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Life can be pretty black and white at times, at least according to Santa’s rule book. Forget to say “please,” “thank you” and be kind to your friends, family and strangers and you risk making the naughty list and not having your holiday wishes granted.  We have discovered that in most cases it takes less thought and effort to do the right rather than wrong thing. Sometimes, we need someone else to show us how, the point of our list below, where we focus on etiquette for holiday gatherings, so key at this time of year. But as we know—and...

I am on a decluttering jag. During the pandemic, I began to start cleaning out closets, drawers, and bookshelves, getting rid of clothing, books and other items in my home I never use or wear.  Margaret had inspired me after her move from St. Louis to New York City. I knew how hard she had worked and that it made more sense to do it while I could still bend, lift and carry. With few around, it was a perfect time to downsize for a future move whenever that may be. More important, I don’t want to leave the task...

Love is born from a specific moment, a specific act. You just had a baby. Is it instant love? For some, yes. And for others it takes time for the love to grow—when the baby smiles, starts chatting, even moving arms and legs.  Is love an emotion that just bubbles to the surface when you feel good around certain people? And does love stem from the head or the heart or both?  We know that when we feel love or loved, it lowers our blood pressure and certain feel-good chemicals are released in the brain. It’s akin to a runner’s...

You flunk a math test. Your fiancé dumps you right before the wedding. You get rejected from the private school or college that is your first choice. You run for political office and lose. The one job you thought you nailed, you didn’t get after multiple interviewers said you were great. Even worse, “You’re fired!” a catchphrase attributed to a former President. Fredrich Nietzsche Do you take to your bed? Sit in a corner and feel sorry for yourself. Become stuck. Give up. Mope for days, or cry, vent, maybe talk it out with family and/or friends and then figure...

   Friendships, we have come to conclude, are a lot like spices. They add flavor and enrich our lives in varying degrees, depending on the particular seasonings we choose and how much we sprinkle into the recipe.  There are the “go to” spices like salt and pepper that we might add into foods every day and even with every meal—atop our scrambled eggs in the morning, on our avocado toast at lunch and then into the stock for our roasted chicken in the evening. We also keep on hand essentials that might add more kick--cayenne, garlic, onion powder and paprika....