Joan, this is a wonderful narrative; thank you for sharing the joys and griefs of your life. It seems life never goes linear. Lots of ups and downs. The photos you've provided are great, and I love seeing your grandchildren on your tree.
I'm originally from the Bronx, NY, but I went to Michigan State University. It was culture shock for me. I stayed in the Midwest, moving to the Chicago area. I personally don't like the moving process, but I've moved around a lot in Illinois.
Oh Beth, thank you for such kind words! It’s been a wonderful remembering all these moves…new beginnings. Cool you went to MSU; we went to WMU…but big 💙fans! 😉 Chicago area has some pretty nice areas… just not fun I the City! Four hours by train not bad! 😅Thank you so much for taking time to write! ❤️🥰Big hugs! 🤗🤗😝
Joan, your "almost" move to the desert and displacing your daughter reminds me of moving from California back to Northville, Michigan in 2000 when my daughter was going into her Sophomore year of high school. She warned us not to go, it wouldn't work out...9/11 happened 13 months later and the company we moved for went bankrupt. Sounds like you've lived in some interesting places. I loved seeing the photos and especially the tree your grandkids are playing in. Enjoyable read!
I love that photo too…when they were all Littles. ☺️I hope your daughter got through it all okay… mine says now all the places we lived/started over enriched our lives! Means a lot looking back at my stories now. Thanks for reading, sharing your story. Are you still in Michigan? Appreciate you taking time to comment, dear friend, for understanding. ❤️🥰
I absolutely love reading about your life adventures! "Stop the presses!" 😂 I love the tree, too...with grandchildren climbing. Once I thought I would live in my first house forever, but my life had other ideas. I feel like I've been living on the run these last 6 years, but Missouri will be the home base soon. Thanks for sharing yourself. Beautiful!
Your story reminds me of how often we packed the moving truck and started again somewhere else.
How you managed to pack your story into this one gives me a visual of a life lived well with all its ebbs and flows. Your ability to "Accept, Adapt and Applaud" is admirable. No wonder the title! Thanks for sharing, Joan.
Oh Gary… you’ve made me realize this title does work for what I mostly write! Thank you for that! My daughter had a sign making party for her 50th Birthday and I saw it in a list of suggestions! It called to me as I felt like I live this way now. I made the sign… it’s on my living room wall. What else can we do but accept and applaud that we’re still here, still kickin’! Thanks for this…for reading me! 🥰❤️🫶
Interesting that we can read people as well as read their words about them, and you hit that nail squarely on the head. Brene Brown may have been among those to catapult being vulnerable as a strength with her publication of "The Power of Vulnerability" back in 2015. Her TedTalk is legendary.
Loved this! You really did have to change things around on a dime when you thought you were going to California and ended up in Georgia. You write in such an entertaining way. I really do enjoy reading your posts.
Thank you so much, Sally! For reading, for your kind words here…taking time to comment. 🥰
It was the first time I took charge without his input… I only had three days to interview, drive back to get my daughter, get home for last minute things. Back to GA to begin school for us both.
