Midlife’s A Trip

4 Steps to a Happy New Year

Posted on 30. Dec, 2007 by Karen.

As we head into 2008, there’s a great ritual that will help you get rid of this year’s baggage.  It’s called the “burning bowl”.  Here’s what you need:

Small sheets of paper
A pen
A fireproof bowl or a fireplace.

Step 1
On the small sheets of paper, write down all the things from 2007 that you want to leave [...]

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Roquamole–The New Friendship Food

Posted on 29. Dec, 2007 by Karen.

For Christmas I bought myself Nigella Express, the new cookbook by food diva Nigella Lawson.  As I sat one evening reading and savoring the recipes, I came across one that demanded immediate attention.  It’s called Roquamole. 
Roquamole is this incredible creative blend of avocado and Roquefort cheese.  If each of these two foods appeal to you individually, then you’ll [...]

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Christmas Dinner–A Bittersweet Meal

Posted on 26. Dec, 2007 by Karen.

I had Christmas dinner with a very special family.  It was their first Christmas without their adored Leah– wife, mother, daughter, cousin, daughter-in-law and friend.  Leah died of cancer in May.  She was only 41 years old and left her dear husband, Stephan and beautiful 3 year old son Zion behind. 
A host of family and [...]

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Mom, Dementia and Me; The Power of the Purse

Posted on 17. Dec, 2007 by Karen.

I went to visit my mom today in the memory care facility where she lives due to her dementia.  It’s always interesting to me that the ladies in the facility always walk the halls with their purses.  Most of them are very elderly and have severe dementia like Mom.  But the one thing they remember [...]

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My Son’s Wedding Anniversary

Posted on 14. Dec, 2007 by Karen.

Today is my son’s Chip’s 6th wedding anniversary.  He and my lovely daughter-in-law Kim were college sweethearts.  But can it really be six years since they tied the knot in Las Vegas?  They had planned a wedding back at home but a family illness necessitated a delay.  So they started making other plans. 
When my son told me [...]

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The Spoken Word in All Its Glory

Posted on 13. Dec, 2007 by Karen.

 
This was sent to me by a friend today.  Of all the things that get passed around these days via email, this is one of the more notable and inspiring ones.  And so I pass it on to you.  Enjoy.
 
A Time When Words Were Used Beautifully
There was a time when words were used  beautifully. These glorious insults [...]

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Deck the Halls, No Joy in Your World

Posted on 10. Dec, 2007 by Karen.

As the holiday season is upon us, does it feel like it’s really upon you–like a 500 lb Santa?  Are you stretched thin on time and energy?  I talked with my friend Catherine today who told me that she isn’t decorating for Christmas this year.  Now Catherine is a feng shui consultant.  She focuses on the energy in [...]

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The Legacy of Strong Women

Posted on 07. Dec, 2007 by Karen.

Throughout my life, I have often been reminded that I come from a line of strong women.  I attribute my getting through some tough life transitions to that legacy.  One of those women was my paternal grandmother.  She died 10 years ago at the age of 97.  I’ve been thinking about her a lot lately because [...]

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