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A Grain of Salt Posts

And the award goes to…

A tradition has caught on in my family. The vacation awards. Here is how the vacation awards program works. We announce that there will be an awards ceremony held on the final night of the vacation. No one knows who is giving or receiving the awards. The challenge is to keep a lookout for award-worthy recognition. The cardinal rule for the final awards is that they must be kind. This little tradition does one major…

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Does Anyone Iron Anymore?

In honor of my mother’s 91st birthday, a reflection on laundry. For most of my mother, Maxine’s childhood is a mystery. We could never get my mom to talk much about growing up in Quincy, Illinois. She was a depression-era baby born in 1930 and didn’t enjoy dwelling on any tale of difficulty or pain. Most of us conclude her silence meant a difficult time. However, Mom was quite ready to tell us about her…

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A Promise to Remember

This past summer, I received a thoughtful card and photos from Hawaii. As soon as I saw the return address, I knew the sender, but I had never met the sender. It was the return address, CECOSC, that helped me recognize the card contained a remembrance. I was part of that same group when Gary and I lived in Hawaii over twenty-five years ago. CECOSC stands for Civil Engineer Corps Officer’s Spouse Club. People I…

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Monday Meanderings

3 BIG questions  Fuller Youth Institute Anam Cara by John O’ Donohue Holy Post  Fiddler on the Roof

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Don’t Miss It

I have worn glasses since the third grade. When I was finally prescribed glasses, I met the standards for being legally blind. So I appreciate seeing clearly. Seeing for most of us is just what we do without thinking. Easy and effortless, no?  Every night my husband Gary and I have a nighttime routine. This routine is so familiar to us that we automatically go through the motions. We get on our pajamas, we brush…

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Starting Small

Small steps are magical. I took a small step in March: I signed up for a 50-mile bike ride. I didn’t think I could ride the 50 miles when I signed up, but I believed I’d be able to by September when my classmates and I celebrated our 40th reunion from the United States Naval Academy, which culminated in the 81(km or mile) Ride. I had taken a small step two years ago by engaging…

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