The Retiring Sort
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Recent Posts
- Reflections on When the World Turned Upside Down
- DNA Ethnicity Test Result Reliability – It’s All About Expectations
- Chasing Family – Online Family Trees: To Post or Not to Post?
- Chasing Family… Down a Rabbit Hole and Up a Tree
- The Pros and Cons of Fear and Anger
- Starting a New Holiday Tradition
- The Giving Season and the Thoughtful Giver
- Do I Really Have My Father’s Eyes?
- Symbols of Cities and Lands
- Land Meets Water


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Categories
Category Archives: Family
Some Say the World will end in Fire… or on December 20th
Fire and Ice by Robert Frost Some say the world will end in fire, Some say in ice. From what I’ve tasted of desire I hold with those who favor fire. But if it had to perish twice, I think … Continue reading
Posted in Family, Ruminations
Tagged choices, family, Fire and Ice, lifestyle, photos, Religion and Spirituality, Serenity Prayer, Weekly Travel Theme
18 Comments
To Every Thing There is a Season…
Maybe it’s that I’m retired and have time to think about these things. Maybe it’s that my mom, the last of my kids’ grandparents, passed away this year. Maybe it’s that it’s a gray Autumn day, and I’m feeling it … Continue reading
Posted in Family, Retirement itself, Ruminations, Writing Challenges
Tagged aging, change, DPchallenge, Ecclesiastes, family, lifestyle, photos, postaweek, Seasons, Senior Health
52 Comments
From Mundane to Meaningful – Everyday and Special Times with Grandkids
Most of our grandchildren live about an hour from us in one direction or another, making it relatively easy to take part in their lives. We’ve gone to aquariums and libraries with them. We’ve gone to their parades, school fairs, … Continue reading
Posted in Family, Ruminations, Writing Challenges
Tagged Books, DPchallenge, Grandchildren, Jungle Book, lifestyle, Memories, postaday, postaweek, Reading to children, Secret Garden
42 Comments
Travel Theme: Tradition
The weekly Travel Theme from Ailsa at Wheresmybackpack? is Tradition. I’m a little late with my response this week, but since I’m as much a sucker for traditions as anyone, here goes… We tend to think of traditions as something … Continue reading
Posted in Family, Photo Challenges, Ruminations
Tagged change, choices, Christmas, Culture, lifestyle, Memories, New Year's, photography, photos, postaday, postaweek, Santa Claus, Soup Day, Tradition, Weddings, Weekly Travel Theme
34 Comments
Maggie the Magnificent – Redux
On Mother’s Day, I posted an homage to my mom, Maggie, citing some of the reasons she has been a wonderful role model to my sister and me. This week, she passed away with the same grace and thoughtfulness she displayed throughout … Continue reading
Posted in Family, Ruminations
Tagged A Wee Deoch an' Doris, family, Farewell, Gaelic, Good-bye, Harry Lauder, Maggie, Mother, Passages, Scottish
50 Comments
War and Remembrance
In the United States of America, we celebrate Memorial Day on the last Monday in May. This commemorative holiday has gone through several iterations – it was first called Decoration Day following the American Civil War, and the date has changed … Continue reading
Posted in Family, Giving Back, Ruminations
Tagged Army, choices, family, Father, Memorial Day, Memories, Military Service, Navy, Patriot, Patriotism, Pearl Harbor, photos, Remembrance, War
13 Comments


















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