Tag: #grandparents

Gotta have faith

Posted on March 17, 2023 by JANET L BARKER

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

I’m not sure why…

Posted on February 7, 2023 by JANET L BARKER

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“How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world.” I’m not sure why I’m thinking about Anne Frank, one of my inspirations and heroes since I was in the fourth grade and discovered her diary for… Continue Reading “I’m not sure why…”

Category: #education, #grandparents, #hope, #teaching, stepupandtakeaction, UncategorizedTags: #annefrank, #education, #grandparents, #hope, #retiredteacher, #teachers, #teaching, @retirement, love

Best laid plans

Posted on February 3, 2023 by JANET L BARKER

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I love to plan. It’s like cleaning a bedroom closet or the fridge; while I dread the getting-started-phase feeling overwhelmed by the task at hand, once I get started, I’m energized by the process, and the end result: Efficiency. Tidiness. Everything in its place.… Continue Reading “Best laid plans”

Category: UncategorizedTags: #California, #doglove, #education, #faith, #grandparents, #hope, #joecocker, #lifeizgood, #loss, #love, #loveeverymoment, #maryoliver, #poetry, #puppylove, #retiredteacher, #retirement, #watercolor, #withalittlehelpofmyfriends

Don’t worry, be happy

Posted on January 30, 2023 by JANET L BARKER

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A public declaration of change is mighty. Expectations shatter the very ground. Will she fall in love? Will she enter the priesthood? Will she become a public figure representing the plight of American senior citizen women? Will she return to teaching? Will she become a… Continue Reading “Don’t worry, be happy”

Category: UncategorizedTags: #anewday, #California, #change, #dontworrybehappy, #education, #grandparents, #hope, #love, #loveeverymoment, #portofinohotel, #redondobeach, #retiredteacher, #retirement, #teachers

Diving acrobats of the sea

Posted on January 28, 2023 by JANET L BARKER

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The sun warms my face and bones. It’s summer, late January. Cloudless. With this exciting cornucopia of impromptu events taking place right outside my balcony. Including the heartbreaking cries of a baby downstairs. This has thus far been such a quiet apartment complex, except… Continue Reading “Diving acrobats of the sea”

Category: UncategorizedTags: ##portofinohotel, #California, #education, #grandparents, #gratitude, #healing, #hope, #lifeizgood, #loveeverymoment, #movingon, #ocean, #peace, #portofinoapartments, #redondobeach, #redondobeachmarina, #retiredteacher, #teachers, #teaching, #wonder, @retirement, love

What did you do today?

Posted on January 25, 2023 by JANET L BARKER

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The Christmas I missed. All the year(s) and (s) and (s) I missed by working and stressing, stressing, and working. The brunch I didn’t savor. The friendships I took for granted. The winter rain I wished was over. The doomed relationship I spent decades… Continue Reading “What did you do today?”

Category: UncategorizedTags: ##portofinohotel, #California, #education, #forgiveness, #grandparents, #hope, #loveeverymoment, #purpose, #redondobeach, #retiredteacher, @retirement

Thanks, thanks and thanks

Posted on January 20, 2023 by JANET L BARKER

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An Open Letter to the Folks at the Portofino Hotel and Apartments: The sliding windows are open and although it’s brisk, it is blue, and blue and cornflower blue and the seagulls are singing and the sailboat ice-skates through the sea reminding me that… Continue Reading “Thanks, thanks and thanks”

Category: UncategorizedTags: ##portofinohotel, #bekind, #California, #grandparents, #gratitude, #hope, #redondobeach, #retiredteacher, #roomwithaview, #sealove, @retirement, love

The Silly String Saga

Posted on January 10, 2023 by JANET L BARKER

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Junky, junky, junky stringy stuff invades my thoughts, my days, like a wild river that steals innocent trees and summer’s lawn chairs. Minding my own business, doing my thing, wading through a different kind of Christmas, the volatility of a California New Year like… Continue Reading “The Silly String Saga”

Category: UncategorizedTags: #angels, #California, #education, #familystrife, #forgiveness, #grandparents, #healing, #hope, #loveeverymoment, #maryoliver, #powerofpoety, #retiredteacher, #teachers, #thebiggerpicture, @retirement, family, love

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