Love / Learn / Explore / Celebrate – A website by a solo sexagenarian hoping to spread joy and happiness
Tis the season for summer fun. So many happy moments. Age Adventurously Day was just a few weeks ago. Since then, the fun has continued!
I’m going to do one of those easy blog posts… light on words, but I’ll let the pictures and smiles do the talkin’.
Another thing that I enjoyed listening to the audiobook Theo of Golden. Highly recommended!
How about you? What have been some of your fun summer moments? What are you looking forward to this summer?
When I first heard about Road Scholar’s Age Adventurously Day, I knew I wanted to participate. After all, that’s what this Website is all about! Seize the Day, Age Adventurously… Pretty much the same thing! And it’s even a quirky holiday, just like Carpe Diem Day!
Originally, I planned to hike Royal Arch in Chautauqua Park. Then my ankle started bothering me, and I switched to a gentler hike on the Mesa Trail. As often happens, some of my plans changed, but adapting is a big part of aging adventurously.
One of the things I love about adventure is that it looks different for different people.
My daughter Megan, son-in-law Chris, and granddaughter Reneya chose to tackle Royal Arch. Other friends joined me for a more leisurely hike through the beautiful meadows and forests of Chautauqua. We all met afterward for a picnic lunch, stories, laughter, and shared goodies (including my signature banana-walnut chocolate chip muffins!)
The hike itself was wonderful, but the real reason this day felt special was Dee O’Malley.
Dee passed away on May 25 at the age of 93. If you’ve followed my blog for a while, you’ve probably heard me talk about Dee before. She was one of those rare people who made everyone around her want to live a little bigger, love a little deeper, and say “yes” to one more adventure.
She was the embodiment of aging adventurously.
A few years ago, I asked Dee if she was afraid of dying. Her answer surprised me.
“No,” she said. “It’s the ultimate adventure.”
Most of us think of adventure as something external—a trip, a hike, a new destination. But Dee’s answer taught me that adventure is really an attitude. It’s the willingness to stay curious. To keep learning. To keep connecting. To keep saying yes, even when life becomes uncertain.
Adventure can be climbing a mountain.
Adventure can be learning Spanish.
Adventure can be making a new friend.
Adventure can be singing with a perfectly imperfect voice.
Adventure can be starting medical school in mid-life.
Adventure can be playing the piano for a memory care community you’ve grown to love.
Adventure can be facing the end of life with courage and curiosity.
To honor Dee, I created an iMovie slideshow from our day using “Climb Every Mountain” as the soundtrack. The music is special because it was Dee’s favorite song. The perfect song describing climbing mountains, literally and metaphorically! The recording features my mother and my son Scotty singing while I accompany them on the piano. Three generations, making music together, imperfectly but joyfully.
The movie has photos and video clips from our Chautauqua adventure today, an adventurous shot of my friend, Cathy (who wasn’t able to make the hike) and a few clips of visits with Dee and my mother.
I love how it turned out!
Connection, Learning, Growing, Sharing.
As we shared lunch under the trees, I felt grateful for my friends and family. I felt grateful for Dee and all the wisdom, humor, and adventures she shared with our family.
I know there are adventures still to come, mountains still to climb.
And some day, when I take that ultimate adventure, I feel grateful that Dee will be there again to lead the way.
Some people bring joy wherever they go. For me, Patsy is one of those people.
So when my lovely friend Patsy texted to say she’d welcome a visit from me, I immediately started looking at flights. She mentioned that her son, Chris, would be home in St. Augustine for the month of May, and she asked how my mother was doing. Patsy and I keep up with each other on Facebook, and I’ve always admired how engaged, curious, and tech-savvy she is. I had missed my visits with her, and when Patsy extends an invitation, I do my best to say, “YES!”
This year my theme is 26. I’ve challenged myself to have 26 adventures and to celebrate the 26th of every month. When I discovered that a May 25–28 trip would fit perfectly into my schedule and include my celebratory May 26th, it felt meant to be.
