True Confessions of an Overthinker

I felt as if my chest was being compressed and my throat was closing as I stood at my kitchen counter. It was physically painful to hold in the desperate sobs that so needed to be free. I remember parts of that Christmas day clearly, even though it was eighteen years ago. My children were ages eleven and eight. They had been through enough sadness and stress since the previous April. That was when their grandmother (my mom) had died from complications of cardiac arrest. It was important to me that they have a joyful Christmas. We had already opened presents that morning and I was trying to get the food ready for dinner. But I felt that I couldn't breathe. The grief was so very heavy! It was tangible, almost like a large brick on my chest. I had received a CD for Christmas that I'd requested. The artist wrote and performed a song about losing her mother. I escaped to another room to listen to my very emotional song. As the music started,it felt as if that bri...

Who loves going to the dentist?? Please, there is no need for everyone to yell "I do!" at the same time. Like most folks, I don't enjoy having dental work done. But I do like my dentist! I've been going to Dr. R for about twenty-five years. He does excellent work! He also has a calm demeanor and soothing voice. Those qualities are so helpful to nervous dental patients like me. However, I remember a dental assistant he had about ten years ago who was anything but soothing. I'll call her Cathy for this story. Cathy had a habit of conversing with the dentist about her personal life while he was working on patients. Well, maybe she only did it when he worked on me, but it happened more than once. If she had just wanted to tattle on herself, that would've been one thing. (I do it all the time, except in this story, I'm tattling on her.) But she would mention people by their full name! I'll give you an example. "Hey Doctor, I finally got an ...

I believe that beauty is in the eye of the beholder. So is turnipness. I'll explain. I finally visited the big beauty store in our mall a few weeks ago. It opened about a year ago I think. They offer a wide variety of cosmetics, hair care products, fragrances, etc, and a full service salon too. I usually shop discount chain stores for personal care items.  I use name brands but not anything very expensive. But I decided that it would be worth it to invest in some high-quality concealer. This is because I use a glaucoma medication (eye drops) daily and I have for eighteen years. One of the side effects is that it darkens the skin pigment around the eyes. I've always worked hard to conceal my purplish-red lids and under-eye circles. Other than glaucoma, I'm generally a healthy person! But believe me, without makeup, I look very tired and ill, maybe even like I'm on drugs. Well, I'm not on drugs but my eyes have been for many years! I had eye surgeries l...

Hey! Who enjoys watching funny sitcoms? I sure do. I have another question. Who will admit to having moments in life   that are scenes from   funny sitcoms? I sure will! Laughter is great medicine. It can relieve stress and help you forget your troubles temporarily. My life has been in transition. Not only did my husband and I move three months ago, but we've been tackling some stressful marriage issues, among other things. My last post here was seven weeks ago. I can't continue calling myself a blogger if I don't post stories regularly. So now I'm back after a long break- this time with one of my titillating tattling stories. Okay, at least tattling.  About a month ago, Hubby and I were awakened by a horrid, piercing, siren-type sound in the wee hours of the morning. It was a smoke detector!  But we hadn't put any up yet (bad, I know). We were running around in a panicky daze, looking and smelling for smoke. None. Then I knew we had to find the b...

"WHAT?  We can't use the air conditioner? Oh great. What a day for this to happen!" I left it at that. I knew that whining wouldn't help the situation.  It was getting hotter by the hour on that mid-August day. And humid. My husband and I were on a road trip, two hours away from home. Besides, my chauffeur was already getting stressed. No need for me to add to it.  Turning the air conditioner off and sweating a little had to be better than the vehicle breaking down on the highway...  We spent much of our time in nice cool places: restaurant, clothing stores, doctor's office. We didn't get too miserable while traveling to those destinations. Not only did we survive, but we even managed to enjoy ourselves a little.  I was napping in my passenger seat while en route to the medical clinic. I was jolted awake when the car swerved sharply and suddenly. I opened my eyes to see a red truck almost on top of us, crossing the line into our lane...

Carpe' Diem. Dance in the Rain. Life is too short to be anything but happy. Yeah, yeah...whatevah.  I often refer to myself as a realistic optimist. I love positive quotes too! But I admit I'm a hypocrite at times. I say I believe all the "life's too short" stuff. The truth is: I don't always live it.  But once in a while, I get a reminder to "Enjoy the little things, because one  day  you'll look back and realize they were the big things."  We recently moved. Yep, in July. Hot, humid and hectic days! And somewhat emotional. The move symbolized the end of a very bittersweet chapter of our lives.  My daughter and her two little girls came over for a visit one afternoon when we were almost finished. I welcomed the break from packing boxes. I'd been feeling overwhelmed.  It was cloudy and much cooler than usual that day. It had been raining on and off.  We enjoyed sitting on the back patio.  My daughter went to pick up ...

Is it ever justifiable to lie? I am a truthful person. Honestly I am! I've been remembering a few little white lies I've told in my life and I still don't feel guilty.  Actually, I think I did the right thing! A few years ago, I went to visit my brother.  He lived only thirty minutes away from me, and we managed to get together about once a month. He offered me coffee when I arrived. He told me to just rest on the couch, while he fixed it up for me. He asked "You still drink it with sugar, right?" Yep. "And cream?"  Yes. My gracious host brought my coffee, but started apologizing as he handed it to me. "I just used the last of the sugar. I don't think yours has enough in it."  I said "Oh, I'm sure it will be fine." As I took my first sip, he was watching my face intently. He was sort of wincing as he waited for my reaction. I tasted and said  "Oh it's fine. Don't worry."  But he was worried. ...