​This old gal…

Kicked off birthday week…at the cinema…was drawn to the Flashback Film event …featuring movies from back in the good old days…Pillow Talk…Murder on the Orient Express…Alfred Hitcock’s…The Birds…

High School me loved The Birds…watched it many times on the console TV…went with friends to a showing at the high school…forgot it had a plot to be honest…a love story of sorts…but remembered the creepiness of the bird attacks…and the swooniness…of that ever so studly leading man…

Flashbacks of those days…brings flashbacks…of over a half century of birthdays…celebrated before…the angel food cake drizzled in colored powered sugar frosting…the sugar candy Happy Birthday sinking into the gooey stickiness on top…

Birthday gifts…bought during Christmas shopping…hidden in the attic…til the end of January…the effort put into making little me feel special…on her special day…is so very much appreciated…that mother of hers…making them simple…special…surprisingly…stress free…

So thank you…mother of mine…for creating memories of birthdays…that are safe…and happy…and worth…the flashbacks…
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And little me…would agree…

This husband and I…

Were doing laundry…this old gal folding some Old Navy joggers…purchased a few years back…was folding and flipping…noticed the waistband tag bent up…at closer glance…saw some tiny print…
Get after it…a secret message…just for laundry lady me…and anyone else who has these joggers…inspiring…encouraging…get er done…go hard…

Yes Old Navy…yes…laundry lady me will…dominate this wash…make these newly clean clothes…my bi***…fold..crease…press…tuck…stack…had a thought…trying to read Old Navy’s mind…maybe this secret message…isn’t just for laundry day…

That peculiar location…of those uplifting words…if one is sitting somewhere…say like…the throne…escape there…to get away from the hectic…stressors of the day…take a break…deep breathe…sit and think…the frustration almost too much…until you look down and see…get after it…teeny tiny letters…shouting out…you got this…keep going…make this day…your bi***…

And just like that…Old Navy…and that teeny tiny little tag…with those teeny tiny little words…can make…a ginormous…difference…or maybe…just make you smile…

Whatever you got going…get after it…you are not alone…
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And those joggers of mine…agree…

​This husband and I…

Went to the farmers market…came home with an 8 dollar jar…of pickled vegetables…not because we like veggies…or pickled stuff…we do…but instead…this jar of floating goodies…reminded this old gal…of someone…special…hot stuff…she called it…made it every year…sent a jar home with those babies of mine…saying she knew they loved it…

Back in the day…had to find a new babysitter for a 5 year old…14 month old…and a baby on the way…day care was hard to find…especially for a baby…one woman had an opening…welcomed those babies of mine…with open arms…60 years old but looked 40…vivacious…eccentric…dynamic…

Her home reminding one of that House on the Rock tour…full…to the brim…of awe inspiring anomalies…flea market finds…bird houses…paintings…arts and crafts…those daughters of mine…came home filthy…but they were loved…

Were fed bologna gravy and tomato sandwiches…but they were loved…
Played in the dirt and the sand…came home missing shoes and socks…but they…were loved…
Read to…played with…taught how to needlepoint…painted crafts…allowed to explore…create…play…

This woman…creator of the hot stuff…to those girls of mine…Grandma J…her retired husband and baby rocker extraordinaire…Grandpa J…not the day care imagined…expected…not a day care at all…but more like…a home…a kind and friendly home…where those babies of mine…

Were loved…
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And those daughters of mine…agree…

This old gal…

Was scrolling through Instagram…saw a picture of some high school students from the old home town…and thought…hmmm…this girl…looks familiar…teacher me…taught mostly kindergarten through third grade…had some kids more than one year…bonded with them…got to know their family…

The funny thing tho…is most often…those students of mine…in this old head…never grow up…freeze in time…still 6 years old…reading a book…at our little brown table…forever…so could this be…that sweet little gal…who always had a special place in this old teacher’s heart…that Tinkerbell voice…adorable smile…unforgettable…her work ethic…her drive…unmatched…that heart of hers…strong…brave…kind…

Couldn’t resist…commented on the post…and not long after…a message comes…my little reader…all grown up…15 years old…we chat…about high school…her awesome friends…that amazing grandma she has…says she’s blessed with influential people in her life…who are always kind…to others…she asks…about this old gal…those daughters of mine…wraps it up with…those girls of yours…doing amazing things…just like their mother…

Thank you…little reader of mine…for reaching out…touching base…for the kind words…just so you know…seeing little you….was aways a highlight of this teacher’s day…

And that painting of yours…still got it…safe and sound…in a treasure box…of memories…
Just so you know…this old gal…is so so…proud of you…
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And those daughters of mine…agree…

​This old gal…

Did one of those couple quizzes…found online…you know…what’s my favorite restaurant…name my favorite movie…what’s my favorite thing to eat…got to the question…name one thing I say all the time…and that’s where the questioning…took a detour…

This old gal…knew right away what she says all the time…it was so obvious…makes sure to say it every day…expects to hear it back…I love you…

Some training had to be held…this husband of mine not parroting the phrase back fast enough for his wife’s satisfaction…you know I love you…he would say…I wouldn’t have married you if I didn’t…but to this old gal…it’s important to hear it back…can’t say why for sure…it just is…he gets it now…and my ping I love you…is quickly returned with his…pong…I love you too…

So this question…what do I say all the time…a breeze…no brainer…easy Peasy lemon squeezy…he thinks a bit…hems and haws…then ever so boldly…goes where no man has gone before…

I have a headache…you say I have a headache…all the time…touche’…

I love you…ping…I love you too…pong…game over…
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And this husband of mine…agrees…

This old gal…

Was chatting up a waitress…this sweet woman talking about doing laundry after her shift…how work is never done…especially with a 16 year old…but then just as quickly…the conversation took a turn…she shared her fear of becoming an empty nester…had her son when she was 19…has always been a mom it seemed…can’t imagine life without…

