I’ll get right to that exciting life update.
After counting down the years, the months, the weeks, and the days, my husband now has ONE DAY of work left before being finally, officially RETIRED!
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Did you see the recent story about the newscaster who fell asleep during a live broadcast?
Her colleague, reporting from the field, wrapped up her story and then waited for a response. But the split-screen shows the anchorwoman at her desk, elbows and fists supporting her chin, eyes closed. Oops!
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I stood on the sidewalk feeling like a forgotten pet, a lost child, a jilted lover. My husband had gone to find a free parking spot in busy downtown Grand Rapids, while I ran into the restaurant to check on the wait time. We had picked a special place to celebrate our 38th anniversary, and opted for a “walk-in” since reservation times were limited.
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Transitioning to what has long been called the “empty nest” can bring on a whole host of emotions, from sobbing 😭 to sniffling 😪 to celebrating 🥳🥂.
Wherever you are on the spectrum, I encourage you to rename this season. Seriously, isn’t a term that starts with “empty” going to get a bad rap?
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One of the pleasures I’ve found in the empty-nest season is the time to tackle projects I’ve put off for years. For the past couple of weeks, with heavy snow and frigid temperatures keeping me inside, I’ve been working on another long-overdue project—I’m culling and organizing nearly 70,000 digital photos!
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Empty-Nest Joyride made her debut into the world today and she’s ready to fly! One thing I’ve learned is that launching a book is not for the faint of heart! There were a few times this week I thought my brain might explode with all the different tasks I was trying to juggle. But giving birth was never easy, was it?
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In mid-September, I flew to Treasure Island, Florida…Who could have imagined that eleven days after I flew home, Hurricane Helene's storm surge and winds would devastate Treasure Island? And then, nearly two weeks later, Milton would deliver a second blow to the area. The island I had briefly enjoyed was underwater and buried beneath sand and debris.
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I don’t have a big “reveal” to help you untwist the midlife puzzles you might be encountering. But here are a few solid resources (websites, podcasts, Substack bloggers, and books) that have guided me in this transitional life stage.
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But life isn’t perfect. And not accepting life’s imperfections will bring angst. Whereas holding on loosely to the worries of this world offers peace.
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Remember all those “What to Expect When…You’re Expecting” (“…in the First Year”, “…Second Year”, etc.) books? For years, they filled our bookshelves and covered our nightstands, teaching us everything we needed to know to tackle pregnancy and parenthood with confidence. But what about “What to Expect When You’re Empty Nesting”?
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We’ve just begun the second summer of our Grand Marriage Experiment. Mind you, it didn’t start as a marriage experiment.
It started as a dream come true—the dream of owning a cabin on a lake in Minnesota.
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In celebration of our daughter Chloe’s graduation from U-W Madison with a master’s degree in library and information studies, I’ve updated a story I first wrote three years ago.
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I’ve been writing on Substack since March 16, 2023 (but started blogging ten years ago!), so I thought I’d re-introduce myself to benefit my new followers (Hello there!) and others who want a taste of what Empty-Nest Joyride! is all about.
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A tiny taste of Lent through the Little Things, to whet your appetite.
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Perhaps you’ve heard the slogan ringing in this new year: Do More in 2024!
I don’t know about you, but the thought of doing more after the past few weeks of shopping, decorating, baking, cooking, and entertaining makes me want to crawl in a hole and hide.
If I did though, I would take a book with me.
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I have no regrets. At least seven bene-fits come to mind as I consider how semi-retirement fits my life today.
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I turned 60 this past year, and I admit I have qualms about joining the ranks of older persons. Is my aging body a sign of weakness? Will others look at me and assume I’m incapable? If I let my hair go gray, will others see me as irrelevant?
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