Beyond Words

I’m a big lamp person. I have them everywhere in our home: end tables, nightstands, desks, kitchen counters, and consoles. I love the warm glow they lend a room and the various styles I can incorporate. I’m not a big overhead light person. We rarely use the ones we have in our home and I’m okay with that.

 

This might be why I was intrigued by a magazine (yes, I love magazines!) article I recently read on the Tiffany Lamp. They’re not my absolute design favorite but I do appreciate the artistry of them and their history.

 

 

 

For more than 100 years, the Tiffany lamp has served a decorative art icon, known for its uniqueness, craftmanship, and stained-glass shade. They remain fixtures in homes and museums and their history is illuminating.

 

New York City native Louis Comfort Tiffany was born in 1848 and was the son of Charles Lewis Tiffany, founder of jewelry retailer Tiffany & Co. From an early age, he was exposed to decorative art and design and originally trained as a painter, but in his 20s he became interested in glassmaking after seeing a collection of Roman glass at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London. He was also influenced by a visit to the Universal Exhibition of 1889 in Paris and his work gained acclaim at the 1900 Paris Universal Exhibition.

 

 

 

He was particularly interested in the rustic nature of ancient glass and eventually founded a glass factory in Queens, New York as well as an interior design studio, Louis Comfort Tiffany and Associated American Artists. He thrived as a decorator, proving popular with everyone from wealthy individuals to a president of the United States but eventually dissolved the studio and created the Tiffany Glass and Decorating Company in 1885.

 

In this new venture, Tiffany experimented with tone, texture, and method. He strived to create colorful pieces without using paint or enamel and developed two important innovations: farvrile glass and the copper foil technique.

 

 

You could say popularity of Tiffany’s work exploded at the 1893 World’s Fair in Chicago when he debuted favrile glass. Achieved by mixing different colored hot glass together, Tiffany’s method held stained glass windows together by thick lead rods soldered without any visible joints. Still wanting to be paint-free, Tiffany created a thin, flexible foil that discreetly connects pieces of glass without line or joints. This is the method he used to create the trademark Tiffany Lamps with the help of artist Clara Driscoll who served as the brains behind the beauties.

 

 

A typical Tiffany Lamp traditionally consists of a bronze stand topped by a stained-glass shade, and they soon became icons of the Art Nouveau movement. Tiffany loved nature so each shade included patterns inspired by flora and fauna with daisies and dragonflies being the most common. The icon’s most popular styles are also shaped like trees and many of the shades feature scalloped edges reminiscent of flower petals, butterfly wings, and other forms found in nature.

 

 

The lamps became collectibles also in the Arts and Crafts movement when Tiffany incorporated geometry into their creation but eventually fell out of fashion and weren’t produced after 1913. Like all great concepts though, they saw a resurgence in the 1950s and since then have become collector’s items and popular in auction houses, private collections, museums, and for the lucky thrifter: flea markets. Recent purchases have included the above Wisteria Lamp, which sold for more than $1 million. His works remain popular and many a knock-off can be found.

 

 

 

So, let’s think about it.  What do lamps do? They light up a room. They warm up a room. In short, they are light.

 

The Bible tells us many things about lamps and light. Psalm 119:105 declares “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path” as the writer declares to the Lord. Proverbs 6:23 similarly says “For this command is a lamp, this teaching is a light” while Luke 8:16-18 talks about the importance of letting your light shine and not holding it in or back.

 

 

In this scripture, Jesus emphasizes the importance of not hiding the light of God’s truth and He urges His listeners (and us!) to pay attention to what they hear. Boy is this timely! In short, the verse reminds us of the importance of authenticity and integrity. Perhaps the reference to letting our light shine means being our true selves and living in an open, honest, and genuine way while radiating and shining positivity and goodness.

 

As to hidden things coming to light, Luke brings to light the concept of accountability and transparency and suggest secrets or deceitful actions can’t and won’t remain hidden forever. Eventually all will be exposed. In reading this, we should hear the message that we ought to act with sincerity and honesty as the truth will always eventually come to light.

 

 

Going back to Psalm 119, the word “lamp” is “ner” in the original Hebrew and referred to a small clay lantern. The psalmist compared it to the Word of God being a lamp he could carry on his journey to keep him on the right path and not off course. We learn that just as a lamp brightens a path, the light of God’s word gives us the light and lit direction to traverse this world.