This husband of mine…joined in…actually joined in…with…I was a young parent…when they leave…it’s hard…but then…you get a chance…to be a kid again…

And so it is…this is what his lovely bride sees…the parts of this man that she is drawn to…the dad she never had…the best friend partner she never had…the son…she never had…that husband of hers…being so dad like…especially when she’s driving…the watch the speed limit…big curve coming up…gotta use those turn signals…muttered ever so eloquently from the seat of the co-pilot…makes her feel like…this is what a dad would have done…a good dad…if she’d had one…

The bff partner…not lost on her…don’t know you don’t have it…until you finally find it…the give and take…the gentle teasing…the patience…the laughter…the being stupid together…

And then there’s that kid…the joy of buying a five dollar wooden snake…slinking it across the bed…the goose from behind…as they walk up steps…and the most recent…this old gal…after having one of those all day drawn out headaches says…my headache’s better today…thanks for aaasssskkkkingggg…sarcastically drawing out the word asking…to which that man of hers…bursts out in laughter…and replies…

You just said a**…his wife…shaking her head…laughing…saying…what am I married to…a 14 year old…
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And sometimes…this husband of mine…agrees…

​This old gal…

Was having a heart to heart…with a dear friend…her love story unique…special…lovely…been married for years…is happy…content…found her person…but a comment she made…resonated…seemed profound…stuck in the mind of this old gal…for days…

You don’t know you don’t have it…until you find it…

Wow…this…this right here…made this old gal stop…

You don’t know you don’t have it…until you find it…safety…security…
You don’t know you’re walking on eggshells…until you don’t have to…
You don’t know you’re waiting for the blow up…until it stops coming…
You don’t know true friendship…until you find it…
You don’t know what it means to have trust…until you find someone who doesn’t betray it…
You don’t know true love…until you find it…

Blessed are those…who have…who find these things…first time around…
Blessed is this old gal…lucky to have navigated all of those…you don’t knows…to get to this point…this here…this now…having found her people…husband…daughters…family…friends…students…

That road of life…the twists…the turns…the dips…the bumps…those detours…bringing this old gal…where she…was meant to be…
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And this husband of mine…agrees…

This old gal…

Doesn’t know who needs to hear this today…

Maybe you’re trying to keep up with those social media trends…those ever gorgeous influencers lambaste you with…every day…or maybe…you’ve had your colors done…now feel lacking…knowing those glittery reds and pinks you’ve used in the past…don’t…match…fit the bill…pass muster…

Or maybe…just maybe…you’re an old gal like me…and you want to maintain some illusion in your head…that not all parts of you are aging…you want to be able to look down while driving…slowly and safely…and say hey…nice nails…or while reaching for the ever elusive toilet paper stocked on the highest shelf of the grocery store…you want to mentally applaud…the faux youthful…trendy awesomeness…of those reaching hands…

If this is you…listen up…this old gal…has found magic in a bottle…at CVS…inexpensive…matches her autumn color palette…this old gal saying good-bye…to that expensive manicure set…the multitude of steps…that never drying ever tacky topcoat…

Saying hello Pop•arazzi…hello beautiful nails…hello confident me…cute colors…cute bottles…awesome shine…only 2.99 a bottle..or 2 for 5…no reason to stop…at just one…

So if this is you…know…you are not alone…this old gal…and her newly decked out shiny nails…are here for you…
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And feeling beautiful me…agrees…

This husband and I…

Love the Seinfeld show…get a kick out of his parents…Helen and Morty…that feisty couple…living the retired life in Florida…his old man shoes…her old lady purse…their banter…their condo hotter than hot…

Then there’s the early bird special episode…hitting just a little…too close to home…have to admit…this husband of mine…likes to eat early…always before 5…old people appetite…old people time frame…so had to laugh…when there was an ad…for the early bird special…at Golden Corral…all you can eat buffet…for us old birds…between 2 and 4…for 9.99…

Made that an adventure…ordered the early bird special for two…giggled while we were ushered to our table…embracing our inner Morty and Helen…like we aren’t already them…the place was clean…food was great…this old gal binging on those comfort foods from the past…deviled eggs…spaghetti…green bean casserole…stuffing…cauliflower with cheese…

And topping it off…a clincher for those early birds…who come for that early bird special…free coffee…with dessert…an old bird…and that husband of hers…can’t ask…for anything better…than that…
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And this husband of mine…agrees…

This husband of mine…

Suggested we take a hike up a rocky trail…one we’ve traveled before…his anything but athletic wife…came prepared this time…walking shoes…water…fanny pack for the phone and…of course…chapstick…
Mr Hiker…brought along binoculars…kind of shocking…as there’s never been an interest in birds…these excursions focused always…on a hunt…for cool rocks…

It quickly became clear…the goal of the expedition…to boldly go…where we have not gone before…
Ok…not boldly really…but to explore where we have not explored…but less bold…by keeping a distance…using binoculars…

In other words…check out those caves…and crevices…peppering the cliffs along the trail…this husband of mine…so intrigued…in the mysteries that may lie within…what creatures do they house…what secrets…do they hold…

And so it is in life…those things we call secrets…some good…birthday…holiday…sweet surprises…some possibly dangerous…like these caves…deep…dark…when revealed…found to be treacherous…gut wrenching…

This old gal recalls…past discovered secrets…deep…dark…devastating…obliterating trust…paralyzing…life changing…but is living proof…that those revelations…are survivable…it takes strength…in baby steps…it takes time…with the right people…it takes faith…believing that joy will be found again…

It takes…not giving up…reaching out…knowing you’re not alone…and hearing…it’s going to be…ok…
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And this husband of mine…agrees…