This husband of mine…
Does this thing…on his beautiful wife’s birthday…instead of buying her a gift…he takes her shopping instead…this way…he says…he knows she’s getting…something she really wants…have to say…at first…birthday gal me…wasn’t sure she liked it that way…after all…if she wants something badly enough…she would probably…just buy it… But seven years in now…the fun of that birthday shopping day…has almost reached…giddy proportions…start the search weeks…heck months…before…making a list…checking it twice…narrowing down the finalists…nothing pricy…just a few things…shopper me…would have resisted otherwise… Or it may possibly be…one of those little doodads…admired at a shop…that man of mine…pffff pfffing over the shoulder…like a man does…a This or That…he will say…we don’t need another This or That…to which birthday gal me…who…surely pearly…doesn’t NEED another This or That…can say…well it’s my birthday…you said I can choose…whatever…I want… And that husband of mine…agrees…
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This old gal…
Kicks off her birthday week…has decided…to make it…an all about ME week…cuz why not…everyone deserves a little special treatMEnt at least…once a year…but what does it MEan really…when one makes it…all about ME…we all know those…who do that all day every day no matter what…painful…is what that MEans… No doubt most of us…rarely make it…about ME…sometiMEs…not even on a special day…life just happens…life…keeps moving forward…we…get lost…in the shuffle…so this week…birthday ME…is going to put ME first…she’s gonna…Make Every day count…Make Every minute…a treasure…Make Everyone…feel the love… Cuz when you bring others…into the ME celebration…turn it backwards…make it…about thEM…they’re right there with you…making it…about you… So celebrate this week…and every week after…and you will find…by celebrating ME…that others will think…YOU…are pretty…Llamazing… And those daughters of mine…agree… This old gal…
Is sending each of you…a thank you…and a big high five…apparently…the Facebook Gods…have decided to invite Retirement Ramblings…to participate…in the performance bonus…didn’t know there was such a thing…had to Google it…it’s kind of like a…bravo you guys…for building a community…and supporting each other… Or at least…that’s how this old gal…looks at it…found some groups with other bonus people…playing the system a bit…all adding each other…all commenting generic blurbs…just to look…like they…are growing…that’s not what this is all about…for blogger me…doesn’t feel authentic…doesn’t feel…right…but competitive me…would like to prove…we can continue to grow…the natural way… The challenge is…to increase followers by 20…and increase interactions…so if you are a Ramblings fan but not a follower…please go click that button…then tap a thumb or heart or crazy face…or hit that share arrow…the SHARROW… Then go ahead and leave a few words…cuz this old friend of yours…truly does enjoy connecting…loves hearing your story…and appreciates what you bring…every day…to life’s…grand adventure… Let’s do this! And this husband of mine…agrees… This old gal…
Has a feeling…the Squishmallow Gods might be recruiting…seeking future members…to inhabit that alternate Squishmallow universe…took a quiz…sure to send that algorithm of social media ads…into a frenzy…but thought maybe one day…it wouldn’t be so bad…to be a cute little squishy… Named Dexter…from the Adventure Squad…unique individual…loves adventure…enjoys fun…may want to be a pilot…and is bold enough…to make dreams happen…that word bold…have to say…this one…may be a stretch…cuz this old gal…can be confident…persistent…yes…but never…bold…in a brave sort of way… She’s more of that other kind of bold…striking…vivid…colorful…gaudy…garish…especially if you consider those flower power pants from last year…but does it matter…which kind of bold we are…in the world of life…it could be courage…getting us through tough times…or it could be…something else…humility…prayer…friendship…love… And so it is…embrace…your inner squishiness…use those strengths…to see you through…and start it off…with a big squishy hug…because sometimes… That’s all…it takes… And this husband of mine…agrees… Child at heart me…
Decided to have the full…Squishmallow Happy Meal experience…eager hands…tsk tsk…couldn’t open the toy…until the meal had been eaten…wouldn’t have been able to open it anyway…cuz the hands…eager but old…couldn’t tear the plastic…clipped that top open…and voila…it was Cam…cute little kitty cat Cam… The Happy Meal toy game…no longer just a toy..like back in the day…now…it’s a whole techno experience…scan the code…and jam out…to the cool cat’s play list…it was fun…the burger as always…tasty…squishy lover me fulfilled…the thrill of the Happy Meal adventure…the delight of adding a new friend to the family…enough…more…than enough… Until…HEB…Valentine display…little mystery Squishmallows…in nothing less than…a kitty cat container…child like me winning out…convincing this old gal…to buy one…in honor…of Old Man Wrigley… Xander…the T-Rex Dinosaur…a heart on his tummy…a smile full of teeth…his squishiness…just so squishy…this old gal…in…her happy place… And this husband of mine…agrees… When this old gal…
