Every year I drive to Oakland for the most awesome day at the White Elephant Sale. The women’s board of the Oakland Museum own a warehouse in Fruitvale, and they fill it up for their annual event. If you know someone who works the sale, they can give you passes so that you can get… Continue reading Pioneer Lady
Category: California
Prince Not So Charming
(re-run) He was dressed as Prince Charming. I was dressed as a 1930’s nurse from Samuel Merritt Nursing School in Oakland, admittedly a weird Halloween costume, but the woman at the estate sale had practically given it to me after I bought $200 worth of antiques for my vintage shop. My friend, Nancy, her niece,… Continue reading Prince Not So Charming
Judging from the Trends
(re-run) I was asked to judge a picture book contest. I am a picture book author of 29 books and also a mom of past picture-book fans. Picture books are books with both words and art, usually 28 to 64 pages, and usually for young children. The gift book people have figured out how to… Continue reading Judging from the Trends
Daisy’s Debut with Diamonds
Two things you need to know: 1. Daisy is a rescue dog. 2. The diamonds are really rhinestones on her new collar. Yes, I have become one of those dog owners, making my little dog cute for the world to see. Who doesn’t need a little bling in her life? Even if you happen to… Continue reading Daisy’s Debut with Diamonds
Letting Go (part two)
My worker friend with a truck came down to Monterey to help me move my new antique cabinet. I told her how I had asked the thrift store to send over a truck so that I could donate stuff to them. “I have a truck, and I am here,” Kelly said. “We can load it… Continue reading Letting Go (part two)
On Guardian Angels
(re-run) A friend and I had a glass of wine together the other night and reflected back on our lives and the times we should have been died but didn’t. Some would call it luck. Others would call it having a guardian angel. Some would say that was a weird way to spend an evening.… Continue reading On Guardian Angels
Snow Day
(re-run) Many of my Medicare friends are moving or contemplating moving to retirement communities. A big one close to my town is called Rossmoor. It’s a huge gated community built back in the sixties and contains 6700 residential units surrounded by open space. At least one resident in each unit must be at least fifty-five… Continue reading Snow Day
Long-playing Ski Buddies
(re-run) Ellen was in charge of the ski cabin for the In Skiers in San Mateo. Mark joined the Powder Hounds even though he was just a beginner. Mark called Ellen to arrange for a room in the InSkiers cabin. Ellen had a cold and sounded like Lauren Bacall when she answered. Mark liked that.… Continue reading Long-playing Ski Buddies
The Blond-tourage
Every woman over fifty gets the same advice from her hairdresser — lighten up your hair. As our skin fades and our looks do, too, we need brighter lipstick, sparkly-er clothing and blonder locks to stay looking as young as we can. My apologies to women of color; this may not apply to you. So… Continue reading The Blond-tourage
At Face Value
Mark was a good-looking bartender at an upscale restaurant, and full of confidence. He’d say his face was his moneymaker and that you need to use what your mama gave you. Mark went onto Bumble to find a date. He waited until a woman messaged him (that’s how Bumble works). Her photo showed a good-looking… Continue reading At Face Value