 

 

Not only do these lamps and lanterns light our way, Proverbs reminds us that the advice we should be taking is not that of random counselors, viral podcasters, or out-of-touch celebrities but rather the rock solid truth of His word when it comes to navigating difficult moral choices in our dark and fallen word. Yes, counselors and podcasters can have positive and helpful advice, but the best advice comes from the Book.

 

 

2 Peter 1:19 provides the direction we need and remind us that “we also have the prophetic message as something completely reliable and you will do well to pay attention to it as to a light shining in a dark place.”

 

All these scriptures and parables are messages that a lamp does indeed give light, but not just for itself. We see things with the shedding of light. By living with integrity and honor, we shed light on others and can illuminate what is beautiful and reveal what is ugly.

 

So, whether your lamp is Tiffany or TJ Maxx, be a beacon. A beacon of light in a world that so desperately needs it. Shine brightly my friends.

I recently golfed with a dear friend of mine when I noticed her earrings. Amazing, dazzling earrings. Come to find out she and her hubby recently celebrated a big anniversary and they were his gift to her. They were two holes in one in each of her ears for sure!

 

Ironically, just the previous day I was reading an article on recommended new books to read and three of them were about jewelry: “Precious. The History and Mystery of Gems Across Time,” “If Jewels Could Talk,” and “Sybill and David Yurman: Artists and Jewelers.” The three of them caught my eye just like my friend’s studs did. I plan to read them all and it all got me thinking about all things jewelry.

 

 

I’m a fan of jewelry, but what woman isn’t? Whether it’s some of the iconic pieces I’m lucky enough to own, inexpensive yet sentimental pieces, Native American pieces, and baubles I’ve bought on trips, I love them all. I love turquoise, pearls, and emeralds, my birthstone. So loyal am I to these, my one recent jewelry purchase in Santa Fe was a Native American made pearl and turquoise necklace. Perfection!

 

 

Funny thing is, I wear the same pieces almost all the time and every day. Diamond studs are always a go too as is my watch and wedding rings. Every now and then I’ll mix things up by wearing earrings or a necklace that just go with an outfit but nine out of 10 times, I’m wearing the same pieces. And I’m okay with that. I’m a creature of habit and pretty much over matchy-matchy pieces and buying whatever is trending today. Give me old school and give me iconic.

 

The world has long been fascinated by jewels and jewels have long played an important role as monikers of history. There are countless “most famous jewels in the world” but I’m going to list those that stand out to me here and later talk about other popular and iconic jewels.

 

 

For me, and this should come as no surprise to anyone who knows me, the piece of jewelry I would want to own most (I do have a dupe!) is Princess Diana’s engagement ring. The 18-carat sapphire surrounded by diamonds is known and copied the world over and today sits on the hand of Princess Kate, given to her on her engagement to Diana’s son William. It is truly one of the most if not valuable jewels, beloved. Being a lover of emeralds, I’d also take the emerald choker Di famously wore as a headband. So beautiful. So chic.

 

 

If asked, most people would say the Hope Diamond as the most famous jewelry item, and they’re not wrong. Definitely one of the most well-known diamonds in the world, the gem is said to have originated in India and was first owned by King Louis XIV of France and today the 45.52-carat blue diamond resides in the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C.

 

 

Equally impressive but perhaps not as famous is L’Incomparable Diamond that weighs in at 637 carats and is considered one of the most expensive necklaces in the world. Valued at $55 million, the deep yellow 407.48-carat diamond featured as the necklace focal point is the largest internally flawless diamond ever graded by the Gemological Institute of America and the necklace itself has a Guinness World Record.

 

 

Another record breaker is the stunning Cora Sun-Drop Diamond, which at 110.3-carats, is the largest known yellow pear-shaped diamond. But that’s only one of its records. Found in South Africa in 2010, it  sold for $10.9 million at a Sotheby’s auction in Geneva, setting a world record price for a yellow pear-shaped diamond. Including commission and taxes, the buyer is said to have paid $12.36 million.

 

 

On permanent display at Tiffany’s flagship 5^th Avenue New York City store is another famous diamond: the Tiffany Diamond.  Mined in 1877 in South Africa at a mind-boggling nearly 288-carats, the stone was purchased in 1878 by Charles Lewis Tiffany who had the stone cut to its current 128.54 carats. In 2012, the iconic yellow stones were reset into a necklace and accented by white diamonds in celebration of Tiffany’s 175^th anniversary. It is now on permanent display in the brand’s 5^th Avenue flagship New York City store.

