Tag: #gratitude

May 16, 1956—Today

Posted on May 16, 2023 by JANET L BARKER

When it’s your birthday and you’re 67… Don’t need a party. Don’t need presents. Don’t need to go out to dinner. Don’t even need to book a massage. Because everything I need and want, I have. I get to look at the ocean every… Continue Reading “May 16, 1956—Today”

Category: UncategorizedTags: #birthday, #friends, #grandchildren, #gratitude, #hope, #joy, #love, #mindfulness, #retirement

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

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

Limbo Land

Posted on January 6, 2023 by JANET L BARKER

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I’d like to credit and thank Royce Morales of Perfect Life Awakening for her recent blog and exactly perfect word that describes how I’m feeling these days. I suspect I’m not alone. First, the definition of limbo from Webster’s: 1. place or state of… Continue Reading “Limbo Land”

Category: UncategorizedTags: #calmbeforethestorm, #education, #grandparents, #gratitude, #hope, #lifeizgood, #loveeverymoment, #malibu, #perfectlifeawakening, #retiredteacher, #roycemorales, @retirement, love

The Gift

Posted on October 18, 2022 by JANET L BARKER

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Like opening the fridge door. Like popping a balloon full of amber confetti. Like being immersed in a painting by Claude Monet. Like being in a movie about a woman whose heart is finally open to a life she once only dreamed of. Cinnamon… Continue Reading “The Gift”

Category: UncategorizedTags: #beinthemoment, #bridgeport, #doesn'ttakemuchtobehappy, #easternsierras, #enjoyeverymoment, #eurovancamper, #fall, #fall2022, #fallinthesierras, #gratitude, #homemadeveggiechili, #hope, #love, #peace, #retirededucator, #retiredteacher, #tinycabins, #travelinggrandma, #twinlakes, #vanlife, #virginiacreeksettlement

From lost to found

Posted on April 28, 2022 by JANET L BARKER

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It occurred to me this morning about 3 a.m., that we’re all out at sea, cruising to places we think we want to go to, or the opposite, getting stuck miles from shore. We wait. The skies rumble as the waves engorge and we… Continue Reading “From lost to found”

Category: UncategorizedTags: ##love, #actIII, #educators, #faith, #gratitude, #hope, #humility, #lifeizgood, #loveeveryminute, #retiredteachers, #teachers

A Whole New World

Posted on November 10, 2021 by JANET L BARKER

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You know the “Aladdin” song? (just in case you need a reminder: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iq2KLYRLQyw ) Well, that’s how I’m feeling these glorious November days, my new favorite month of the year, next to retirement October and September, the months the world goes back to work… Continue Reading “A Whole New World”

Category: UncategorizedTags: #alanmenken, #covid, #disney, #disneyland, #educator, #essentialeducators, #grandarents, #granddaughters, #gratitude, #HongKonggrandparents, #hope, #ILoveNewYork, #love, #loveeverymoment, #pandemic, #Queens, #retiredgrandma, #retiredteacher, #retirement, #timrice, #wholenewworld

Forgiveness, patience and gratitude

Posted on June 25, 2021 by JANET L BARKER

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Retired. I am. Fini. For now. Work-for-pay, that is. It hasn’t set-in—-yet—-the retirement phase. It’s been crazy, family-busy. But right now I have a precious moment to reflect, take stock, and allow the wave of “This Moment” settle-in like a pair of well-worn slippers.… Continue Reading “Forgiveness, patience and gratitude”

Category: UncategorizedTags: #beachlifefestival, #boisettwines, #brothers, #forgiveness, #grandchildren, #grandmotjers, #grandparents, #gratitude, #oregon, #patience, #retirement, #siblings, #sisters

The Adjustment Phase

Posted on May 14, 2020 by JANET L BARKER

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This is me on Jet Blue flying over the Grand Canyon. It doesn’t look like it did three years ago on our Spring Break camping trip. It’s magnificent in a different, far-off way. To really appreciate the Canyon’s vast glory, you have to had… Continue Reading “The Adjustment Phase”

Category: UncategorizedTags: #beachlife, #blessings, #California, #daughters, #everymomentcounts, #giftfromthesea, #grandaughters, #gratitude, #hope, #jetblue, #newyork, #redondobeach, #teaching, family, love

She’s Life

Posted on April 9, 2020 by JANET L BARKER

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I’m sitting on my couch bed, near the balcony where I can feel the wind and the fresh air. The baby is good. She’s drifting in a breast-milk tummy-full slumber. She’s smiling. She’s healthy. She’s Life. Her mommy is looking for a bigger apartment… Continue Reading “She’s Life”

Category: UncategorizedTags: #boissetwine, #coronavirus19, #family, #gratitude, #loveeverymoment, #nyc