Happy New Year!

Did everyone have a great Christmas, or Hanukkah, or other holiday? Ours has been splendid. We did have a wicked Christmas Eve storm. About 2:00 AM, a huge oak came crashing down within 20 feet of the house. I was wide awake after that! A wonderful neighbor helped my husband, Rob, cut up the 105 foot tree. He took four trips of logs home on his trailer!
We lost a couple of other trees, but there was no damage to the road or anything else. What a blessing! I’ll attach photos when I get back to the warmer south.
Speaking of blessings, we should all count ours as we enter into the new year. May 2010 be a better year financially for everyone. May we all have shelter, food, and love. May we all have peace and goodwill towards man and womankind.

Happy New Year!

Joan

Joyful Holidays To All! I’m Dreaming Of A White Christmas!

These holidays do sneak up on us–only a few days until Christmas, another week until New Years, etc.! I am about ready, except for packing, again! Oh, and I have to pick up the house, again!

We’re heading out to the Carolina’s. There may be snow–there is right now! I’ll be drinking peppermint tea and hot cocoa, and watching old movies.

May all of you enjoy special moments with your friends and families, even if they are on the telephone, or online. It is the people that we love that mean the most at these special times.

Have an extraordinary Christmas, Hanukkah, New Years, or whatever!

Peace on earth,

Joan

A Merry Stressmus to You!

These past two weeks have been a whirlwind. I have been getting ready for Christmas, for the most part, early, due to two trips out of town this month.
Last weekend we traveled to Pensacola for my mom-in-law’s 90th birthday party. A good time was had by all. I am still recovering from that trip.
This weekend we have a day trip to south Florida for an early Christmas with my family. That will be lunch and we will bake Christmas cookies.
Next week we leave for the Carolina’s. Whew! I will be glad when we arrive. I am planning to relax–I need this!
I had an interesting moment Monday, when in the shower I noticed something under my left breast that looked like a small brown slug. Laughing, I discovered that it was a tiny chocolate chip from a snack bar that I had eaten on my way home from work (yes, I know I should not eat in the car!).
Question, would you a) wash it off, or b) eat it? Please let me know! Of course, I ate the chip! It’s chocolate, after all!
Have a wonderful Christmas, or Hanukkah, or whatever! We plan to have a little of that “white stuff” you see above.
Peace on Earth!

Joan

Radio Interview On Aging Outside the Box

If you get a chance, I am doing a radio interview with the fabulous Shirley W. Mitchell on Aging Outside the Box Radio Show. This is the “short show” post:

Dec. 17, 2009… 6PM-CST… “MidLife Motivation” with our “Guest” Joan Ellen Gage, Author of “Water Running Downhill! – Words of Empowerment for Women in Midlife” on “Aging Outside the Box®” Syndicated Radio Show with National Author/Writer/Syndicated Columnist/Speaker and Celebrity Radio Talk Show Host, Shirley W. Mitchell, as they discuss “MidLife Motivation” with… Poetry and Humor for Inspiration, Water Running Downhill and Words of Empowerment. Join us “LIVE on AIR” every Thursday Night at 2PM-HIST, 3PM-AKST, 4PM-PST, 5PM-MST, 6PM-CST, 7PM-EST and 8PM-AST on the LA Talk Radio Network. Listen in LIVE! Listen to the Archive!
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Thanks!

Joan

Life’s Little Surprises

Ever have one of those days where not much seems to go the way you want it to? I think we all experience this.

I did laundry earlier this week, and once again, I did not clear out all of the pockets. There were bits of wet tissue stuck all over the laundry.

After I shook the clothes off the floor looked like there had been a pillow fight; so there must have been two tissues! I shook my head and went to get the vacuum. Moments later it looked like nothing unusual had happened.

You never know what little surprises life will hand you. You break a dish, cut your finger, almost shut the dog’s tail in the car window. In my defense she moved that tail when I was raising it–it pulled her hair very slightly–that was close!

Mainly, these things happen because I am not paying as close attention to something as I should be. I tend to move pretty quickly most of the time, and I can be impatient. I guess I need to slow down a little and be more patient.

I admit to being imperfect! We are all human and prone to some degree of error. So we need to practice forgiveness when we sometimes don’t live up to our Mary Poppin’s expectations!

Give yourself a break today. After all it is the season of giving–just make yourself the recipient of forgiveness, and some self-love. You deserve it!

Peace,

Joan

Since many of you are having snow, or dreaming of a white Christmas, I thought that you would like a snow poem. Here is is!

by Robert Frost (1923)

Whose woods these are I think I know.

His house is in the village though;

He will not see me stopping here

To watch his woods fill up with snow.

My little horse must think it queer

To stop without a farmhouse near

Between the woods and frozen lake

The darkest evening of the year.

He gives his harness bells a shake

To ask if there is some mistake.

The only other sound’s the sweep

Of easy wind and downy flake.

The woods are lovely, dark and deep.

But I have promises to keep,

And miles to go before I sleep,

And miles to go before I sleep.