Don’t think I had time to think…it was just meant to be! Appreciate you caring, understanding, sweet friend! 🥰🤗❤️
Joan, oh I am so happy to read your stories and at the same time seeing the pictures of your longterm "model" home, the tree that grew to a grandchild tree, the rainbow after Jim passed, all brought me some tears. There is so much joy and happiness in your writing, as you reminisce and also how Jim made a fast decision to turn the boat around and you picked up all the pieces. Love your borrowed "prairie dress!" Both of you so adorable in the convertible dreaming of the SoCal desert life that wasn't meant to be. All that you went through, you were there for each other, supporting each other and especially the newspaper business, which is (back then especially) a hard round the clock job. Your daughter so sweet, going with the flow and your son deciding for his life what he wanted to do. You also discovered your love of teaching vs admin! Meant to be. I am really happy you are writing these stories! I remember Aruba! Great story! What a life. How on earth did you do it? I would say a beautiful relationship and a lot of trust and faith that it would all work out in the end. Love you. ox
I’m in tears, happy tears how you’ve captured it all in a nutshell dear Deb! I signed on knowing he’d climb the ladder; he’d always want bigger and better. I learned we could grow and learn with each change. Our strong faith in each other and our abilities helped. And love… we were always in love, back when PDA wasn’t a thing; but we were always affectionate and laughed a lot when life threw curves. We both saw life that way working with all parts of society thru his job; mine with students and their parents. “People persons” gave us perspective on life early on I think. Thanks for helping me get this into words. You help me go deeper than deep, girl! 😅Love you more and more each comment! 🥰❤️😍🫶
Joan, I feel so happy you are writing this all out and remembering fondly a once in a lifetime chance at loving someone through all the seasons. You were a solid couple together and that made supporting dreams easier. That faith is our glue too. When one is falling backward, the other catches and says “you’ve got this.” I love all of your stories of home and family. It’s so great to know you are getting these down for your family. What a beautiful example of commitment to leave for your grandchildren and their children. That’s what matters most. Love you. oxox
I love your storytelling Joan! Phone sex is the only way to make long distance work, imo. What is up next for you? Are you interested in writing a memoir? I would buy it in a heartbeat! XO 🥰😍🥰😍
Of course you’re the one to notice phone sex! 😅I imagine that shocked a few folks… but you are right; it kept us close and built anticipation for our next visit! No plans to do a memoir… these stories will be it for my kids and grandkids when I’m gone! 😄Thanks for reading, understanding, awesome Amy! Love that you get me! Love you/sending lotsa hugs! 🥰🤗🤗🤗🤗
I do in the sense of no cell phones, email… how we contacted people! Finding phone booths I recall! 😅 Thank you for reading me, writing here… I love your comments…this gives me something to think about now, dear Monica! Much love, my friend! 🥰🤗
Love 🩷🤗 Keep sharing your life. It gives me the courage to possibly start writing. I just wish I could start something, anything. I am not even able to make a decision 😆🤦🏼♀️
Awww…..thank you for your encouragement Joan. I used that photo, 10 years ago my life on Kauai, because I love that I am smiling and I don’t feel that I smile like that too often anymore. Lived on Kauai for about 12 years then moved back to the mainland for better health care. Life challenges. I miss our island 🏝️ home. I am retired, forced to retire about 8 years ago, because of health issues. My dear husband/caretaker is my family/best friend. Our families are scattered around the country. I am immune compromised and ‘high risk’ so our last big road trip was 2019 then the pandemic hit. We traveled internationally a lot in our younger years so it was fun to do road trips after living on an island. I am grateful for all the abundance surrounding me. I am alive, I have a wonderful caring life partner, I have clean water, nutritious food, clothes on my back, incredible night skies 🌌 and a beautiful home in southern Utah. 🩷🤗
You are so very blessed, sweet friend. Thank you for sharing all this. I’m glad you find smiles and encouragement here on Substack readin so many amazing writers. I can tell from our comments back and forth that you are too!!👍👏👏Write! I want to hear about island life! Your love story…he sounds like an awesome guy! There are others with chronic health issues… I will DM you their sites. They will love connecting with you and give you a nudge! 😉 Hugs! 🤗🤗
Wow, just wow, Joan! I have loved this series and as soon as I get caught up on three weeks worth of Substack emails, I'm going to go back and read them all in order, including the couple I missed. Thanks for sharing!
Joan, this is a wonderful narrative; thank you for sharing the joys and griefs of your life. It seems life never goes linear. Lots of ups and downs. The photos you've provided are great, and I love seeing your grandchildren on your tree.
I'm originally from the Bronx, NY, but I went to Michigan State University. It was culture shock for me. I stayed in the Midwest, moving to the Chicago area. I personally don't like the moving process, but I've moved around a lot in Illinois.