Even better, May 26th happened to be National Cherry Dessert Day. Naturally, I took that as a sign to buy a cherry-print sundress and matching jewelry for the occasion!
It seemed fitting that my May 26th celebration would revolve around cherries, because Patsy herself is like the cherry on top of an ice cream sundae.
She has a gift for making people feel welcome, valued, and loved. Time spent with Patsy is like that sweet cherry you savor. While the cherry sundress was fun, the real treat was getting to spend time with her.
One of the reasons I’ve always felt drawn to Patsy is that she reminds me so much of my mother.
They are both warm, kind, charismatic women who light up a room. My mother was popular with the boys as a young teenager, and, not surprisingly, so was Patsy. They were both young brides married to military men, and both embraced the adventure of raising growing families.
As my mother’s dementia progresses, I sometimes feel as though I’m slowly losing little pieces of her—her stories, her memories, and parts of the personality I’ve known all my life. That’s one reason my friendship with Patsy means so much to me.
Of course, no one could ever replace my mother. But learning about Patsy’s life and hearing her stories helps fill a space in my heart. While I am losing pieces of my mother’s memories, I feel fortunate to be gaining pieces of Patsy’s. Every conversation gives me a deeper appreciation for a remarkable woman and for the generation she represents.
During this visit, I had the opportunity to learn more about Patsy’s life. I knew she had been recording her memories and stories with her daughter, Bonnie, and I loved getting to read the finished biography.
That was especially meaningful because I’m working on my own life story this year through a MyStories subscription that Matt and Stella gave me for Christmas. Listening to Patsy’s memories and reading her book reminded me how important it is to preserve our stories—not only for ourselves, but for our children, grandchildren, and future generations.
I also feel incredibly grateful to Chris for sharing both his mother and his family with me.
This short trip included a bike ride to the beach, good food, and an evening of poker and games with Patsy’s family. Beaches, games, and family are three of my favorite things, so it was hard to imagine a better combination.
What made it even more special was being welcomed into those family moments. Chris and his family make me feel like an honorary member of the group, and I appreciate every minute of it.
I’ve learned that the best adventures are spending time with people you treasure, listening to their stories, sharing laughter, and creating new memories together.
My May 26th celebration included sunshine, beaches, bicycles, poker, and family. But the best part (the cherry on top!) was Patsy—and that made it unforgettable.
For related posts featuring the photogenic model-like Patsy, check out: Holiday Lunch with Patsy, A-Weeks Alphabet Assists, and Florida MicroAdventures.
One of my goals in 2026 is to celebrate the 26th every month. Today, Hug a Friend Day was a perfect day to celebrate by attending an amazing, original play: “Mom and Baby are Doing Great.”
Amalia Adiv, the daughter of my dear friend, Rebecca Ritter, wrote and performed the play. Knowing Rebecca and Amalia made the play extra special for me. I could just imagine how proud Rebecca must be.
And wow… it was one of those rare performances that makes you laugh one minute and tear up the next. My favorite kind.
The play is currently in “workshop” mode—which, as someone not in the theater world, I assume means it’s not finished yet. Honestly, it felt completely polished to me, though feedback was being collected in the form of sticky notes.
Amalia, a new mom, shares her childbirth experience with such honesty, vulnerability, and humor that you can’t help but be drawn in. Anyone who has gone through childbirth will immediately connect—but even if you haven’t, you’ll walk away with a much deeper appreciation for what mothers experience (physically, emotionally… all of it).
Seeing Amalia on stage was especially meaningful because I’ve known her—and her sister (Miriam)—since they were little girls. Rebecca has been one of my closest friends for over 20 years. I’ve been lucky enough to be part of many gatherings with their family over the years.
There’s something really beautiful about watching someone you’ve known since childhood step into their own and create something this meaningful.
