What a lovely essay on getting older. I love getting older because so many wonderful things come with it and the outside stuff is just that. I am paraphrasing a quote: “Inches, ages, and numbers are outside things that don’t add up to who you are. So, if you are going to measure me, measure me by who I am and who I am trying to become because numbers are only statistics and statistics lie.” Although I am now 67, I will be 16 in my heart forever. Happy 58th birthday to you and another miraculous year of living

I am glad to see you back Diane. I have wondered about you these past days. I am glad you had that time with your daughter and that she will be returning for two weeks during her spring break. Your week sounds busy but how nice to only have 1/2 day assignments for your self-care – self-care is so necessary. You mention your quirkiness and I think I am of that same persuasion so I must look into reading Rivvy Neshama to feel less alone as well. But I have found in my aging how I have become more comfortable in who and how I am and it is such a relief. I hope you have a lovely week filled with peace and many blessings ????????

Welcome back, Aine. I have wondered how you were holding up after your frightening experience. And, sorry to hear it is a fad to fire flare guns – what? Wouldn’t it be nice if the fad were to shovel snow for others or something nice. What a nice way to wake up – to the sound of your choir. Yesterday while out on errands there were at least three large flocks of Canadian Geese flying to congregate on a snowy field. I turned off my radio and rolled down the windows so I could hear their honking. I just love the sound of their honking. I am glad to hear that you were able to rake without pain except for that darn blister. I wear gloves now when I rake ????. I will answer here to your response about the sloth since I could not below – we got lucky and caught the sloth on his “poop” schedule since that is when they wake up. This is something they only do about once a week. It was our lucky day. Here is a picture – sorry it is out of focus. Such a sweet creature Have a lovely day and happy to hear of your painless raking!

Dear Eva – how wonderful that you get to have this chance of a relationship with your niece again. I also lost my niece through marriage after my divorce but was blessed to reconnect with her again. I am so glad I was able to have that relationship with her since we lost her to cancer last May. I am very grateful for the time I got to have with her. She is in my heart always and I miss her and I think of her everyday. Wishing you health from your nagging cough and a wonderful week filled with love and peace ????

That sounds wonderful Ose ???? We three had a very full and happy day yesterday too. The sloth is such a sweet creature and he was awake and active when we met him. His name is Aspen. And, while waiting to see Aspen, we had a meet and greet with an adorable porcupine and tortoise. This was the first porcupine I have ever seen and up close and personal! As a child I had a pet tortoise. We shared a nice early dinner out after our Sloth adventure and in the end I got a nice hair style and sweet massage from my granddaughter while relaxing at home watching one of her movies. I am very blessed Have a lovely day ????