Tag: love

Round 66.9: Brain vs. Heart

Posted on May 10, 2023 by JANET L BARKER

Just when I figure something out, ascend into the golden clouds of enlightenment, I get tested and climb into the dumpster like Jimmy McGill did in the last episode of “Better Call Saul”. Life is gooey. That’s my reoccurring theme. What I knew one… Continue Reading “Round 66.9: Brain vs. Heart”

Category: UncategorizedTags: #figuringthingsout, #god, #Godislove, #hope, #lifeizgood, #mentalhealth, #notmymonkees, #prayer, #thatswhatfriendsarefor, #theclash, @retirement, 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

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

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

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

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

Sitting at a bar in Barstow

Posted on January 1, 2023 by JANET L BARKER

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Family. Family. Family. Mucho complicated. In a not so “It’s a Wonderful Life” way. Though, I wish everyone had a Donna Reed mom and a Jimmy Stewart dad. They knew what to say and when to say it. Those big-hearted Bailey’s could rally the… Continue Reading “Sitting at a bar in Barstow”

Category: UncategorizedTags: #Barstow, #calico, #California, #families, #grandparents, #hope, #loveeverymoment, #newyear, #retiredteacher, #teachers, #teaching, @retirement, love

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