I blame Cinderella. Well, I guess I blame the creators of Cinderella, Beauty and the Beast, and The Little Mermaid. My search for Prince Charming all started with my love of princess movies. They taught me that girls grow up to be beautiful and then meet an amazing, handsome, perfect prince who loves them unconditionally. As I aged, I fell in love with Zack Morris and dreamed of being as beautiful as Kelly Kapowski. “Wow, one day I am going to have a boyfriend like that, and it is going to be so great.” Not only did dating sound fun, but being old enough to date sounded just as fun. I … [Read more...]

No matter how old we get, birthdays can always be special. Even though I do not love admitting my age as much as I used to, I still enjoy a good celebration; and, I never cease to feel special when people make a big deal out of my day. However, when someone else is celebrating a birthday – someone to whom I am not extremely close – I tend to say a quick, “Happy Birthday,” and then move on with my day. That is something I can change. I can certainly take more initiative to spread extra cheer! Even something as simple as a coffee or e-card can make a difference! Here are a few ways we can … [Read more...]

Yesterday was my birthday, but is the celebration over? Of course, it’s not! We are only just beginning! Eric’s birthday is October 2nd; so, we have at least another month to celebrate my birthday before we switch over to his. ~smile~ And after his birthday, comes Thanksgiving! We celebrate the beginning of August until New Years! Years ago, I shared an office with a special lady who was born on October 1st, and she declared October to be her birthday month. I loved that! Why should we set aside one day to appreciate life when we can take a month to party?! It always makes me a little … [Read more...]

What is more exciting than a surprise party? For some, an emergency trip to the dentist, a meeting with the IRS, or giving a eulogy would be better than a surprise party. Though some people squeal with delight at being startled by fifty of their closest friends and family, others may get angry or emotional. It is important to know your sweetheart well before planning too many surprises. Memory Lane A few surprise parties come to mind when I reminisce. This first one reminds me that while a person may appreciate such a gathering, timing is important! About ten years ago, several of us got … [Read more...]

Does it ever seem like life should happen in reverse – that we should begin life tired, with aches and pains, only to get better and healthier with each passing year? Then, when we became young and spry, we would be very appreciative of it! Sometimes, I feel the same way about relationships. They begin with great optimism, but as we gain experience, that optimism is often lost. How great would it be to start your relationship with tons of experience and then become more optimistic as life goes along? Unfortunately, that is not how life works. The idea of it seems nice, but it is not reality … [Read more...]