Rebecca played an important role in Amalia’s play: Mother of the mother. You can bet she got a special hug from me.
Friends Diane and Mary joined me for this original performance. I felt lucky to be able to both watch this special play with girlfriends who were also mothers and then hug them!
I can’t think of a better way to spend Hug a Friend Day.
One of my goals this month is a simple one… but also kind of bold.
I’m writing a letter to Virginia Evans… and hoping she’ll write back!
Virginia Evan is the best-selling author of The Correspondent, the book I recently devoured (well, listened to… while walking… and also late into the night when I should have been sleeping 😄).
I’ve already shared my thoughts in my Goodreads review, but that didn’t feel like enough. This book practically invites you to write a letter.
If you’ve read it, you know why.
The protagonist, Sybil Van Antwerp, is a devoted letter-writer—including to authors. And now here we all are, a bunch of inspired readers, probably doing the exact same thing. I’m pretty sure that Virginia Evans is being absolutely inundated with fan mail right now.
Still… I’m sending mine anyway.
And yes—I’m including a stamped, self-addressed envelope and even an extra card. I know it’s a long-shot, but I’m hoping for a reply from this now-famous author!
This little project has me thinking a lot about letters in general—and how meaningful they can be.
Last year, while cleaning out my mom’s house, I uncovered a treasure I didn’t even know existed: a stack of love letters from 1954 between my mom and dad, written before they were married. Reading them felt like stepping into a time capsule.
My Mom wrote this letter 72 years ago today!
I also came across something I had completely forgotten about: a letter I wrote to my dad for his 71st birthday, encouraging him to write his life story.
And he did.
It made me realize—letters aren’t just communication. They’re catalysts. They capture a moment, but they can also create something new.
At the very least, they’re a way to create connection, give recognition, or tell someone you’re thinking of them.
I love all the wonderful ways we can communicate these days – text messages, IMs, social media, email, video-chat, and, of course, phone calls!
But, there’s something fun about good old-fashioned snail-mail! Partly, that’s because I get to seal my letter with my special Carpe Diem stamp!
And if I’m really lucky… I’ll hear back from Virginia Evans. 😊
Normally, I wait until May to come back from my Snowbird Adventures. April has such unpredictable weather in Colorado. We have snow one day and sunshine the next.
This year, I’d heard that Boulder had a much warmer winter than usual, and I wanted to be sure I didn’t miss all the Spring flowers that have such a short time for their peak blooms. Pearl Street in Boulder has such a beautiful, colorful assortment of tulips! The early return was the right decision. How fun to be able to enjoy this rainbow of color on a sunny Spring day!
The lilacs in my own garden are always late bloomers, but the very fragrant lavender blooms are popping up in all the neighborhood walkways.
True to form, Boulder did get an April snow last week. However, unlike other years, this one wasn’t heavy and the beautiful and fragrant lilacs survived. I’ve learned that rather than fret about snow, it’s better to savor the Spring flowers.
Five years ago, I celebrated National Orchid Day in mid-April.
This year, one of my projects is going to be to try and capture the lilac’s scent using this enfleurage technique I found on YouTube. Wish me luck at capturing that sweet smell.
One of the most joyful things about being home in Colorado is the opportunity to reconnect with friends in person.
Since I’ve been back in Colorado, I’ve been enjoying getting back on the trails. Admittedly, April can still be a little cold for my overly-sensitive body. That being said, Mary and I were able to get in a beautiful morning hike at South Mesa Trail before the cold front came in.
For many years, I got out for morning runs even on the coldest winter days. Now I get to enjoy winters in snowbird spots like Florida, California, and Mexico. When I get back to Colorado in the Spring, it can be chilly, but it gives me a chance to bundle up a little and see the mountain scenery without the frigid winter temperatures.
And today brought a different kind of joy. My friend Cathy and I attended a Spanish Meetup at Ozo’s on Pearl Street. What a fun way to spend the afternoon—practicing español with new people who are just as enthusiastic (and imperfect!) as I am.
