Peace with Kim

It’s high school reunion season. Do you go to yours? I just went to my husband’s 40th high school reunion recently. It was fun. It was thankfully casual, outside, at night, under lights, at a huge bar/restaurant in Calabasas. It was a ‘come as you are’ feel and boy were there a lot of smiles. A man walked up to us and after hugging my husband turned to me and introduced himself. I remember his name from stories Rick would tell me about high school. They went through some big things - happy and scary. He and ‘the boys’ started sharing stories of the past, then moved on to what’s up now. It was so nice to see the connecting, and again, the smiles.   Not until the next day did the heaviness of the time-gone-by hit. That guy texted asking if we could have dinner together. Darn, we’d love to but we were already on our way home.   We make friends as we get older, but these friends from childhood are really special. Maybe we don’t take that into account often enough. They kno...

I’m not in denial. I don’t think. People ask me if I’m OK that my first born just graduated from high school and is headed to college in a few weeks.   I’m happy for him.This is where he belongs.   His journey, though bumpy with heartache at times, was a blessed one. He made great things happen in his life. My husband and I guided and helped, but my son’s hard work, determination and focus got him here - earned him special graduation accolades - earned him entrance into Cal Poly SLO. With nearly 11,000 4.0 students turned away this season, he sure has a lot to be proud of!   My heart is full of pride. I’m also a bit scared of an emptiness I’ll feel when we come home after dropping him off at school. I don’t want our other son to feel disregarded or loved any less. I know I’ll feel the same emptiness when he leaves. I just love my guys! They enrich my life so much! I’m always learning with them, expanding my musical horizons, and laughing. Our life was gr...

When I first reported on this new vacation ‘trend’ it was not a positive thing. It was proof that consumer confidence was low. People’s bank accounts were tight. Families were staying home instead of traveling for that beloved summer vacation. That was in 2008. Well, it’s summer 2018 and guess where I am? Staycation. I’ll admit I’ve had to play some serious mind games with myself to be happy with this. My son is headed to college. Everyone says, "Oh! You MUST have one family vacation before he leaves! Get away." Well, all of the hopes of going away just couldn’t work out. My son got a new job to make money before college. It’s not right to start a brand new job and then ask for a week off! So, easy decision. We’re staying here. Reset the brain. If I was relaxing at my favorite place in La Quinta, for instance, what would I be doing? I’d be hanging out in the pool. I’d be reading. I’d be napping. I’d go to the gym and work out or take a Pilates or yoga clas...

I switched the channel on the car radio the other day. On came "Time In A Bottle" by Jim Croce .  Next thing I know I'm singing every word. The song came out in 1973! I was in third grade. How in the world am I able to remember the lyrics to that song but I can't remember important things I learned in history class, or, my sons' phone numbers?! Remember when we were kids and we could remember every single phone number for our friends and neighbors? We didn't punch up the name in our cell phone. We used a rotary phone! Infact, I can still remember my friend Leslie's number next door. And the Millers - whose kids I babysat. But, ask me to remember the year and month I covered the story of the Stealth Bomber unveiling at Edwards AFB? Or when I flew with the Blue Angels? Or when I covered the execution of Robert Alton Harris at San Quentin? I remember details of each event, even the weather, but the date? Nope. Thank goodness for Google! So instead of stress...