Category: @retirement

Eternal flame

Posted on July 18, 2023 by JANET L BARKER

This is the summer of wee ones. Under three. Over ten. And those in between. A gaggle of boys and one girl. My grandchildren, starting from the oldest, Jack, Bronson, Millie, and Hudson. Twinkling stars that light up my world. I’m here in New… Continue Reading “Eternal flame”

Category: #education, #grandparents, #teaching, @retirementTags: #almuratsuchi, #appletv, #bethechange, #caassembly, #climatechange, #congress, #eternalflame, #extrapolations, #globalwarming, #grandchildren, #grandparents, #heatwave, #hope, #inspiration, #JFK, #newyorksummer, #redondobeach, #sizzlingtemperatures, #tedlieu, #thewhitehouse, #unitednations

The Grandma Chronicles

Posted on July 3, 2023 by JANET L BARKER

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They’re not with me right now. One is at Redondo’s CDC summer program and the older, pre-middle school grandson, is hanging out with friends. Even Yogurtland, an after school treat we indulged in on his ride home from fifth grade, wasn’t enough to lure… Continue Reading “The Grandma Chronicles”

Category: #education, #gmashavingfun, #grandparents, #hope, #teaching, @retirement, stepupandtakeaction, unconditional loveTags: #act3, #bestisyettobe, #change, #grandmas, #grandsons, #growingup, #lifeizgood, #loveeverymoment, love

Phases of the Moon

Posted on April 15, 2023 by JANET L BARKER

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It’s complicated. Predictable. Like phases of the moon. The other day my second baby turned 43. The night before her birthday, I couldn’t sleep. I kept flashing back to the morning she was born, how after our water bubble burst I tried to squeeze my legs together… Continue Reading “Phases of the Moon”

Category: #gmashavingfun, #grandparents, #hope, @retirementTags: #adultchildren, #birthdays, #forgiveness, #grandparents, #hope, #loveeverymoment, #mothersanddaughters, #regret, #singleparenting, #timetoletgo, @retirement, love

Gotta have faith

Posted on March 17, 2023 by JANET L BARKER

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In sickness and in health. ‘Til death do us part. I’m pretty sure I edited those lines out of my first wedding vows. Given that I’d been divorced from a man I didn’t want to marry but was society and family-pressured into doing so… Continue Reading “Gotta have faith”

Category: #education, #gmashavingfun, #grandparents, #hope, #teaching, @retirement, UncategorizedTags: #California, #faith, #georgemichael, #grandparents, #hope, #loveeverymoment, #teachers, @retirement, love

Fit for a Queen

Posted on March 1, 2023 by JANET L BARKER

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Last night I danced under the starry moon as the warm ocean pounded and the hotel band played Bob Marley. I slept in a crisp, white linen king-size bed made for a queen, turned off all the electronics from an iPad-like device next to… Continue Reading “Fit for a Queen”

Category: #grandparents, @retirementTags: #barbados, #blessed, #fairmonthotel, #grandparents, #hope, #retiredteacher, #shadylanehotel, @retirement, love

Staying put—for now

Posted on February 22, 2023 by JANET L BARKER

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Dove grey satin ripples toward me, shifting suddenly like a water snake skimming the surface. The breakwater-caged-sea ebbs and flows as I attempt to absorb this graceful, milky dance. Sunset. Without hoopla, without Academy Award-applauding fanfare—Nature—with some modifications by clever engineers, does its thing… Continue Reading “Staying put—for now”

Category: #education, #gmashavingfun, #grandparents, #hope, @retirementTags: #California, #dontworrybehappy, #grandparents, #havingfun, #hope, #lifeizgood, #love, #loveeverymoment, #retiredteacher, #retirement

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