Tag: #love

Family Vacation

Posted on March 31, 2024 by JANET L BARKER

I am the most blessed woman on Planet Earth. I embrace that, send praises to God and my unbelievably generous family. Eternally grateful. I’m beyond, beyond, beyond aware that if it wasn’t for my niece and her husband, I wouldn’t be here. No way, no how.… Continue Reading “Family Vacation”

Category: #grandparents, #hope, #lifeizgood, @retirementTags: #disney, #family, #familyvacation, #gratitude, #hawaii, #kauai, #love, #margaritasbythepool, #onehotel, #paradise, #springvacation, #travel, family-travel, hotels, vacation-rentals

The Last Day

Posted on October 31, 2023 by JANET L BARKER

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To say I’m in mourning isn’t exactly accurate. I’m Grateful with a capital G, but also stunned that so much time passed so quickly. Almost two months. Gone. Just like that. Snap! A trip I imagined for years and years and years. My dream of taking off… Continue Reading “The Last Day”

Category: UncategorizedTags: #cambria, #campervanlife, #centralcoast, #faith, #findingpeace, #godslove, #grandmacamping, #gratitude, #hope, #love, #morrobay, #retirement, #sansimeon, #selfcare, #selflove, #solowomencamping, #vanlife, lifeizgood

The Seen and Unseen Explained

Posted on October 5, 2023 by JANET L BARKER

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Feeling at home when you’re not at home and you don’t have a home and you’re not sure you’re ever going to have a home “home”, at least for now and the unforeseen future, is, well, like a butterfly that glides from flower to… Continue Reading “The Seen and Unseen Explained”

Category: UncategorizedTags: #family, #halloweentown, #hope, #love, #oregon, #peace, #pleasureway, #sthelens, #sthelenslions, #travelinggrandma

With new eyes

Posted on September 22, 2023 by JANET L BARKER

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Celluloid images—about family, friends, departed loved ones—flash, flash, FLASH across my mind’s movie screen. When I walk. When I drive. When I talk to people. When I’m at the grocery store. When I read. When I listen to music. Run, run to the laptop, my… Continue Reading “With new eyes”

Category: #education, #gmashavingfun, #grandparents, #hope, #lifeizgood, #teaching, @retirement, coastal camping, stepupandtakeactionTags: #bestfriendsforever, #blessings, #bucketlist, #cambria, #goodfortune, #harvesthost, #love, #pleasureway, #thesunwillcomeuptomorrow

Demons and Saints

Posted on June 16, 2023 by JANET L BARKER

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What makes a person sit down and write versus not wanting to write? Time, not enough. Distractions, too many. Demons, and the opposite: Joy or lack thereof. The list of excuses goes on. What I know for sure is that when I take a few… Continue Reading “Demons and Saints”

Category: UncategorizedTags: #cambria, #camping, #campinggrandma, #forgiveness, #glamping, #grandparents, #grandsons, #hope, #love, #loveeverymoment, #retiredteacher, #retirement, #workinprogress

May 16, 1956—Today

Posted on May 16, 2023 by JANET L BARKER

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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

Life of Pie

Posted on April 3, 2023 by JANET L BARKER

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I’m getting a suntan. Yep. Sun. Is out. And I am back. On the balcony overlooking the Marina. A dad and son are kayaking past, fishing for something, enjoying this spectacular thermal blanket afternoon. The little boy, I’d say he looks about 10, just belted… Continue Reading “Life of Pie”

Category: UncategorizedTags: #, #alicewalker, #California, #grandparents, #hope, #love, #loveeverymoment, #music, #noregrets, #offkeywhocares?, #pie, #PortofinoMarina, #redondobeach, #retiredteacher, #retirement, #thecarpenters

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

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

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