runawaywidow

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Why Solo Travel Was the Best Therapy After Becoming a Widow

After my husband died, and the fog of grief started to lift, I found myself anxious about… well, everything. Things that once felt automatic—like making a pot of coffee—were now overwhelming. Should I make 8 cups like I used to? Or just 4 now? Everyday Tasks Felt Impossible Going to the grocery store was no better. The aisles were landmines of memories. I kept asking myself, “What do I even…

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The Alligator and the Power Saw

Tuesday morning, while drinking my coffee on the patio, I looked out to the pond beyond my screened lanai and felt myself become agitated. When did those palm fronds wilt and block my view of the water? I love my home here in Florida, my quiet mornings watching the birds fly over the man- made pond in my country club community before it gets too hot outside. The sun slowly rises, promising…

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Best Books for Summer Reading 2025

Whether you’re soaking up sun under an umbrella at the beach or nestled under blankets in an air-conditioned home, summer is the perfect time to get lost in a good book. I’ve created a list of recent reads that stayed with me—some made me think, some made me cry, and some were recommended and discussed at book club. Here are my favorites and why I think you might like them too: The Women by…

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Planning a Trip to Silver Springs State Park? Here’s Everything You Need to Know

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From Grief to Glow: My Book Signing Event in a Salt Cave

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Explore Gulfport: A Quirky Weekend Getaway in Florida

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From Dad’s Rows to Florida’s Chaos Gardening Sustainablility in Retirement

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Best Cruise Ship for your Girlfriend Getaway

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Ultimate Road Trip in England: And 2 nights in Castle!

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How, exactly, do you move out of your comfort zone?

As I sat at the beach today eating lunch alone in a restaurant, I remembered how hard it was to get out and do things alone after Mike died. It was debilitating. I had a break down at the grocery store. I left my basket filled with 10 (non-chilled) items near the register and left in tears. Shopping wasn’t the issue, but coming home to an empty house with food just for me was an overwhelming…

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Happy birthday today in heaven. Addie Meyer Sanders is the woman in history I nominate as this year's 2025 theme: "Moving Forward Together! Women Educating & Inspiring Generations."

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Traveling in Retirement: The Bali Adventure

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Start Fresh: Embrace the Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning in the New Year

Start Fresh: Embrace the Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning in the New Year

As the clock strikes midnight and a new year begins, many of us feel the urge for a fresh start. This year, decorating the house seemed to take a long time. But when it was time to take it all down, I was motivated. I purchased, for the first time, ornament boxes with separate spots to store all the ornaments. For years, I had copied my mom’s system. She layered large cardboard boxes with…

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Seashell Creations: Challenging Retirement with a Craft Fair Adventure

Seashell Creations: Challenging Retirement with a Craft Fair Adventure

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10 Things I do when Life doesn't go as planned

Sometimes in life, things just don’t go the way you expect them to. I learned that 9 years ago when one Friday night my husband, who I had planned my future with, was suddenly dead. I never imagined death was a possibility two weeks earlier when we dropped our son off at college for his Freshman year. It seemed unlikely one week earlier after the drop off, when we took a mini-vacation to New…

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Evacuating Florida Ahead of Hurricane Milton

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Common Signs Deceased Loved Ones are Communicating with You

Keeping an open mind, I believe we receive signs from our deceased loved ones and that when recognized can provide comfort and peace to those left behind. In the book Hello From Heaven by Bill and Judy Guggenheim, the authors collected more than 3,300 accounts of people who claim they have been contacted by a deceased loved one. Their book highlights fascinating to read ADC (after-death…