time supporting a family member at the hospital. I think I felt every feeling possibl

I'm at the stage of life where I’m losing friends. Like I’m losing them permanently. Some have been expected after a long illness and some have died suddenly. They have all been way too young to leave this earth. But never have I been so shocked about losing someone as I was with this guy. When I read the text from a mutual friend I literally felt like I was going to throw up. I felt like someone gut punched me. I’m sure it’s happened to many others. My reaction was I cried b

When we were in Santa Maria after the holidays with two of my kids and my extended family my youngest (great) niece, Dezi, and her boyfriend, Ethan, went to Solvang twice and really enjoyed it. She brought back little figurines for everyone. Some were windmills but I got this darling one of a couple kissing. Two things. My parents loved Solvang and went quite often. My mom has Danish ancestry so she really loved it. They didn’t get to travel much but they loved their trips to

Raise your glass! What do you see in this picture? Four darling girls raising their glasses of milk to a Christmas with Gigi. I see so many things in this picture. I see my parent’s dining room set. It’s at least 40 years old and has been repainted. It’s funny how much of a connection I feel with them with this dining room set. A lot of love and laughter around that table! I see a handmade table runner, one of my favorite gifts ever, given to me from a colleague/friend made j

It’s always nice to see former colleagues; some I haven’t seen for years. I just wish we didn’t have to lose a friend for that chance. We gathered to pay tribute to Susan Turner. I met Susan in 1989. We worked together as social workers, trainers, and supervisors in two counties. She had such a solid faith in God that I always admired. She was no doubt the smartest person I’ve ever known. I think she told me once what her IQ was but I’ve forgotten; it was high. Like really hi