True Confessions of an Overthinker

Did you know that eggs are the perfect food? That's what many dietary experts have been saying for quite awhile now,  and with good reasons . They are compact, nutritious and can be prepared in a variety of yummy ways. I remember a time when medical folks and nutritionists advised us all to avoid eggs, due to their high cholesterol content. They had us especially fearful of the traditional bacon and egg breakfast. Eating those two bad boys at the same time would certainly cause an immediate heart attack! (Thankfully, that's been proven to be untrue.) My own life experience has shown me that eggs have incredible qualities that are even better than their high protein content and meal versatility.  They can be transformed into Easter eggs !! Last week, I was unexpectedly reminded that Easter eggs are downright  magical ! I found some boiled eggs in the fridge that I'd forgotten about. They'd been in there for about four days. I didn't want to waste them, but ...

The anticipation hung in the air that evening. We breathed it in and felt giddy as we finished getting dressed for our date. I wore a fancy dress, tights and shiny Mary Jane shoes. White gloves too, for the very first time!  My date and I were preparing to go to a concert. I was joyfully excited about it, even though I had no clear idea of what to expect. I'd never been to a concert before. I was only six years old.  Ray Charles was performing in our smallish town on that unforgettable night in 1969. It was a very big deal! Ray Charles! Mama wanted me to experience the magic with her. She understood that we might not have another opportunity like it again. It was a rare for Mom to indulge in special events like that. She was a single woman with two young children, struggling to make ends meet. Honestly, I don't remember much about the performance. I have foggy bits and pieces in my memory bank: holding Mama's hand as we hurried from the parking l...

Generous. Mother. Impoverished. Loving. Widow. Grandma. Debilitated. Hard-working. What's in a name? Why do labels exist? Do they have any true significance in a person's life? We called her Mom and Grandma. What a privilege it was to do so! She died just over a year ago. We've taken these past months to reflect on Mom's life journey and what she meant to our family. Through the years, Mom shared tales of growing up during the Great Depression. She was the middle child with four siblings. They were known as one of the poorest families in their community. There was some shame attached to that reputation, of course. Mom was often treated unfairly, especially when she was young. In fact, she was verbally and emotionally abused by the ones who should have protected her. "Dumb" was a common title for her while she was growing up, although she very intelligent indeed. I admired my mother-in-law immensely, because she didn't allow her harsh be...

   The elderly woman cautiously maneuvered her walker into the small lab area of the doctor's office. I took her arm and gently helped her sit down. A familiar, friendly nurse approached her and asked "What finger should I use to get your blood sample today?" "Oh it doesn't matter.", the white-haired patient replied. The nurse took her middle finger and started to clean it with an alcohol pad. Suddenly, the lady jerked her hand away. "Not that finger!" she blurted. "That's the one I always use when I'm out in traffic!" The nurse just stood there with a shocked expression as her patient waved her middle finger in the air. When she laid her hand back down on the table, she had a twinkle in her eye and a cheeky smirk. The nurse visibly relaxed, then chuckled. So did I. The elderly jokester was my mother-in-law. I think she was 89 at the time. "Cheeky" is not a common term here in the US, but one d...

Have you ever had the misfortune of talking to an acquaintance or even a complete stranger who had something odd or distracting on their face? You didn't want to stare, but you just couldn't help it. You felt compelled to at least sneak a peek! Something just seemed to jump out and scream " LOOK AT ME!! LOOOK! " Let me share an example that made a lasting impact on me: Several years ago, I was chatting with an employee at Walmart. It was a pleasant exchange, except that I noticed that she had a bat in the cave. That's code for something yucky in her nose. It was right at the edge of her nostril. Every time she breathed, the air moved it back and forth, in and out. I was trying to focus on what the nice young woman was saying, but I was worrying about not staring at it! So I was listening but simultaneously having a debate in my head- should I tell her or not? I'd certainly want to know if I had that little problem! It's the right thing to do! But...

