Thanksgiving 2021

 It's been a while since I blogged.  I need to correct that.

I can reflect on my many blessings while still being concerned about the state of my beloved USA and Israel.  I am so grateful for my beloved husband, our health, and our life together that is peaceful, fun and virtually stress-free.  I pray for a return to conservative policies in government and sanity in our elected officials. 

May joy and happiness be with us this season of Thanksgiving. 

Around The World in 128 Days

 

How incredibly blessed are we to be able to go on a World Cruise in 2022??  

In some ways it is the reward for a lifetime of hard work, hustling, saving and planning.  It is a bit of "we deserve this" and a bit of "if not now, when?"

There is no doubt 2020 was a very rough year for everyone so it is great to have this fabulous experience to plan and look forward to.  

Those faraway places with strange sounding names are calling me. I can't wait! 

 

 

A Year to Remember (and Forget!)

 It's a year most of us would like to forget, including me.  It's almost over, only about 6 weeks more to go. Time to reflect a little on the Bad and the Ugly but also on the Good (there actually was some).

The worst, the absolute worst, is the (apparent) defeat of President Trump when everyone in the World knows he won the election in a landslide.  The theft of our sacred elections is nothing short of catastrophic on the level that dwarfs Watergate and even 9/11 and everything else I've witnessed in my seven decades.  I am sad and scared for the future.  

The second worst is of course the Covid epidemic.  Life will not be the same for some time and the effects will be felt for many years. 

The third worst is the wobbly semi-collapse of the Temple I finally came to think of as own.  It collapsed due to two factors - Covid (Zoom sessions don't cut it) and the Rabbi partially abdicating at a most inopportune time.  I am sad and well, very sad.

So now what?  On to the positives.  We are both still healthy (good test results), Covid free (Thank God), and still solvent.  I lost the pesky few pounds that bothered me and have better eating habits.  I've dumped the horrible habit of listening to the news all day and have taken up golf and exercising at MVP (believe it or not).  There are potential new friends on the horizon and fun neighbors who want to play golf, games and Mah Jongg. 

The best advice I can give myself as it concerns the bad/sad parts of 2020 - This Too Shall Pass.

My Election Day Prayer

Lord, we ask Thee for such an Overwhelming, Landslide Victory for President Trump that even the Fake News Media will have to Declare him Victorious Tonight. May it be obvious to all that Thy hand is upon President Trump and that You have brought the Victory.

Amen

 

Goals Plus

 

I did it! After years of "trying" I achieved my (admittedly small but satisfying) weight loss goal and believe I am on track to maintain this (admittedly small) success.  So it's time to consider my next Big Goal.  Should I volunteer to be a poll watcher? Join a new "lifestyle club" that may open up again next month? Get myself back to the fitness club for chair exercise? Plan a Grand Voyage (or short vacation) for 2021 or 2022? Binge watch another TV series?  Read an entire book (not just skim it)?

Go back to bed?

It's my Birthday!

 

How did I get to be so old??  😆

How grateful I am for my wonderful life, my incredible husband, our health and good life in wonderful Florida. I truly am in a "magical cycle".  My weight is perfect (finally) and yes, I feel I have "let go of the habits and fearful concerns that once held me back". 

The only Libra and Capricorn I feel "adore me" are my Mother and Father.  Are they looking out for me from above?  

Happy Birthday to me!

Today's Horoscope

 

My horoscope today feels spot on.  After a long quest (years) I have finally knocked off the pesky pounds that have prevented me from feeling 100% good about myself.  I used the tried and true method of 1) carefully counting calories and 2) being patient.  

So today portends to be a good day.  The pain from my tooth surgery seems to have finally subsided and my new $4.50 jeans fit and feel great.  I am grateful for the peace agreement with Israel and the UAE and pray the future holds more positive steps and a second Trump administration. We will soon celebrate our upcoming anniversary and I hope we can look forward to new opportunities and friends.

A good day...

Rosh Chodesh

Last night I attended the virtual Rosh Chodesh celebration hosted by our Rebbitzin.  It is a spiritual, almost sacred, assembly of women only and is dedicated to renewal and sharing.  I love the mystical quality of the gathering and the fact that it is tied to the cycles of the moon.  It started with a quiet meditation, a lit candle and a short story, and moved on to a topic we could discuss - infusing spirituality into the most mundane of household chores.

This is one activity that is easier for me since the Coronavirus hit - it usually takes place with the ladies meeting in person.  I will miss it if they no longer use Zoom when the pandemic is over (soon I pray).

Home is in the Kitchen

My annual "Home is in the Kitchen" calendar arrived today.  It joins the other seven - 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 & 2020 - in my "collection".   I actually had no intention of amassing all these calendars (I just save the envelopes they came in - they have every month shown on the back).  I just needed something that would cover the big gray side of our stainless steel refrigerator and go nicely with our black, red and gold kitchen motif.  But now their cheerful monthly messages are a family tradition and the growing stack of the calendars' envelopes reminds me of how quickly time flies.

And of course, the artist is correct, home is indeed in the kitchen. Good Food!  Good Life!

They Persisted

I watched the four hour PBS series "The Vote", four hours that documented failure after failure, setback after setback, ridicule, beatings, arrests, and even torture that spanned seven decades.  Unbelievable.  A testament to incredible women who, one hundred years ago next month, gave the gift of liberty, democracy and power to half the population of the United States.

Women took The Vote less than thirty years before I was born.  Yet even as a child I believed I could do anything in life that I wanted.  I owe these women, many of whom did not live to see their dream fulfilled, an enormous debt of gratitude.

I will remember them when I proudly cast my vote in November.