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A closer look can tell a different story

I was sitting in the hotel lobby with three friends. We had just returned from an early-morning walk, and were enjoying a cup of coffee before packing up, checking out, and heading back to Minnesota. I was facing the front door of the hotel, and absently watching the people who were checking out and leaving. “They certainly have a lot of luggage for just two people,” I said to my friends, nodding toward a young couple pushing a cart full [...]

By |August 12th, 2016|Columns, Travel, Values|

Still on track for “Around the World in 80 Days”

We’re halfway there and still going strong. In June, I set off – along with a number of other women who work out at Curves – to walk around the world in 80 days of summer. The owner of our Curves facility figured out how many steps it would take to do this, and set that as our collective goal. She put a world map up on the wall, and charts our progress with little colored strips of paper, and [...]

An airport experience shows a lack of courtesy

My husband and I were returning from an out-of-state trip. Our flight home was late Sunday night, after a long and busy day. As we approached our gate at the airport, we found just one seat open in a row of seven seats. Gentleman that he is, my husband motioned for me to sit down. I did, and as I looked around, I could feel my temperature rising. It wasn’t from the weather, but the fact that three of the [...]

By |July 29th, 2016|Columns, Family, Respect, Travel, Values|

A beautiful day starts a beautiful new life

It was a beautiful, beautiful wedding. As the mother of the groom, I may be a bit biased, of course. But I know that everyone who was there was in full agreement. My son got married last weekend, in an outdoor ceremony on a sunny, gorgeous day. The reception was both rustic and elegant, although it doesn’t seem as though those two words would ever go together. There were some lovely touches I didn’t expect, like the sign near the [...]

By |July 22nd, 2016|Columns, Family|

You win or you learn

Some of my favorite quotes and sayings have come from signs I pass along the road, especially in front of churches, banks, and real estate offices. I always smile when I think about one I saw a few years ago. It said something like, “If God is your co-pilot, maybe you ought to trade places.” I saw a new one a few weeks ago, and it struck me as both clever and profound. It’s becoming even more so the more [...]

By |July 15th, 2016|Columns, Quotes and Sayings, Success, Toastmasters, Values|

Gifts should come with no strings attached

My birthday was last week, and I enjoyed the cards, emails and texts I received from family and friends. But what really amazed me were some of the “gifts” I received. One company, whose mailing list I am on, gave me a birthday gift of a 25% discount on a purchase from their online store. I had 48 hours to make the purchase. Other businesses offered buy-one-get-one-for-a-lesser-price options in honor of my birthday. One restaurant sent me a very generous [...]

By |July 8th, 2016|Columns|