123rf.com That hot day in July had started like most others. Who knew that the impending series of events would be controversially famous for many decades to come? Not only in the small town where it occurred, but worldwide! The auburn-haired eight year old was sitting up in a massive tree with a few of her neighborhood pals. They had gathered in their friend Nancy's backyard to play for awhile. Oh they loved climbing that old Maple. Some of their mothers were in the house, chatting and drinking coffee at the kitchen table. What happened next is still a mystery... The date was July 6, 1947. The town was Roswell, New Mexico. My mother was that auburn-haired eight-year-old. She and her young friends saw something very strange pass through the sky above them as they played on those tree branches. It frightened them! They were old enough to recognize that it was not an airplane. According to Mom's retelling of the story, she and the other kids jumped out of...

"But you don't seem like the type of person who would be a bowler." Hmm. I'm fairly sure my new friend meant well. But I never found out his reasons for saying that to me. His comment made me think. What type of people bowl? People like you? Like me? I've been bowling in leagues for about twelve years, off and on. I'll tell you what kind of people bowl.  Wild hair and laughter,  right after my first 200 game.  Inexperienced, bad bowlers do. Some of them don't even know what weight their ball should be. What about technique? Technique-schmechnique! They just try to keep the ball out of the gutter and hit some pins occasionally. That describes my bowling skill level in 2006, when a friend invited me to join her team. I initially declined, saying "I'm no good! I'll bring you all down!" But my friend persisted and insisted. She assured me that she had a very low average too, but none of the others cared. They were all doing...

Hi Mom, I can't believe it's been twenty years since you died. April 18, 1998. I've been thinking about you. Your life. My life. I have a different perspective about many things now. I've realized some significant truths that I wish I could tell you face to face. But in my heart, I know that you already know... But first I just want to share some other stuff with you. If you were still here, I'd come over to your house. You could make coffee for us like you used to. What is it about coffee fixed up by Mom? It just tastes better. It feels like the time has just flown by! But I do remember when the days seemed to drag on, especially in the first three years after you passed. Those were the days I felt absolutely numb. Or panicky, when I started accepting that I'd never see you here on this earth again. Sometimes grief felt like a 500 pound anchor on my back. I wasn't sure I'd get through those days. But somehow I did. But for the most part, tim...

I was in the middle of a debate. I had some convincing arguments prepared and a thorough list of pros and cons. It was concerning an important issue. Well, it was important to me anyway. The debate was going on in my head. It was me versus me. Doubting. Re-evaluating. Worrying. I thought that getting out to run errands would give me a needed break from the stressful swirl of thoughts going round and round and round. My favorite radio station was turned up. The sun was shining. YES! I felt my spirits lifting a little. But my better mood was short-lived. I soon realized that I was missing even the best songs because my emotional brain wouldn't turn off. The same old debate continued. Ugh! The next thing on my to-do list was to drop off some clothes at a nearby donation center. I rang the bell so the attendant would open the big garage door. I heard the familiar noise and the door started to rise. Then it abruptly stopped, about three feet up! I just stood there, hol...

Oh Kyle! I still remember you. My mind can see what you looked like when we were both ten. You were soooo cute! Secretly, I was smitten. I think you glanced at me a couple of times. You might have even said hi. Did you like me the way I liked you? The Valentine you gave me is etched in my memory. So is my tearful walk home after school that day... The bittersweet thoughts about my first big childhood crush came rushing in today. I've recently had other random thoughts about Valentine's day, since the 14th was just last week. While the main focus of February 14th is romantic love, we (as a culture) have personalized it to represent any kind of affection we want it to! Fancy cards, chocolate and other gifts are sweet for anyone to give and receive, right? Whether they are lovers, family members or friends. When I was in elementary school, I so enjoyed all the traditions of the season! A few days before the big V, our teacher would let us spend a couple of hours deco...

Copyright: <a href=' https://www.123rf.com/ profile_panicattack '> panicattack /  123RF Stock Photo</a> Recent news flesh, oops, I mean flash: a gym in New York City is now offering a nude exercise class! Check this out! http://www.newsweek.com/working-out-while-naked-newest-exercise-trend-new-york-city-77105 We all know that exercise is very important to keep our bodies healthy.  But how do we keep our minds and emotions fit- especially with so much stress and bad news in our lives every day? Well, haven't you heard that laughter is the best medicine? I truly believe it's helpful in every way, even physically! I've laughed so hard at times that my belly was aching. I'm sure that type of workout was as effective as doing crunches. I remember one such occasion that happened many years ago. I was doubled-over and could barely catch my breath! I was cackling and snorting while watching a hidden camera scheme on Oprah. The prank involved ...

