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| Elena playing in Nana's yard |
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| Carlene and Luci watching church on Sunday morning |
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| Jocelyn made a yummy strawberry shortcake for Lloyd's 100th birthday, March 19th |
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| Bob wore his FORD shirt the day we went to Monroe, not knowing there would be a car show in the streets that day. |
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| Jocelyn and Luci |
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| Jocelyn and Bob at a car show in Monroe |
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| Luci was a great traveler and guest |
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| So much fun to overlap my trip with Will and Bonnie and Elena |
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| Carlene took us all out to dinner at Longhorn's |
Just a quick note from Georgia: We are having a good time all around! I'll post pictures and details later--but for now, the most amazing photo of the trip. Carlene has never been a dog person, but Luci has won her over.
The interviews by Maria Shriver on Sounds True are no longer there. I liked watching them so much that I'd planned to watch again, but I waited too long.
Here are a few of my takeaways:
Never stop being curious and creative and playful. The child part of us needs to be active every day.
Get good sleep, eat well and exercise--as good for the brain as for the body.
Instead of giving other people advice, say, "This is my experience."
Nurture your beginner's mind by doing things that are new. One 95-year-old interviewee said that she loves to read books that are outside her comfort zone, books she has to strain to understand.
Friends and family are essential to good health. Those who live alone should maintain friendships, maybe get a pet.
Don't construct a life around the opinions of other people. Do what you love to do.
Be a lifelong learner. I'd like to add Carlene's adage that has helped me to avoid obsessing over regrets and mistakes: "Everything is tuition."
Today I booked a flight for Georgia, leaving on Thursday. I'm excited and frenzied as I pack for ten days of winter and spring in a huge suitcase borrowed from Kate.
My carry-on will be a doggie carrier and I'm slowly getting her accustomed to her traveling bag--as this is our first time to fly together. Luckily, we got non-stop flights each way. Coincidentally, Will's family will be in Georgia for part of the time I'll be there and they will be able to pick me up at the airport on Thursday night.
I wish I'd arranged this sooner, so we could share a flight, but I had to wait and see if my epidurals did the trick. I had planned to drive, but decided today that flying makes more sense. I'll get to see my Georgia family and Betty and watch Elena explore Nana's house for the first time.
As it happens, I have had no pain at all since the second epidural. But I don't want to tempt a recurrence on the road alone.
I'm so happy to get to share the date of March 19th with family--the day that would have been my daddy's 100th birthday!
Over the years some of the people who have inspired me--like David Whyte, to name one of several--have come from CDs produced by Sounds True. (Now I don't play CDs, but the same writers are available for digital downloads).
This week--thanks to a link sent to me by Freda--I have gotten to listen to some amazing speakers talk in positive upbeat ways about aging. Maria Shriver interviews Jamie Lee Lewis, Vanessa Williams, Anne Lamott and others during this free week of inspiration.
They are talking about soulmates, marriage, creativity, curiosity, friendship, diet, exercise, meditation.
If you are interested in this, you can go here: summit.soundstrue.com
