Fifty Shades of Red

Photo by  NIR HIMI  on  Unsplash A Toast To:  Joy coming from within, and gifting others with my energy. Song Pairing: Leona Lewis - “Bleeding Love” (from the album, Spirit, 2007) - or as my brother calls it “The Period Song.” It has been over a year since I started living on my own again. October will mark a year of separation from my husband. This blog has explored some aspects of my highs and lows and has been an outlet for healing, escape, but mostly for recollection, processing thoughts, and gaining perspective.  A few weeks ago, it dawned on me that I have spent very few years as a single person. As a teenager, I was very mature for my age. I looked older, acted older, and my life experiences far exceeded those in my age group. It’s probably why most of the people I hung out with back then were older than me. My first kiss came at fifteen, which I think is old for first kisses. Now, I had been kissed, but there was no tongue until fifteen. I was in a relat...

  Photo by  Mick Haupt  on  Unsplash A Toast To:  My Dad - please don't be mad. Song Pairing:  The Guess Who  "No Sugar Tonight / New Mother Nature” (from the album, American Woman, 1970). By now I think I have established my love of fur babies. I have introduced my crazy pupperoo, Boo, to the "Redheads" (that's you). Out walking the Boo last week, I thought about how lucky I've been to have so many pets. In the case of Boo, the only reason it's possible for me to have her is because of a shared arrangement I have with her Daddy. This made me think, how did I manage in the past? How did my parents manage? Admittedly, Boo is spoiled rotten, and I am absolutely the problem. She gets four walks a day. She is not let out in a backyard, on a leash, to aimlessly wonder until she does her business. Boo is also very rarely left alone. As I continued my stroll, I pondered about how, as a kid, we left our dog Daisy by her lonesome all day long? And then I rememb...