Most of us have our own version of “Planes, Trains and Automobiles,” – that classic 1987 comedy where Steve Martin and John Candy’s characters endeavor to get home for Thanksgiving while encountering every possible travel snafu. While the movie version is exaggerated for entertainment purposes, I’d venture to say that many “real life” travel experiences […]
After spending my first Winter outside of Illinois, I learned you can take the girl out of the Midwest, but you can’t take the Midwest out of the girl. I was born and raised in Champaign and I was brought up with values that made me the person I am today – and that person […]
I was given the wonderful opportunity to contribute a column in my hometown newspaper (The News Gazette) starting in 2022. This has been a great way to practice and hone my writing. I’ve posted most of the columns on this blog but also wanted to keep a visual record of some of my published articles. […]
You can tell a lot about a person by observing their behavior while playing sports. Whether it’s a friendly round of golf, a pick-up basketball game or a tennis match, athletic competition at any level tends to emphasize personality traits. A person’s competitive nature, their perspective on rules and how they treat others is exposed […]
Staying active in middle age and beyond has its challenges – joint pain, aching muscles, total body stiffness the day after a hard workout. There is the fear of injury, the challenge of exercising with a chronic illness, finding the time and finding the motivation. But regular exercise is also one of the best ways […]
For most of my life I’ve had good neighbors. I’m not saying that all of my neighbors have been great, but most have been kind, considerate and friendly. I grew up in the 60s and 70s on a quaint brick lined street in an older part of town. Many of the residents in the neighborhood […]
When I retired last year, I promised myself three things. I’d never stop learning, I’d enjoy my newfound free time without guilt, and I’d continue to give back through volunteering and community involvement. I’d worked outside the home since graduating from college in 1985. When I had my children, I was fortunate to have a […]
We live in a world of ever-increasing exposure to stress, whether it’s the endless feed of disheartening news, the cruel drumbeat of social media comparisons, or just worries about everyday problems. And it’s not getting better. According to a recent Gallup poll, people are unhappier and more stressed than ever before. Is it any wonder […]
While I was driving my daughter to the Airport during rush hour, she looked at me and asked “Doesn’t this traffic annoy you – you seem so calm?” I thought a moment and then answered, “well, I don’t enjoy it, but it’s out of my control so why let it stress me out? I try […]
Recently, a good friend and I met for lunch to catch up what was going on in our lives. While we made our ways through our greens and grains salad bowls, the topic of technology and social media came up. We had a lengthy discussion, sharing some of our own experiences of how it’s affected […]
Midlife Musings 