 

 

The Taylor-Burton Diamond is equally famous and was purchased in 1966 as a rough 241-carat diamond by Harry Winston. It was later cut into a pear-shaped nearly 70-carat flawless diamond and purchased by Richard Burton as a gift for his wife Elizabeth Taylor.

 

 

Burton also bought Taylor La Peregrina Pearl in 1969. Found off the coast of Panama in the mid-16^th century (“peregrina” is Spanish for “pilgrim” and “wanderer), the pearl was gifted to King Phillip II of Spain who later presented the 58.5-carat pearl to Queen Mary of England as a bridal gift. It is said to be the most symmetrical natural pearl ever discovered.

 

 

The Koh-I-Noor Diamond, which reportedly started out at 793 carats and has been passed around by rulers for more than 5,000 years, is equally stunning. Today it is housed in the Tower of London and sits atop the 1937 coronation crown of Queen Elizabeth and the Queen Mother.

 

 

Being a lover of most things royal, I also love the Marie-Louise Diadem crown, which was a wedding gift from Napoleon to his bride Empress Marie-Louise. Originally consisting of emeralds set in the diadem, the green beauties were later replaced with Persian turquoise stones and today is housed at the Smithsonian. As a lover of both pearls and emeralds as I mentioned above, both versions of this crown speak to me.

 

 

Another crown, The Henckel Von Donnersmarck Tiara, boasts some of the world’s rarest emeralds. First thought to belong to Empress Eugenie of France, I love it and its regal emeralds. Who can also forget the stunning diamond and emerald Greville Emerald Kokoshnik Tiara worn by Princess Eugenie in her wedding? I thought she was one of the most stunning royal brides in recent memory. Loved her dress. Loved this tiara. Made by famed French jeweler Boucheron in 1919, Queen Elizabeth lent it to Princess Eugenie, making it one of the most green with envy “something borrowed” items ever.

 

 

 

 

So that’s a quick wrap up of jewelry most experts agree are the most famous pieces that we mere mortals can only just look at. But there are also those somewhere in between out of reach and those we can buy albeit for a pretty penny.

 

 

 

We’ll start with one of my faves: the Cartier Love Bracelet. I love everything about it including its simplicity to its meaning. Its unassuming yet distinctive design has stood the test of time since first being introduced in 1969. That’s when Italian jewelry designer Aldo Cipullo presented a gold bangle with visible screws to Micael Thomas of Cartier. What looked like nothing special, it was unique in that it could only be put on or taken off with the help of another person. The bracelet took design inspiration from American hardware stores and was meant to signify a committed relationship. When Cartier introduced it in 1969, everyone from the Duke of Windsor (I’m not a big fan of it on men) to Ali MacGraw put their names on the waiting list for one. Today, its original motif of two screws that your lover is supposed to clasp on your wrist with the included special vermeil screwdriver, is still one-of-a-kind. Amazingly, Cipullo originally presented his Love Bracelet to Tiffany & Co. but they rejected the style. In 1978 Cipullo introduced the Love Ring, which I consider the perfect wedding band for man or woman.

 

 

I also love the Cartier Trinity ring and think it also makes a great wedding band. As with the Love Bracelet, the ring is elegantly simple, consisting of three interlocking bands of colored gold that appear to be one gold, one platinum, and one rose gold. It is definitely an “OG” on all jewelry lists and a true IFKYK item. Created by Louis Cartier in 1924, it is a welcome slice of simplicity in a world of increasingly excess. The Trinity cult includes the likes of those as classic as it, including Gary Cooper, Grace Kelly, and Princess Diana. This year being its 100^th anniversary may be the perfect year to buy one.

 

Cartier watches are also classic pieces, with my faves being the Santos and the Cartier Tank. Others include the ever-popular Rolex, Patik Philippe, Omega, and other brands.

 

I feel I can’t mention Cartier without mentioning a newer creation, the Juste un Clou collection. Consisting of its signature nail design, the name literally means “Just one nail” in French, was created in ’70s New York, and reflects the bold spirit of the era. According to Cartier, its nail-inspired silhouette breaks through conventions, asserting the essence of its wearer: original, independent, fearless, and free. I’m not a huge fan but huge numbers of others are.

 

 

Next up on my list: Van Cleep & Arpels Alhambra. The clover-shaped necklaces, earrings, and bracelets were created in 1968 and inspired by the four-leaf clover. Intended to be an emblem of luck and a positive vision of life, fans include the likes of Kate Middleton, many a celebrity and Bravo-lebrity, and Princess Grace of Monaco. What I also love about the collection is that its name is derived from the Alhambra Palace in Granada, Spain, where Moorish quatrefoil motifs adorn its exquisite architecture. I’m of Spanish descent, love the Alhambra, and have a special place in my heart for Spain.