Got wind of the Squishmallow Happy Meal…she could not contain her excitement…she loves stuff like this…little mini adventures…just for the sake…of being silly…rounded up that husband of mine…he doing the old man…ppffff eye roll…when told of the goal of our trip…him certain we don’t need any more stuffed littles…his child of a wife…begging to differ… Skippety doo dahed it to the nearest Mickey D’s…headed to the counter and 62 year old me…ordered that Happy Meal…claiming…that she…was young…at heart…because why not…stay young…while we grow old…splash in puddles…marvel at a butterfly…find magic…in the every day…simple things… So have fun…get that Squishaboo Happy Meal…and while you’re at it…grab another for a friend…bring them a snack…and make their young heart smile… And this husband of mine…agrees… This old gal…
Has not recently sung the praises…of the Squishaboo…that kitty obsession taking over…but that doesn’t mean…those squishies…are any less important…still use them daily…propping this…propping that…phones…tablets…books…elbows…feet…keep one in the new car…for long drives…a little squishy booster chair…for the old gal elbow… And just when you think you’ve seen it all…when it comes to the squishy…there’s the squishy gummy…and the gift of all Christmas gifts…a combination of three of this old gal’s all time favorites… The Squishmallow…Day of the Dead…Kitty Cat…fitting in fine and dandy…with the rest of the squishy…sugar skull…kitty cat…family… Does it get any better than this…you may ask…why yes…yes it does…McDonald’s…the Squishmallow Happy Meal…12 little critters to collect…sounds like a grand adventure is in store…for two old people who don’t want to cook… And this husband of mine…agrees… This old gal…
Has had to look deep…to figure out why she’s so despondent…about losing a cat…who wasn’t really…her cat…The Old Man Wrigley saga…began a year and a half ago…when retired teacher me…moved to the hometown…of her new husband… Said goodbye…to family…friends…a job she loved…students she loved…a town she’d lived in…all her life…sad…scared…didn’t know New Town…or its people…life had been spent…loving those daughters of mine…caring for those students of mine…where would that energy go…where would there…be purpose… And then voila…Wrigley…watching his new neighbors…from the garage next door…venturing closer…perching at the corner of the drive…and so it was…that cautious…wary…curious cat…became…this old gal’s project…coaxed him…little by little…a pat…some petting…a cuddle in the lap… Developing a routine…gaining trust…building a friendship…creating a unique…and loving bond…just two oldies but goodies…finding what they needed…when they needed it…friendship…in a new town…purpose…after retirement…an old lap…who has time…to sit around all day…because of this…Old Man Wrigley’s friend…mourns… And this husband of mine…agrees… In the blink of an eye...This Old Gal...became...an old gal.
The busy-ness of being a single mom of three daughters and a full time reading intervention specialist...suddenly gone. Those beautiful ladies of mine...all grown and flown...landing in places far from mother hen...the echo of the empty nest...heartbreakingly real. The joy of the job...teaching excited little ones how to read...with the flick of a pen on that retirement contract...came to an end. What...may you ask...is an old...retired...empty nester going to do with her time? So glad you asked. This Old Gal...along with that new sidekick husband of hers…is going to make every day…no matter how dull or boring…a grand adventure. So come along on the journey. Ponder with me…laugh with me…share your stories with me. Let’s be friends. This old gal…
Cried all day…after hearing the sad news…about her furry friend Old Man Wrigley…felt deep down…somehow at fault…for leaving him…googling…can cats die…of a broken heart…will cats die…if they feel abandoned…knew…he had a home…a mom…was 15 years old…but still…that specter of doubt…was there… Sat on the deck…watching the river…when what would you know…Best Friend…that camp cat…jumps in the lap…and curls up…that’s odd…observes that husband of mine…he never sits in your lap…and this is true…loves petting…and eating…but has yet…to curl up…and cuddle… That little guy…lay there…two hours…behaving so…not like himself…doing things…he’d never…done…before…curled up…on the blanket…on the old gal’s lap…just like…Old Man Wrigley…gave kitty love bites…on the petting hands…just like…Old Man Wrigley…gave scratchy kitty kisses…just like…Old Man Wrigley… Best Friend…cuddling…nibbling…kissing…like he’s never done before…but yet…this cat on the lap…felt familiar…too…familiar…not a believer particularly…in things like this…but whispered it anyway…dear Sweet Wrigley…if you are here…purr for me…and just like that…that best friend on the lap…lifted his head…and purred… Maybe…someone stopped by…for one last cuddle…maybe…someone stopped by…to say I love you…maybe…someone stopped by…to say…it’s ok…you might have gone away…but we will never…be apart… Or maybe…we just have a very kind…and compassionate…camp cat… And this husband of mine…agrees… |
This Old Gal
Devoted Wife Magical Mom Retired Teacher Embracing life's grand adventures with humor and grace. Archives
July 2024
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