I was blessed to marry into a multicultural family, the members taught me new perspectives on life, including helpful habits, hobbies and healthful living. Below is a list of simple life lessons my Mother-in-Law passed on that makes me smile to read. ‘Ouma Juffie’ was her nickname, which translates to ‘Grandma Teacher’ in Afrikaans, she was a teacher by trade and was loved by many children in Potchefstrom, South Africa. Simple life lessons I learned […]
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I grew up in a suburb of Mumbai, India. In a country where there is always someone with a lot less than you, I know we didn’t have a lot, but at the same time, I never knew I was missing anything. In fact, looking back, I think I had everything I could possibly need. It’s largely down to my folks – who taught me to sing and fitted a piano into a flat that […]
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Katy and I were pregnant with our first children at the same time. While at her baby shower, her older sister, Carolyn Lumia, shared “Having a baby is like a bomb blows up in your house for 3 months.” The older women laughed and passionately agreed. Katy and I laughed. You know that nervous laugh when you think you understand the joke but others are laughing harder so you aren’t really sure you fully understand […]
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Early in my marriage, our social circle was based on my husband’s friends. That was new to me as I was used to being with my friends. After a few years I got up the courage to do dinner with the wives. We lovingly called this our support group. At one of our mom support group dinners, Maria uncomfortably shared a story about her son who often pretended to be a cat. She asked if […]
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Inspired by someone who’s words I ‘met’, and thought this the perfect place to share. Lynn Petrak, a freelance columnist, wrote an article published recently in the Pioneer Press. Titled, “Are hand held devices crushing conversation”, Ms Petrak likened the cause and effect to the quote of my day, ‘video killed the radio star’. She comments on the observations that while she, a master of small talk and finding common threads with strangers through conversation, […]
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A few years ago, I was driving my grandson to Pre-School. We would always arrive early. Punctuality is the Politeness of Kings. That was actually the quip under my picture in the High School Yearbook. Can you believe that? After three years, they did not have one nice thing to say about me except, “Ya, well, the bastard was on time.” But am I bitter after 55 years? Does a bear hibernate? So, since we […]
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This morning I went to McDonalds as I do each morning. As I was filling my Diet Coke at the drink bar, a little Korean boy walked to the bar. He was about 2 foot 7 and could not reach the straws. He stood there with his hand stretched up as far as it could, but there was no chance. I guess most people would have said, “Hi there, little boy. Do you need a […]
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I went to get a haircut today, and that always reminds me of my Dad. My Dad was 96 when he died, and the last couple of those years he was blind, in a wheelchair and living in a nursing home. But no matter his situation or how he felt, if I asked him how he was, he always said, “I count my blessings.” He had a black, cordless phone with extra-large push buttons and, […]
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I was a shy little girl growing up in Kentucky. In spite of being shy, I somehow made good friends quite easily. Following in the steps of my big sisters, at 16 years old, my parents sent me on a bus tour of the western USA. What an amazing opportunity! I spent 6 weeks on a coach bus, sleeping in tents, and seeing sites like Mount Rushmore, the Badlands, Grand Canyon, and Glacier National Park. […]
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“There is nothing worse than happy children.” I overheard my mom saying this phrase to adults hundreds of times when I was a child. I would put on a quarter-size smile but I did NOT understand. How could nothing be worse than… sweaty loud on a summer day? Was she kidding… that was the best! How could nothing be worse than… sitting at the pool with dozens of kids? Was she kidding… that was the […]
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