The older I get—I just celebrated my seventy-fifth birthday — the more closely I pay attention to senior care issues. This intensified interest is driven by pure self-interest, coupled with the stark reality that I live alone and have no immediate family. The New York Times reports that by 2034, the number of senior citizens […]
Widowed Without Children
Sometimes It’s Not the Thought That Counts
Just before Father’s Day, one of my two nephews sent me a text, inquiring whether I planned to join them. I responded, simply asking where and when the festivities would occur. He replied vaguely, “around dinner time,” adding that his brother was supposed to pick the place where we would meet. This was typical of […]
Welcome Summer and Happy Paw Dad Day
Tomorrow is the official first day of summer, the longest day of the year. Abundant sunlight often extends the hours of our days long after 6:00pm with those bright rays lingering even three hours later. This has always been my favorite time of the year. I think for some people that are grieving the […]
When you don’t have kids …
I’m not sure of the exact percentage, but I know there’s quite a few of us who were married and did not have any kids. For Mario and I, it was a conscious choice. Honestly, for me, it was a choice that happened very early in my life. I just could never see myself as […]
Living Alone – Not Lonely
I was recently wasting some more time on instagram. I have to admit, their algorithm has definitely been improved, because what it has been suggesting, has mostly been content I’m genuinely interested in (tons of creative folks making things). However, it randomly showed me a woman who is making rather humorous videos about what people […]
Holiday Adaptations
This week I spent some time in my former residence in St. Marys, Georgia. With its recent tenants moved out, I haven’t spent much time in that house for the last two years. With a new development currently being constructed literally in my own backyard, the woods that once lined that property have been replaced […]
A Walk in the Park
Early Saturday morning, a friend came by my house. It was already shaping up as another glorious Fall day. The sun shone and the sky was blue. Despite the early hour, the air temperature was unseasonably mild, as had been the case even before the recent official change of seasons. We took advantage of the […]
School Daze
Tuesday marked the start of the tutoring year. Zoey and I had been scheduled to meet at 6 p.m. Based on the last two years, I can say she is an eager student and a person who strives to excel academically. I’m happy to push her hard. In these respects, Zoey is different from the […]
Why I Strive
I have volunteered to lead occasional tours of my neighborhood for out-of-town visitors. The goal of the not-for-profit organization that is sponsoring these neighborhood tours is to promote understanding among people from diverse cultures and backgrounds. I was required to submit a formal application, which is pending. However, based on my experience as a volunteer […]
Paws to Honor the Dog Moms
Today, the day before Mother’s Day, is officially Dog Mom’s Day. For many, especially those that are widowed, our dogs (and other pets) can fill a great void when no human can, providing comfort and companionship when they feel so all alone in the world, sometimes even when they have actual human kids. My […]
Happy, Healthy Septuagenarians
Perusing today’s newspaper, I was drawn to the tantalizing headline: “How Nearly a Century of Happiness Research Led to One Big Finding” (found at https://www.nytimes.com/2025/05/01/magazine/happiness-research-studies-relationships.html). After all, who wouldn’t want to learn the secret to finding true happiness? Among other topics, this interesting piece recounts the history of “the longest-running wellness study in American history,” […]
Trying to Stay Young
Lola and I are invited to dinner one evening next week at the home of Michael and Hannan, who live in the neighborhood but are not, strictly speaking, our neighbors, as we live several short blocks apart. Lola introduced us. It’s been more than one year. As best I can tell, Michael and Hannan would […]