Tag: #thenextchapter

Really, not really

Posted on March 2, 2024 by JANET L BARKER

Home, not really. South Bay, not really. Schedule, not really. Ambition, not really. Stress, not really. Anger, frustration, blame, regrets, not really. I’m here, sitting on a camp chair overlooking the blustery sea in my sister and cousin’s unfinished Palos Verdes Estates home, a… Continue Reading “Really, not really”

Category: UncategorizedTags: #birthday, #grandma, #gratitude, #growingold, #home, #hope, #lifeizgood, #palosverdesestates, #pleasureway, #purpose, #rvlifestyle, #solowomen, #solowomencamping, #southbay, #thenextchapter, #travel, #travelingwithgrandma, #travellinggrandma, #whatsitallabout, #wisdom, @retirement, celebrations, comingtopeace, fallinginlove, family, gettingolder, grandparenting, momsok, traveling-grandma

On the Verge of Tomorrow

Posted on September 1, 2023 by JANET L BARKER

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“There’s a great big beautiful tomorrow, shining at the end of every day, there’s a great big beautiful tomorrow, and tomorrow’s just a dream away.” I hummed along to that tune every time I walked from Disneyland through Downtown Disney to our hotel room.… Continue Reading “On the Verge of Tomorrow”

Category: #education, #gmashavingfun, #grandparents, #hope, #teaching, @retirement, unconditional loveTags: ##portofinohotel, #centralcoast, #change, #disneyland, #grandchildren, #newyork, #redondobeach, #thenextchapter, #timepassestooquickly, love

Hello

Posted on August 25, 2022 by JANET L BARKER

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I am in the process of healing those below-the-surface microrganisms–-emotional bacteria. I knew it was there, but the gurgling junk—The Why behind The Why—was easy to bury beneath The List of Tasks and Shoulds. Keep calm and carry on sort of thing. Well, here’s what I… Continue Reading “Hello”

Category: UncategorizedTags: #brothers, #faith, #family, #god, #healing, #love, #newlife, #oregon, #peace, #relationships, #retirededucator, #retirement, #startingover, #thenextchapter

Goodbye

Posted on August 15, 2022 by JANET L BARKER

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I’ve saved the hardest until last. I’ve junked and stored, celebrated and cried. I’ve doubted and been certain. I’ve had my rounds (and rounds) (and rounds) of Lasts: last time I watered, last time I slept in a proper bed, last time I took… Continue Reading “Goodbye”

Category: UncategorizedTags: #change, #faith, #grandchildren, #grandparents, #homevshouse, #hope, #legacy, #newbeginning, #redondobeach, #retiredteacher, #sellingthefamilyhome, #thenextchapter, #thisisthefirstdayofmylife, #writers, #writing

The Journey

Posted on June 3, 2022 by JANET L BARKER

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PREFACE Today is my 66th birthday. In 14 years, I might be dead. Gruesome, I know. But my dad, 14 years hence my current age, had open heart surgery at 80 and my mom, she died in her 60s–my age, I believe. So, there you… Continue Reading “The Journey”

Category: UncategorizedTags: #California, #eberlewine, #education, #grandparents, #growingold, #hope, #loveeverymoment, #maryoliver, #parentofadultchildren, #retiredteacher, #retirement, #sellingthefamilyhome, #teachers, #teaching, #thenextchapter, #wisdom

Stay positive

Posted on March 12, 2022 by JANET L BARKER

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Feet on the ground. Tears in the clouds. Swimming in Jello. Going nowhere. Waiting. Praying. Listening to hopeful music, music from when Katie was a baby and Bruce and I made slide shows about the wondrous Sunday School program at Christ Episcopal Church. Stay… Continue Reading “Stay positive”

Category: UncategorizedTags: #exhusband, #grandparents, #hope, #loveeverymoment, #retirement, #thenextchapter, #torrancememorialhospital, #worry

l.o.v.e.

Posted on June 22, 2020 by JANET L BARKER

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Look at me: Overweight. Vulnerable. Entering a new chapter of life. Periods separate the letters. If only things were that clear. Like so many of us, I don’t know what’s going to happen in the Fall. I suspect we’ll do some remote teaching/learning and… Continue Reading “l.o.v.e.”

Category: UncategorizedTags: #catstevens, #covid19, #enjoyeverymoment, #grandparents, #poetry, #retirement, #summer, #teaching, #thenextchapter, #youthiswastedontheyoung