Cathy and I have also been reading El Hobbit in Spanish together. She’s an advanced speaker, so I benefit from every conversation we have. Language learning is so much more enjoyable—and a lot less intimidating—when you’re doing it with a good amiga.
April may be unpredictable, but maybe that’s part of its charm. Tulips and lilacs that don’t last long but bloom through the snow, and friendships that are best enjoyed face-to-face—all reminders to pay attention while these moments are here. Spring doesn’t wait, and neither should we. So I’m soaking it in—the colors, the scents, the smiles—and reminding myself, once again, to carpe diem in every season.
When my friend, Mary, invited me to “A Multi-sensory Evening of Music, Art, and Community,” I was intrigued. The event took place in the clubhouse of her community and the main attraction was a talented, young artist, “Shanna in a Dress.” Any expectations I had were far exceeded. I quickly became a big FannaShanna.
Shanna (in any kind of attire) is funny, clever, cute, and genuine. The lyrics of her songs will make you laugh and make you cry. She writes songs that tug at your heart-strings in the sweetest kinds of ways.
Every song she performed was relatable, but one of my favorites was “Sweet Spot.”
As a lover of words and the feelings they conjure up, this song makes me smile. It’s a reminder that wherever we are in life, we can find the sweet spots of joy that come from being human.
These lyrics gave me that same feeling as the idea of “perfect imperfections” in “All of Me.” Not perfection… but something even better.
Not only is Shanna a talented song-writer and musician, her humor and banter entertain you throughout her performance. And her newsletters!
Just like her performances, her word-play and energy are infectious. In her welcoming newsletter she writes:
I don’t have dreams of becoming famous, I just dream about being able to deeply impact 1,000 true fans who have a heart for original music.
You just got one more, Shanna!
Super Carpe Diem Woman is FannaShanna!
I’ll admit—I discovered her emails had been quietly sitting in my Gmail “Promotions” folder (a place I rarely visit). That has now been corrected. I moved them to Primary and happily caught up on all the Shanna-nigans.
She travels throughout the country and she calls on her fan-base to help her by hosting gigs or house-concerts. Wow, she’s busy!
As if she isn’t busy enough, Shanna is even teaching a song-writing class! I’m bummed that I didn’t spread the word about this earlier since it already started April 7th. I have some very talented song-writing friends who might be interested, but if they miss this one, I’m guessing there’ll be more.
On this blog, I write about things that bring me joy. Shanna’s songs, with their playfulness and vulnerability, do just that.
I invite you to discover her, too!
As 2025 comes to a close, I’ve been enjoying looking back at photos and blog posts from the year. Wow! Even though I was uncharacteristically without a “big plan,” I had a lot of “joyful aging adventures.” It’s fun to see what evolves without a lot of “Big Planning Up Front.” (A frequent lesson in the world of an Agile coach.)
One thing that’s become apparent with aging is that life throws us curveballs, so even the best laid plans get interrupted. Flexibility and finding joy, even when life is difficult, have convinced me that every day can be an adventure. That’s what I think of as the “Carpe Diem Mindset.”
With that in mind, I’m sure I must have had at least 363 adventures this year (with 2 more days to go!), but in honor of 2025—and this being my 25th and final post of the year—here are 25 that I’ll share.
Looking back, these joyful aging adventures remind me that I have so much to be grateful for.
I was a lot less “prepared” with my usual list of goals. I was not nearly as disciplined with accomplishing major milestones… (other than Duolingo, that is.) Yet, still, every-day-life presented me with so much joy.
Here’s to staying open, finding joy, and seizing each day—one quotidian adventure at a time. (Quotidian: one of my favorite underused words, meaning “everyday.” I know I overuse it—because, after all, it is a quotidian word.)
Carpe Diem.
