Smiling Through the Storm Warnings

Or, it is what it is and that's all it is.

Chickadee at the snowy feeder. Author’s photo

It’s January and I’m still in Southern Michigan, not in that place in the Low Country where the sun actually warms the earth and sweaters are all I should need. This is the first winter in many, many years I’ll have spent away from snow-birding, and right now, as I write this, we’re under a Winter Storm Watch. It’s supposed to turn into a Warning any time now, and, while warnings are far more exciting than watches, I’d rather be at the beach.

So what was so important that I let go of my plans to head south? My teeth, that’s what. Or what’s left of them. I won’t go into the gory details; suffice to say the things going on in my mouth finally got to a tipping point and if I ever wanted to eat anything besides mush, I had to do something.

So I’m getting the works. A whole new set with no ugly holes and no scary wiggles, at a cost so obscene I can’t even think about it without having an anxiety attack. All I know is I can put away the vacation brochures for at least a couple of years. But once I have that dazzling smile I’ll have to think of reasons to smile, won’t I? And I will. I know I will. In time.

Traveling to Europe and more exotic places is still on my bucket list, though it’s getting farther and farther down there as reality settles in. But that doesn’t stop me from vicariously enjoying the always delightful missives from my two favorite world travelers, Brent and Michael. They’re living the good life and I’m laughing through my envy.

Meanwhile, lucky friends are traveling all over the place, and of course I want to hear all about it. (I really do.) I’ll go on pretending pictures are as good as being there. 😊

I’ve been there… Author’s photo

The news has been horrible lately, but I’m the one who chastises people for not paying attention, so I do pay attention. You’re probably wondering why I haven’t been writing about the dreadful new House majority in congress, the latest assaults on women’s rights, the still-rampant racism, the attempts at destroying public education and eradicating American history—all of the scary hints that our democracy might actually end at the hands of ‘public servants’ who should either be in jail or the loony bin.

I have been writing about those things, but they never get past draft form. I’m stumped when it comes to solutions, and I’m left wondering, along with you, about what to do. There are thousands of writers working on those same problems, and they’re doing a much better job of sorting it out, so I end up reading what they say and cheering them on. Chicken of me, I know. This too shall pass.

I’ve been busier at Writer Everlasting, my newsletter for writers, and I’m sorry if you’re feeling neglected. (I’m even sorrier if you’re not.) I just finished putting together a tutorial for Substack newbies—those writers who want to get started but feel petrified, as I did when I first started. I’ve learned a few things along the way and now I’m sharing them, hoping to save them a lot of worry time.

I’m helping a lovely non-profit website get their blog started. I’ve spent hours and hours trying to get it through their well-meaning but thick heads that a blog is different from a website, and that’s why they’re working on a blog separate from their website. They’re not getting it, is all I’ll say. Because I really do like them.

The storm watch has become a warning and I’m actually loving being indoors watching the snow pile up, so I’ll leave you with a couple of pieces I read this morning that let me breathe and made me smile.

Like A Tree Planted By The Water

I am giving up anger, so should you

Until next time, take care and enjoy, wherever you are.

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