“I think I’ll go outside for a while… and just smile…” Rascals 1968
Welcome back to SOLO at SIXTY!
I have been smiling a lot this past week. I got a lot of “love” from my anniversary blog – celebrating a year in the books! Thank you for all of your kind comments. Much appreciated! Here’s to year #2.
“Keep smiling because life is a beautiful thing and there is so much to smile about.”
I am loving these beautiful mornings, even with all the pollen. The days are getting longer, the sun is rising around 6 am and not setting until after 8 pm, and adding more minutes of light each and every day. I am back to running in the early morning before work. Although, I have to admit, I have enjoyed running in the afternoon, even when it was in the upper 80’s. It’s just so beautiful outside. Basically, a new season is here. Makes me feel like a new person.
“Spring heralds the return of the sun’s warmth, the renewal of life, and the reappearance of green and color everywhere.”
I hope all of you mothers, mothers to be, and mothers of fur babies had a special Mother’s Day. It was a beautiful day and I got to spend it with my oldest and youngest children (middle child was out of town but we celebrated once she got back.) I tell my children that all I want for Mother’s Day is for them to write a letter to me. And they do. I have saved every one of them. They are beautifully written from the heart and mean the world to me. I also received flowers and gifts. But it is those letters that I truly cherish.
“Family is not an important thing, it’s everything.” Michael J. Fox
I was able to celebrate Mother’s Day early with my Mom and sisters. Last Thursday, Mom’s assisted living facility hosted a Mother’s Day Tea and fashion show for the residents and their families. My sisters and I took Mom out for an early Mother’s Day lunch at Cherrie’s Cafe, our favorite “ladies” restaurant. We had a lovely lunch complete with linen tablecloths and fabulous food (they have the BEST salad dressing – I bought 5 bottles to bring home). There was a bit of time between lunch and the tea, so I took Mom back while my younger sister headed to the Vet to check on her horse, and my older sister ran a few errands. When Mom and I arrived, there was my college roommate visiting her mom! And when Mom and I entered her wing, the activities director (who I have known since our children were in preschool!) called Mom over to the “Lancome counter” for a makeover and corsage. I left Mom in her capable and caring hands and slipped out to visit a dear, dear friend who lives very close by. It’s funny… if I had never moved, Mom would now be living within walking distance of my house. I could see her every day. The tea was lovely and the fashion show entertaining, but being with my Mom and sisters was so special. And even if Mom did not remember it the next day, she enjoyed having her “girls” together for the day. We did too.
“Time spent with family is time well spent. Family is the one constant in life.”
Saturday was also a beautiful day. Went for a good hot run in the morning, bought some new running shoes (I am addicted to running shoes in all colors), and then picked 13+ pounds of fresh strawberries. Talk about addicting! You just cannot stop picking. Every time you think you have enough, you see another beautiful strawberry. I almost had to put blinders on to leave. The hint I give to pickers: go to the far end of the row and start picking. Why? Because parents with children tend to start at the beginning. AND you have to carry that heavy box of strawberries back so better to end up closer to the check out. Brought them home, washed them, and froze the majority of them for my smoothies. Wanted to be outside, so I washed not only my car, but my daughter’s car that was here while she is out of town. Just a surprise for her and a thank you for being my editor. Besides, kept me outside all afternoon. I was going to see “Overboard”, but decided to spend the evening on my back porch watching a movie at home instead. And I had just seen “Isle of Dogs” the night before. Loved it! (Also saw “Ladybird” late Sunday afternoon – loved it too!)
While I was picking strawberries, I kept thinking how fun it was pulling back the leaves and finding the strawberries – uncovering the prize. Sometimes, the berries were not quite ripe, but more often than not, there were many big red strawberries just waiting to be picked. Life is like that. We have to take the chance and look at what lies hidden. Pull back the curtain. Sometimes we find something painful, but more often than not, if we look really hard, we find the prize – happiness, opportunities, blessings. And it’s addicting – searching for and finding what makes you happy.
“Happiness can be found even in the darkest of times, if one only remembers to turn on the light.”
Tomorrow is the birthday of my oldest child. The one who first made me a mother; who taught me what unconditional love really means. I am so proud of the beautiful, strong, and loving woman she has become. She blesses my life every day. Celebrated her birthday early by attending a rooftop barre class she was teaching and going out for dinner. Happy Birthday Ali! Momma loves you!
“Be a strong woman. So your daughter will have a role model and your son will know what to look for in a woman when he is a man.”
Go outside and just smile. Look up and be thankful for the problems that you do NOT have. Look for happiness in every corner of your life, because as we all know, none of us is promised tomorrow.
Best,
Leslie
PS Mother’s Day marked yet another anniversary – May 13th – 2 years of being SOLO, 2 years in my own home, making all decisions on my own, planning for a future completely different from what I thought it would be. And yet, here I am, stronger and happier. Thankful. Grateful. Blessed.
SOLO at SIXTY 
So glad that you had a great Mother’s Day Leslie! I am so proud of you and your wonderful blog. You are an inspiration to me and to many others!
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Great blog once again, you teach gratitude, grace and tenacity in the face of adversity! Leslie you are a force!
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