Susan

The 48 Year Old Letter

April 7, 2026April 5, 2026 Posted in alcoholic, Ann Arbor, break-up, Easter, Facebook, letter, memoir, Omaha, religion, teachingLeave a comment

My sister was going through some letters our mom had saved, and she gave me a short stack of them, supposedly ones that I had written. Then I came across one written to my dad from a past boyfriend. It was three and a half pages long, in cursive. It was a chatty letter until… Continue reading The 48 Year Old Letter

April 6th, a Popular Date

April 6, 2026April 4, 2026 Posted in Beatles, care giver, contractor, dancing, dating, dogs, drinking, kitchen remodel, kitchen sink, poetry, wedding2 Comments

(re-run) It seems that everything is happening on April 6th. There is a fashion show, a Beatles tribute band playing, a piano concert, two big sales at my favorite thrift stores, and a girlfriend’s afternoon wedding. Guess which one I am going to do. She is thrilled to be getting married to her guy, two… Continue reading April 6th, a Popular Date

Three Banks, the Post Office, and a Picasso

April 5, 2026April 4, 2026 Posted in memoir, Iowa, dogs, California, taxes, DNA, bank, IRS, property taxes, thrift stores, dog breeder, PicasssoLeave a comment

(re-run) t’s that dreaded time of year again. April is next week and so many things are due to be paid: Estimated Federal taxes Estimated State taxes Property taxes Accountant’s bill IRA contribution I am considered self-employed, so no taxes are withheld from my pension or royalty payments. That means that four times a year,… Continue reading Three Banks, the Post Office, and a Picasso

Why I Love Saturday Mornings

April 4, 2026April 3, 2026 Posted in Beatles, California, cartoons, compost, Covid 19, dancing, Delta variant, Gavin Newsom, hugs, June, memoir, pandemic, Saturday, science, scientist, vaccine, Zumba1 Comment

(re-run) When I was a kid, cartoons made Saturday mornings great. We sat around in our pajamas and ate our cereal in front of the TV. There was never time any other day of the week. Now that I’m grown and also retired, I still love Saturday mornings. I don’t have to Zumba, I don’t… Continue reading Why I Love Saturday Mornings

Ketchup and Noodles

April 3, 2026April 1, 2026 Posted in memoir, dogs, daycare, shopping, toddler, kindergarten, gossipLeave a comment

(re-run) When my son was two and his big sister was in kindergarten, I saw a window of opportunity to go do child-free errands, if I could just find a place to park him for two or three hours. Enter my neighbor Peggy. She didn’t have a childcare license, which limits the caregiver to six… Continue reading Ketchup and Noodles

Weekend Thoughts on a Spring Day

April 2, 2026April 1, 2026 Posted in beach, chemistry, dating, dogs, garage, gophers, memoir, neighbors, painting, pandemic, rejection, vaccineLeave a comment

(from 2021) I am physically exhausted. It feels good. Cleaning, sorting, weeding, dancing. I have managed to fill up my day alone. I did meet the new neighbors when we were all headed to the beach. They bought four doors down as a second home. Maria across the street chatted with me for a moment… Continue reading Weekend Thoughts on a Spring Day

Chihuahua Vs. Foxtail

April 1, 2026March 31, 2026 Posted in dog walks, dogs, foxtails, hiking, holiday weekend, labor, Labor Day, memoir, veterinarianLeave a comment

(re-run) Foxtail weeds are dangerous for dogs. That’s why they make a mesh face and ear guard for dogs that venture into the open space on hikes. My adult child had taken the Chihuahua terrier mix on hikes daily since April. He never had a problem, until the other evening . . . Suddenly he… Continue reading Chihuahua Vs. Foxtail

The Turquoise Trailer and the Homeless Couple

March 31, 2026March 30, 2026 Posted in camper trailer, camping, dogs, easement, flower bed, homeless, January, land survey, lawyer, Monterey Bay, neighbors, property line, railroad, shared driveway, storms, USPS, winterLeave a comment

(re-run, a pre-pandemic story) My little beach house sits on land bought back in 1929 from the railroad company. The old deed shows the purchase price of $25.00. For some reason, the original owner didn’t want to buy the land up to the railroad tracks. Now, 90 years later, the land between my back fence… Continue reading The Turquoise Trailer and the Homeless Couple

It’s Not your Year, Prius ‘o’ Mine

March 30, 2026March 29, 2026 Posted in cars, contractor, HOA, landscaper, luck, memoir, physical therapy, PriusLeave a comment

(re-run from 2022) First, it was the log lying in the fast lane, parallel to the lane markers as I drove over it. It became impaled on the undercarriage of my Prius V (the big one) as I headed home from a hike and went twenty more miles. The Triple A guy told me that… Continue reading It’s Not your Year, Prius ‘o’ Mine

Betting on a Jersey Girl

March 29, 2026March 28, 2026 Posted in dating, relationships, firsts, marriage proposal, marriage, betting, picnic, CPA, accountantLeave a comment

(re-run) Arthur worked in Pittsburgh, auditing Gulf Oil for Price-Waterhouse. One of his married buddies approached the crowd at the water cooler and asked a guy, John, if he wanted a blind date with his wife’s friend from dental school. “Wait!” Arthur said. “You already have a girlfriend, John. How about me? Why can’t I… Continue reading Betting on a Jersey Girl