Oh Beth, thank you for such kind words! It’s been a wonderful remembering all these moves…new beginnings. Cool you went to MSU; we went to WMU…but big 💙fans! 😉 Chicago area has some pretty nice areas… just not fun I the City! Four hours by train not bad! 😅Thank you so much for taking time to write! ❤️🥰Big hugs! 🤗🤗😝
Love your prairie dress—I may have worn a different color ☺️
😂My sister’s style, not mine… maybe the only one that fit! The pearl necklace probably did it..hers too! 😄Thanks for reading, friend! Much love! 💙💙
💙🇺🇸💙Stay cool!
Joan, your "almost" move to the desert and displacing your daughter reminds me of moving from California back to Northville, Michigan in 2000 when my daughter was going into her Sophomore year of high school. She warned us not to go, it wouldn't work out...9/11 happened 13 months later and the company we moved for went bankrupt. Sounds like you've lived in some interesting places. I loved seeing the photos and especially the tree your grandkids are playing in. Enjoyable read!
I love that photo too…when they were all Littles. ☺️I hope your daughter got through it all okay… mine says now all the places we lived/started over enriched our lives! Means a lot looking back at my stories now. Thanks for reading, sharing your story. Are you still in Michigan? Appreciate you taking time to comment, dear friend, for understanding. ❤️🥰
I absolutely love reading about your life adventures! "Stop the presses!" 😂 I love the tree, too...with grandchildren climbing. Once I thought I would live in my first house forever, but my life had other ideas. I feel like I've been living on the run these last 6 years, but Missouri will be the home base soon. Thanks for sharing yourself. Beautiful!
Your story reminds me of how often we packed the moving truck and started again somewhere else.
How you managed to pack your story into this one gives me a visual of a life lived well with all its ebbs and flows. Your ability to "Accept, Adapt and Applaud" is admirable. No wonder the title! Thanks for sharing, Joan.
Oh Gary… you’ve made me realize this title does work for what I mostly write! Thank you for that! My daughter had a sign making party for her 50th Birthday and I saw it in a list of suggestions! It called to me as I felt like I live this way now. I made the sign… it’s on my living room wall. What else can we do but accept and applaud that we’re still here, still kickin’! Thanks for this…for reading me! 🥰❤️🫶
Interesting that we can read people as well as read their words about them, and you hit that nail squarely on the head. Brene Brown may have been among those to catapult being vulnerable as a strength with her publication of "The Power of Vulnerability" back in 2015. Her TedTalk is legendary.
Outstanding ! Another delightful & unique serving of ‘American Family Life.. !
🥰❤️Thank you, sweet man! Appreciate you reading me! 😊
.. your photographs are so enhancing & vital too !
☺️🫶🤗
Loved this! You really did have to change things around on a dime when you thought you were going to California and ended up in Georgia. You write in such an entertaining way. I really do enjoy reading your posts.
Thank you so much, Sally! For reading, for your kind words here…taking time to comment. 🥰
It was the first time I took charge without his input… I only had three days to interview, drive back to get my daughter, get home for last minute things. Back to GA to begin school for us both.