Once upon a time (OK, I still do this regularly), I donned a cape and became Super Carpe Diem Woman — champion of joy, optimism, resilience and goofy fundraising antics. My original mission? Fight ALS in honor of my friend Craig Dunham.
Now? I’m back. 💥 This time, I’m donning a purple-cape to raise money for the Alzheimer’s Association, in honor of my incredible mom.
Life lately has been both wonderful and difficult. I usually write about the wonderful — and yes, there’s still plenty of that — but feeling helpless while my Mom is struggling with so much has not been easy.
Inspired by a wise friend, I started reframing the hard stuff with a daily Joy Journal. Because when things feel out of control, gratitude, joy, and finding things to laugh about can all help.
And now I’m continuing the joy journey — fundraising, running, traveling, and gaming my way toward something meaningful.
✅ April 27th, I’ll be taking a slow solo road trip from California to Colorado. (I hate to drive but turning it into a brain-building fundraiser is my attempt at making this trip more meaningful and fun.)
✅ I’m training to run the Boulder Bolder on May 26. If you see someone jogging slowly in costume and high-fiving strangers — it’s me. (Actually, I’ll fit right in!)
✅ On May 31, I’ll be attending the Alzheimer’s Purple Gala in Denver. Sparkly purple dress? Right up my alley!
✅ And on June 20, I’m hosting a Longest Day Party — because joy and laughter are pretty great memory-makers, too.
This is me, attempting to turn helplessness into action. Working on my own brain health and spreading the word about how you can improve yours. Trying to turn tough stuff into a tiny bit of joy.
Support the cause with a donation, a share, a memory, a cheer, or just a kind comment! You can follow along here on the blog and on all the usual social suspects. I’ll be posting updates, photos, stories, and undoubtedly some silly selfies. Here’s to finding joy and making new memories every day. 💜
http://act.alz.org/goto/KeepMemoriesAlive
I-Weeks: Indulging In Ice Cream
I’ve been Imagining Ice Cream since the Initial days of I-Weeks! I Indulged Individually. (I’m Independent that way.) But, of course, I also Issued an Invitation to my MLC learner and her Irresistible Infant during our final Informal In-person get-together.
Our Informal Instructions are Improvised and sometimes Inspired by Interacting about Information pertaining to the celebrated letter.
In an Inordinate number of Instances, Inglish spelling Is Infuriating. Indeed, I’m Intentionally Inundating this post, even spelling Inglish Incorrectly, just to be Irritating (and to Introduce more I-words).
In my Inbox, I often receive Interesting Invitations Involving my iPhone. I took an iPhone Photography class and this week, the same photographer was offering an Instagram class. I’ve been Interested in Improving my Influencing skills with better Images, so I signed up!
My photography and Instagram skills are In their Infancy, so I’m Insecure. However, the Idea off capturing Incredible Images of joy, Is, In Itself, an Illusive goal to keep me Inspired.
An Inadvertent I-Weeks discovery was an Innovative park at The Bay in Sarasota called “Ibis Playground.” I’m Inserting an Incredibly Inferior Image as an Indication of the “before Instruction” quality of my Images.
I’m Intrigued by the Infinite and Illuminating expressions that can be made simply with ones “I”s (eyes). (This time I’ll Insert an Internet Image.)
It’s my final week of the snowbird season, so I’ve Intentionally avoided the Internet. Instead, I’ve spent Impromptu time, enjoying the Idyllic Iridescent ocean.
The beauty of my surroundings has been Ineffable. In-person Interactions have been Illuminating.
Inevitably, however, the Intelligent Interactions of the Internet are Irresistible. (In particular, the Carpe Diem Connections Facebook group.)
The answers to my request for Individual Introductions Include these Insights:
I-Weeks remind us to be Intentional about the Infinite choices In life. Invest In Individual Innovative Ideas. Introspect on your Identity. In-joy the Ineffable. And above all, Indulge In Ice Cream!
