My heART and I travelled to Hawaii for our 35th anniversary and met some online friends, enjoying their state from their perspective.

The dream awakened. Why not try to meet ALL of my online friends! Hubby told me to be careful and gave his blessing.

Since then I have traveled to Indiana, Texas, California, and Massachusetts. This time next week I will be in South Carolina to be followed by a stop in Georgia before heading home.

True friendships can be made online. I look forward to exploring more in the coming years, as finances allow. Will you be next?

written for Tara’s 100 Word Challenge. The prompt is DREAM. Now, go and give me 100.

photo of the gate to Boston Common. Taken while in Boston in October 2014.

photo of the gate to Boston Common. Taken while in Boston in October 2014.

The old man nodded as the youngster dropped pennies and dimes into his cup. Her raven curls bobbed as she ran back to her mother. Her laughter rang out as she turned back and proffered a quick wave in return.

Many people passed by the old man as he sat there on the sidewalk in the center of town. Several of those many people dropped the odd 20 or single into his hat.

But none on that day touched his heart like the little girl with bobbing curls. Her musical laughter filled his heart with joy for many a day afterward.

borrowed from the Dublin Music  Buskers page

borrowed from the Dublin Music Buskers page

Written for Tara’s 100 Word Challenge. The word this week is CHANGE. I used it as a noun rather than a verb. Actually, it is inferred as a noun in the piece, while used as a verb in the title. See what I did there? Thanks, Tara!!

It had been a rough night. The men who were part of the perpetrators’ class had been in rare form, argumentative and rowdy.

One man in particular had escalated when challenged on his beliefs. Nothing the facilitators could say seemed to calm him down. Even the other men in class had begun to withdraw from him.

“We have to call her. Her husband left class agitated and I’m afraid for her safety. I’ll ask the advocates to call and to check with her; do some safety planning with her.”

It’s not just our duty. It’s the human thing to do.

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Written for the 100 Word Challenge: Prompt is DUTY. My work includes classes with perpetrators. We have a strict Duty to Warn when something like the above happens. It does not happen often, thankfully.

I once fantasized about becoming a nun, taking the habit. I would be a Bride of Christ, with vows of poverty and, occasionally, silence.

I contacted Mother Superior for the order teaching in my small parochial school. Mother answered my letters with wisdom, humility and love. She encouraged me to pray, to seek if this was God’s will for me.

In high school my world was expanded. Still parochial school, but several schools combined. Options! I met my heART when we were only 15.

I shucked the habit and took on a ring to become the bride of Art. No regrets.

Valentine's dinner smooch 2016

Valentine’s dinner smooch 2016

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Written for Tara’s 100 Word Challenge, this is a second version of the prompt HABIT. True stories are sometimes better than fiction. 🙂

One day I awakened the slumbering beast inside me.

It yawned deliciously. It stretched its wings. It reached out of the flaccid years-long stasis and moved towards the fit beast it somehow knew it could be.

Nearly four years later the beast roars each time it walks into the gym, picks up a weighted bar, sets its shoulders and lifts. Or swings. Or pushes. Or squats.

I am a cross fitter. It’s my drug of choice.

My mother would be somewhat horrified. I’m not the lady she thought she raised. I think, however, she would support the fitter, happier me.

warming up with Rusty the gym dog

warming up with Rusty the gym dog

written for Tara’s 100 Word Challenge. This week’s word is HABIT.

I started out at 350# – could barely ride the stationary bike 10 minutes at a time. I’ve taken off 75# and find myself much fitter and happier. You can find me at CrossFit Certitude M-W-F at 5:30 a.m. Join me. It really is habit-forming.