Tag: #retiredteacher

The Flying Machine

Posted on September 24, 2025 by JANET L BARKER

I’m a silly girl. A woman-girl growing inside her own womb, punching, kicking, absorbing nutrients, feeling excited, worried, and at peace, trusting that my caretaker-self won’t let her little girl down, has her best interest at heart, and would do anything to support, heal, comfort and… Continue Reading “The Flying Machine”

Category: #beachcamping, #camping, #hope, #lifeizgoodTags: #camping, #coastalcampiong, #fear, #grandparent, #iloveliterature, #iloveoregon, #journaling, #oregon, #pacficnorthwest, #raybradbury, #retirededucator, #retiredteacher, #retirement, #solowomencamping, #writing, facingfear, family, life, life-lessons, love, mental-health, pacificnorthwest

My Side of the Mountain

Posted on September 11, 2025 by JANET L BARKER

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“The Secret Garden” “Tom Sawyer” “A Present for the Princess” “My Side of the Mountain” Disney’s “Sleeping Beauty”, “Snow White”, “The Wizard of Oz” and Dad’s soothing, animated voice lulling me to sleep, assuring me that all is well in the world and that… Continue Reading “My Side of the Mountain”

Category: UncategorizedTags: #camping, #fall, #hiking, #Nature, #pleasureway, #retiredteacher, #solowomencamping, #travel, #travelinggrandma, #writing, @retirement, life, pacific-northwest, prairie-creek-state-and-national-park

I Wrote a Poem

Posted on May 5, 2025 by JANET L BARKER

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It’s been a long while since I blogged. I have so much to share and don’t really know where or how to begin. It’s all good. No worries there. But it’s been a jumble, a rumble, an unfolding, a sorting out—-literally—-of my entire life… Continue Reading “I Wrote a Poem”

Category: UncategorizedTags: #art, #beachlife, #cambria, #cambriacenterforthearts, #centralcoast, #dogs, #gratitude, #kauai #grandhyattkauai #summer #summervacation #georgeclooney #thedesendants #fullmoon #retirement #blessings #hawaii #advanture #lifeizgood #love #blessings #maitai, #livinglifetothefullest, #lovinglife, #maryoliver, #poetry, #poets, #retiredteacher, #thewritinglife, #writing, family, fiction, grandparent, life, love

The Three Bears

Posted on February 24, 2025 by JANET L BARKER

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For those who have never lived on their own, might be afraid, anxious about silence, worried about fixing things, the idea of cooking for one, being responsible for paying one’s bills—-don’t be. You can do it. You can handle it. I know because not… Continue Reading “The Three Bears”

Category: UncategorizedTags: #California, #cambria, #faith, #grandmother, #hope, #livingmybestlife, #peace, #retiredteacher, #retirement, #roomofmyown, #thelittlethings, #vanlife, #writerslife, #writing, @retirement, blog, coastal-california, family, life, love, mental-health, retired-teacher, san-luis-obispo-county, tiny-home

Princess for a week

Posted on February 9, 2025 by JANET L BARKER

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I poured my cousin’s prune juice into my coffee this morning. The cabin was dark, and I was stunned out of a glorious sleep-in sleep by room service or a stewart (not so sure what staff is called on a giant cruise vessel). Shadowy… Continue Reading “Princess for a week”

Category: UncategorizedTags: #adventure, #cruise, #cruiselife, #cruisingintoretirement, #enjoyinglife, #feelinggood, #grandparents, #hope, #lifeizgood, #livingthevidaloca, #love, #loveeverymoment, #princesscruise, #retiredteacher, #retirement, #travel, @retirement, cruises, cruising, cruisinggrandmas, cruisingwithfriends, cruisingwithfriends, happinessisprincesscruise, princess-cruises

And so it begins …

Posted on August 8, 2024 by JANET L BARKER

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I’m here, by my lonesome, which isn’t so lonesome, in the shade beneath my awning, typing away, tummy filled with a healthy salad, a glass of Albarino half-sipped, sunscreen-slathered, listening to the crashing waves, sheltered in my cozy van, away from the summer tourists;… Continue Reading “And so it begins …”

Category: UncategorizedTags: #California, #camping, #findingjoy, #findingpeace, #grandparents, #hope, #joy, #love, #loveeverymoment, #retiredteacher, #solowomentraveler, #travelinggrandma, #vanlife

Lucky Enough

Posted on March 15, 2024 by JANET L BARKER

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The sun warms my shoulders as the ocean re-charges my gaze as the gregarious Snow White singing birds kerchief my ears as teeming black tea stimulates my soft-focus high school yearbook portrait ala 1970s brain. Adjust the lens and it becomes clear, sharp, bursting… Continue Reading “Lucky Enough”

Category: UncategorizedTags: #50threunion, #bestfriends, #cambria, #camping, #faith, #findinghope, #god, #godslove, #grandmashavingfun, #hope, #inspiration, #peace, #pleasureway, #retiredteacher, #ruhs, #solowomentraveling, #thebeach, #theocean, #vanlife, @grateful, @retirement, jesus, life, love

A Whole New World

Posted on February 17, 2024 by JANET L BARKER

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Waking up to snow when you’re a native Southern Californian, not in your own bed, but in the bed you’ve modified to make your own, feels as if I’m gazing out the window of Apollo 13: the glistening, marshmallow puffs of new fallen snow… Continue Reading “A Whole New World”

Category: UncategorizedTags: #diversitycounts, #embracediversity, #grandchildren, #grandparents, #hope, #immigration, #inclusivity, #loveeverymoment, #lovenothate, #lovetheyneighborsasthyself, #nyc, #retiredteacher, #winter, #winterinnyc

Breaking Bad and other News of the Day

Posted on January 13, 2024 by JANET L BARKER

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You’ve caught me in a Hope Diamond moment: I’m alone. In the apartment. Windows and blinds wide open—high winds and 30-degree temps be damned. I’m in short sleeves. Showered. Hair brushed. Pink lipstick applied. Perfume generously spritzed. Funny how simple acts can make you… Continue Reading “Breaking Bad and other News of the Day”

Category: UncategorizedTags: #breakingbad, #children, #daughters, #grandchildren, #grandmas, #grandparents, #hope, #mother-daughterrelationshipss, #newbabies, #newmexico, #newyorkcity, #nyc, #parenting, #retiredteacher, #whenitstimetogo, family, love, mama, mom, motherhood

A Very Bad Ode to the Oregon Coast

Posted on October 2, 2023 by JANET L BARKER

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Wild and green, Weaving and rolling, Sheltered and exposed to the Pacific Ocean’s girth and temper, Dinosaurs and explorers, Con men and conservationists, Casinos, small towns, and a dwindling Native presence. A sorcery, a teacher, a non-judgmental priest listening to confession, Felled forests, tree… Continue Reading “A Very Bad Ode to the Oregon Coast”

Category: UncategorizedTags: #findingpeace, #jumpandtheparachutewillappear, #justdoit, #lifeizgood, #nosecondchances, #oregon, #oregoncoast, #pleasureway, #rain, #retiredteacher, #solotraveler, #travelinggrandma, #travelinggranny, @retirement

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