Category: middle age
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Gen Z’ers Think Mid-Lifers Know Everything…or Nothing
The 35-year-young mom of two preschoolers quickly said hello, then fired off a series of complaints to me in a breathy 20 seconds. ‘My husband and I should be saving money but he wants another flat screen on the back porch. Things aren’t great between us. Like, they are bad.…
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The Season of Gratitude
Today marks the start of the 11th month of 2024. The season of gratitude, Thanksgiving, lingering leaves that eventually descend, reducing trees to barren branches. The first freeze often happens in November, and the frigid morning air is welcome against my face. I have always loved October through December. Though…
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Forest Through the Trees
Staring at these trees on a recent walk, the common phrase, “can’t see the forest through the trees” came to mind. Some people say the phrase this way: “can’t see the forest for the trees”. Either way, I wondered how the expression came to be. USdictionary.com gives origin credit to…
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Moving: The Finale
Wrapping up the moving tales today…Here are a few clips from the first days adjusting. Day 1 As we pulled the UHaul into the new temporary apartment complex, I watched mamas take first day of school pics of their little ones. These fresh faces are our new neighbors. Boxes piled…
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Texas Tuesdays Continue… The State Capitol
Upon exiting the aircraft, this New Yorker expected to see cowboy hats and boots throughout the Austin, TX terminal. Emerging from the airconditioned airport, I also prepared for full-on melting in the hot, Texas sun. It was my first of many trips to Texas beginning in August, 2021. Turns out,…
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I Had the Time of My Life Fighting Dragons with You
Seated on the floor surrounded by moving bins, Taylor Swift’s music played in the background (randomly on my daughter’s Spotify) while I rummaged through my three kids’ middle school papers. My twins had just started sixth grade when we moved here and my youngest began fourth. Change is rarely easy…
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Texas Tuesday – The Backstory
The Summary In the last three years, I’ve been to Texas eight times. Last Spring, I stayed a month. My then-remote position made it possible. Though I have seen and stayed in several Texas cities and towns, the state is beyond enormous and I’ve barely scratched the hot soil. I’ll…
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Moving: The Stuff
We grow up and make a home of our own. Some of us buy houses, condos or apartments. Whatever the structure, we collect some STUFF. And, I’m not a collector. So, how did I end up with so much? Photos capturing all we have done as a family make me…
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Moving: The Highlight Reel
We finally moved last week. My experience confirms the myriad of lists claiming moving is one of the top five life stressors. I’m also grateful to God that it was only moving stress and nothing more serious. We made it out alive😉, relatively in-tact physically, and are giving ourselves the…
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Be Encouraged, Your Sacrifice Matters
“I’m not really this person, letting my wife make the real money while I sit here 15 hours a day, seven days a week.” A once-vibrant professional and just-turned 40 entrepreneur/Dad says this to me fifteen years ago. “In my head, I’m back in a suit, important at work and…
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Optimism Doesn’t Equal Denial
Once upon a time, in a land long ago (called my thirties), I still retained a significant amount of optimism, even about the smallest things. I have always been a pragmatist, but a cheerful one. Fast-forward to my 50’s and though I still work toward positivity, I’m not the Pollyanna…
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Society Thought Elvis’ Gyrating Hips Were Scandalous? Please.
While recently rewatching the Austin Butler version of Elvis with my daughters, I laughed that his gyrating hips were considered shocking and indecent. In the 1990’s, using bare chested Mark Wahlberg and Kate Moss with visible underwear bands was labeled a “shock value” marketing ploy in an effort to seize…
Tales from a Mid-Lifer 