Don’t think I had time to think…it was just meant to be! Appreciate you caring, understanding, sweet friend! 🥰🤗❤️
Joan, oh I am so happy to read your stories and at the same time seeing the pictures of your longterm "model" home, the tree that grew to a grandchild tree, the rainbow after Jim passed, all brought me some tears. There is so much joy and happiness in your writing, as you reminisce and also how Jim made a fast decision to turn the boat around and you picked up all the pieces. Love your borrowed "prairie dress!" Both of you so adorable in the convertible dreaming of the SoCal desert life that wasn't meant to be. All that you went through, you were there for each other, supporting each other and especially the newspaper business, which is (back then especially) a hard round the clock job. Your daughter so sweet, going with the flow and your son deciding for his life what he wanted to do. You also discovered your love of teaching vs admin! Meant to be. I am really happy you are writing these stories! I remember Aruba! Great story! What a life. How on earth did you do it? I would say a beautiful relationship and a lot of trust and faith that it would all work out in the end. Love you. ox
I’m in tears, happy tears how you’ve captured it all in a nutshell dear Deb! I signed on knowing he’d climb the ladder; he’d always want bigger and better. I learned we could grow and learn with each change. Our strong faith in each other and our abilities helped. And love… we were always in love, back when PDA wasn’t a thing; but we were always affectionate and laughed a lot when life threw curves. We both saw life that way working with all parts of society thru his job; mine with students and their parents. “People persons” gave us perspective on life early on I think. Thanks for helping me get this into words. You help me go deeper than deep, girl! 😅Love you more and more each comment! 🥰❤️😍🫶
Joan, I feel so happy you are writing this all out and remembering fondly a once in a lifetime chance at loving someone through all the seasons. You were a solid couple together and that made supporting dreams easier. That faith is our glue too. When one is falling backward, the other catches and says “you’ve got this.” I love all of your stories of home and family. It’s so great to know you are getting these down for your family. What a beautiful example of commitment to leave for your grandchildren and their children. That’s what matters most. Love you. oxox
I love your storytelling Joan! Phone sex is the only way to make long distance work, imo. What is up next for you? Are you interested in writing a memoir? I would buy it in a heartbeat! XO 🥰😍🥰😍
Of course you’re the one to notice phone sex! 😅I imagine that shocked a few folks… but you are right; it kept us close and built anticipation for our next visit! No plans to do a memoir… these stories will be it for my kids and grandkids when I’m gone! 😄Thanks for reading, understanding, awesome Amy! Love that you get me! Love you/sending lotsa hugs! 🥰🤗🤗🤗🤗
Joann, always enjoy reading your posts. I’m sure you must look back and say “how did I/we do this?” 🥰
I do in the sense of no cell phones, email… how we contacted people! Finding phone booths I recall! 😅 Thank you for reading me, writing here… I love your comments…this gives me something to think about now, dear Monica! Much love, my friend! 🥰🤗
Love 🩷🤗 Keep sharing your life. It gives me the courage to possibly start writing. I just wish I could start something, anything. I am not even able to make a decision 😆🤦🏼♀️
Start by telling us about you, pretty girl. Your smile is so joyful …start there! You family, job, problems! You can do it! 😊👍
Awww…..thank you for your encouragement Joan. I used that photo, 10 years ago my life on Kauai, because I love that I am smiling and I don’t feel that I smile like that too often anymore. Lived on Kauai for about 12 years then moved back to the mainland for better health care. Life challenges. I miss our island 🏝️ home. I am retired, forced to retire about 8 years ago, because of health issues. My dear husband/caretaker is my family/best friend. Our families are scattered around the country. I am immune compromised and ‘high risk’ so our last big road trip was 2019 then the pandemic hit. We traveled internationally a lot in our younger years so it was fun to do road trips after living on an island. I am grateful for all the abundance surrounding me. I am alive, I have a wonderful caring life partner, I have clean water, nutritious food, clothes on my back, incredible night skies 🌌 and a beautiful home in southern Utah. 🩷🤗
You are so very blessed, sweet friend. Thank you for sharing all this. I’m glad you find smiles and encouragement here on Substack readin so many amazing writers. I can tell from our comments back and forth that you are too!!👍👏👏Write! I want to hear about island life! Your love story…he sounds like an awesome guy! There are others with chronic health issues… I will DM you their sites. They will love connecting with you and give you a nudge! 😉 Hugs! 🤗🤗
🩷🤗 You make me smile Joanie
Great read 🌿
Wow, just wow, Joan! I have loved this series and as soon as I get caught up on three weeks worth of Substack emails, I'm going to go back and read them all in order, including the couple I missed. Thanks for sharing!