Category: SOUL

I used to work as a job coach in my early 40’s and in some instances, clients began work before stores opened for business. This was how I learned there was such a thing as mall walking — mostly among the “active older adult” and “retiree” communities. I used to joke with friends, “Shoot me if I ever turn into a mall walker.” Fast forward a handful of years and Snowmageddon hits, and what with Southern New Englanders having no clue how to properly drive in or plow snow, I was stir crazy from lack of exercise, and there I was — doing what else? Mall walking! Granted it was temporary due to weather and miserable walking conditions, and we used to do laps around the rest of the gang, and I despise malls and shopping but it served its purpose, and some of the regulars were really quite sweet, just trying to enjoy some camaraderie and beat the clock that is our aging bodies.

Just a quote from one of my latest reads. The book 300 Arguments, by Sarah Manguso, had several good ones, and while I’ll be returning it to the library, it’s one of those books that I may have to purchase, her musings are that good, as far as I’m concerned. So today I leave you with one:
“Talking with someone who reveals nothing, I hear myself madly filling the emptiness with information about myself.” Can totally relate to that, how about you?

For some reason I’ve always sung the song as “Insy Binsy” Spider rather than “Itsy Bitsy,” perhaps just because I have a tendency to mangle song lyrics, even those of nursery songs. At any rate, I am one of those people who doesn’t kill insects indiscriminately — especially spiders. I will pick them up however I can and put them outside. With an old house and gardens, we have resident spiders with the beautiful webs they spin — those that are in windows or outside glisten and sparkle with morning dew, and sunlight highlights the intricacy of the lacy weave. When they are woven in inconvenient places, the latest one being across the top of the garden gate, I do try to be careful not to wreck the spider’s work too much, and at the same time also find myself apologizing to the spider in case I do. Anyone else engage with the creatures of the natural world like this?

Missing long early morning walks down to the beach and back, but it’s just been too dang hot lately. Short walks are doable, and even they end with a lot of sweat. Wearing a hat always makes a difference whether hot or cold out, but in this weather the sweatband on my hat merely reminds me of how steamy it is.
I love how hats were routine attire and the finishing touch once upon a time. So tell me — are you a hat person? I wear one pretty much year-round. How about you? Baseball caps don’t count — I’m talking a proper hat!

Yesterday I was wiped out from allergies and a full evening the night before, so it was a day I spent drowsing over another book by Tracey Chevalier called “The Virgin Blue.” Do you ever find yourself continuing to read a book because you like the storyline and want to learn more, yet you don’t care for the protagonist(s)? I’m not sure how I feel about the 16th century female character but her twentieth century counterpart is really bugging me. She’s an American recently relocated to France who’s trying too hard to fit in. Sometimes you just have to accept that you are a naive and annoying American and be done with it.