Ageism. It’s coming for you, too

A woman in her 20’s who works with me on a regular basis mentioned a well-known hip hop artist during a zoom call where my full team was present.  I had been looking for a pen as she made her statement, so I suppose I had a look on my face that caused her to…

I Guess You Can Call Me Grand Mom, But It’s Complicated

Original September 7, 2020PamR Writers Note:  On September 4, 2024, the little guy in this picture went off to his first day of Pre-K Four and I’m so proud of him, his mom and dad, and the little family they have created.  I wanted to share the story below, which I wrote in 2020 when…

Mortality

She studied her face closely in the photo taken by a professional photographer at a recent retreat she attended.  At first, elation was what she felt when she scanned the small icons on screen and spied the tiny photo of herself among the others.  She hadn’t posed for it, so it was totally natural, and…

Some Love For The Baltimore Ravens

Known as "The Bank," the Baltimore Ravens will play here today. I took this photo walking to my car after leaving an Orioles game during Pride Week. As I was waking up this morning, but still in a sleepy fog, I thought it was Monday.  I knew it was raining because I had roused myself awake…

I Love Lucy

Lucy in the kitchen. Note the Christmas Tree-like shape on her back I haven't posted a blog since April 2023 and as I turn the page on the calendar I want to be sure I pay adequate tribute to the best friend a girl could ever have, my beloved Lucy pictured above. When Lucy died…

Nirvana

Photo by Marta Wave on Pexels.com So, where can someone go to be happy?  I ask this question because I often consider getting into my car and driving to Nirvana, but I don’t know where it is.  I hear song lyrics in my head about not looking in my rear-view mirror and I just want…

Growing in 2023

Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com I began writing on a daily basis about 3 years ago, after the pandemic started, when a new-found friend I met in a Zoom room Life Coaching class introduced me to The Artists Way by Julia Cameron.  I had been using Zoom for meetings for years at work and at…

Downy Ocean, Hon

“Can I get you anything else, hon?” “How ‘bout ‘dem O’s, hon.” “Have a good day, hon.” “Hon, your coat belt is dragging on the ground” And my personal favorite, when my husband ordered mashed potatoes with his sour beef at the local diner, the waitress (all the waitresses here grew up in South Baltimore)…

Grocery Store Blues

My neighborhood grocery store closed after decades of serving the community in which I grew up and currently live.  I’m struggling to balance the hurt of seeing photos online of empty shelves with pleasant memories that keep flooding back in my visual recall. Not satisfied with the word of mouth and articles of announcement that…

Broken Bones and Cannons/Talking With My Grandfather

When I was in the fourth grade, I fell off a cannon and broke my elbow.  It happened on the President’s Day school holiday multiple decades ago.  Although they say I went into shock when it happened, I still recall everything about it:  From my mother calling over her shoulder as I walked out the…