"Pressure. Pushing down on me. Pressing down on you. No man ask for. Pressure. That burns a building down, splits a family in two, puts people on streets." - from "Under Pressure" by Queen,  released 1981 "As I turn up the collar on my favorite winter coat, this wind is blowin' my mind. I see the kids in the street, without enough to eat. Who am I to pretend not to see their need?" -from "Man in the Mirror" by Michael Jackson, released 1987 Those don't seem like joyful Christmas songs, now do they? But hang in there with me. I have a plan. How about the old classic "I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day"? That song was not written from a cheerful time or place. According to Wikipedia, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow wrote the poem "Christmas Bells" in 1865, which was the basis for the famous carol. Longfellow had been grieving the loss of his wife, who had tragically died in a fire in 1861. He also had been ...

Copyright: <a href='https://www.123rf.com/profile_ kapu'>kapu / 123RF Stock Photo</a> Isn't it interesting how one little thing can trigger a very old memory? Then a chain of connected thoughts often follow. Oh the wonders of the human brain and emotions! My friend and I were recently discussing our gardens. He said that badgers gather in his every night to dig for roots and worms to eat. He sent me a couple photos of them. I was immediately transported back to my childhood in New Mexico- the first time I went to Girl Scout camp. I was in third grade. Our group of 8-9 year olds arrived about 4 pm that early summer's day. It was just the beginning of our 24-hour stay in the beautiful wooded campsite. It was located on a few acres of land that had been donated by a nearby dairy farm. That was the first camping trip for most of us. It was certainly the first time to have such a daring experience without our parents. So exciting and a little scary! ...

www.zazzle.com I didn't know whether to laugh or cry. I felt so embarrassed for the man who was giving the seminar. His bright red polo shirt was certainly attention-grabbing! Especially the part of it that was sticking out in front, through the open fly of his khakis. It was like a little crimson flag. My husband and I were like two children being naughty in class. We were whispering and giggling "I don't think we will remember much of what he is saying!" "Someone should tell him!" "Don't stare at his crotch!" The poor man did fix his problem after he finished his talk, before he started the question and answer time. I wonder how long he had cringing nightmares about that experience? Hopefully, it became a funny memory for him eventually. After grocery shopping last week, I noticed something dark on my peach shirt. Eyeliner! It was at the top, a few inches below my chin. No big deal really. I just didn't like the thought of runni...

The tiny, hunched-over, age ninety-something woman was struggling. She had some food in front of her, but couldn't eat it. She needed assistance. That was a scene I'll always remember from my brunch date with my husband last Sunday. My heart had been heavy that previous week. First, a child from our area had tragically drowned on Memorial Day. I didn't know her or her family, but the news of her loss was all over the local news and social media. I had been reminded daily of the shocking sadness. Then we all learned that more innocent lives were destroyed in London. To be honest, it was upsetting, infuriating and depressing, but not shocking. Then I thought "This type of horror happens so often that we aren't very surprised by it anymore!" Dismay. Double-whammy! On top of  all that, I was carrying the burden of a grudge around with me. I knew it wasn't good for my health, but I just wasn't ready to lay it down yet. That's not tragic, but...

The little red-haired girl (not Charlie Brown's crush) woke up about six every Saturday morning. Although not fully awake, she would pitter patter to the bookshelf, collect all of her Dr. Seuss books and put them on the bed. Then she would prop her pillow up against the headboard, get back into bed and pull the blankets up to her waist. The wee reader would lean back against that pillow, get comfy, then place the stack of books on her lap. She'd breathe a contented sigh and think "No school today! Hmm,which book do I want to read first? 'Hop on Pop'? Maybe 'Are You My Mother?'". Her favorite one was 'Fox in Socks'. She was in first grade. That ginger child loved school and was always a good student. Well, that is if you don't count Math. For some reason, reading, spelling and writing just came naturally to her; but division, fractions and algebra were often a struggle. She would dream of what she wanted to be when she grew up...