 

 

Okay, now to all those other iconic objects of desire, some of which I like, some of which I don’t.

 

One such piece is the Bulgari Serpenti watch. Immortalized by Elizabeth Taylor in 1962 on the set of “Cleopatra,” the diamond-studded timepiece is truly indistinguishable and an eye catcher.

 

 

 

You could say the same about Jean Schlumberger bangles, first designed in 1962 and a favorite of Jaqueline Kennedy Onassis. They are available through Tiffany, which also offers more affordable but just as distinctive pieces by Elsa Perreti and Paloma Picasso along with Tiffany Setting engagement rings, introduced in 1886, it is considered the world’s most iconic engagement ring. Flawlessly engineered, the six-prong setting virtually disappears and allows the brilliant diamond to float above the band and into the light, resulting in a ring so beautiful it has been a symbol of the world’s greatest love stories for more than 130 years.

 

 

Little blue boxes from Tiffany can also be filled with the iconic Return to Tiffany^® collection, an indelible and instantly recognizable symbol of the house of Tiffany. The origins of the Return to Tiffany^® collection can be traced back to 1966, when Tiffany first began selling key tags featuring the now-famous “Please Return to Tiffany & Co. New York” phrase. The key tags were assigned a unique registration number, ensuring that if the owner and their keys were separated, they would be reunited at the legendary Tiffany Fifth Avenue flagship store. By the early 2000s, Return to Tiffany^® tags achieved iconic status and today can be found on various pieces and in various shapes.

 

 

Last but certainly not least is the great American jewelry success story of Sybil and David Yurman of the popular David Yurman brand and the subjects of the above-mentioned book. Not only are they an American jewelry success story but an American love story as well. The couple met in 1969 and have a combined love of painting (her) and sculpture (him) and launched their jewelry brand in 1980. Their work is as intertwined as their iconic Cable bracelet and I for one am a fan.

 

 

Two lines I’d like to also mention are Kendra Scott and Nadine Ghosn for two different reasons. I mention Austin’s own Kendra Scott not so much because of her jewelry, but because of her story. Yes, her Danielle earrings can be found in my jewelry box as well as other pieces and were the big rage in the late 2000s. As much as her creations can be found everywhere these days, the fact that she is one of only 20 women in the U.S. to found a billion-dollar brand is what I find most impressive. And she’s self-made. And she gives back in ways as big as her brand.

 

 

Ghosn is equally impressive. Her goal was to make ordinary products extraordinary and she achieved her five-year plan in one. Her pieces speak for themselves and I love them! My favorites are the pencils and the crayons. Bestsellers also include paper clips, BIC pens, Legos, straws, utensils, and other everyday objects she dazzles up and that serve as reminders to find wonder in the mundane.

 

 

So there you have it. Everything and anything you’ve ever wanted to know about the crème de la gems. I could go on and on and include the likes of Chopard and Bucheron, Hermes and Bvlgari, but I think you get the point here. Diamonds have and will always be a girl’s best friend and boy am I down for it.

 

 

 

 

 

Two events recently caught my eye…one the whole world was watching and the other was both watched and ridiculed. Both, however, involved a foreign language.

 

 

The first one I mention was the Olympics in Paris (oui oui!) and the second one was sorority rush (or “recruitment” as it’s now called) held on college campuses. French and Greek. Bonjour and yia sas! My dream would be to speak multiple languages but come to find out we all do! Kind of. And as for those Greeks, stay with me here; this isn’t a blog about frats or the French a little of both and something interesting I didn’t know.

 

 

Why are sororities and fraternities named after Greek letters? Good question!

 

The first fraternities were formed in 1750 at the College of William and Mary and were originally debate clubs and literary societies. Boy, have they changed! LOL. Additionally, the groups generally went by Latin names but in 1776, a group of students started their own club and, as a way of avoiding association with their predecessors and those known for partying (again, boy have things changed!), they chose to go Greek rather than Latin. Their thought was also that they wanted to be associated with Greece’s rich cultural history of intellectual innovation. This next part may surprise you.

 

 

 

The group’s motto was “Philosophia Biou Kubernetes,” which means “Love of Learning is the Guide to Life.” They later became known as Phi Beta Kappa and spread to other universities. I’m pretty sure you’ve heard of them as they are the most respected honor society in America. From there, things took a slight turn.

 

Students who literally didn’t make the grade for Phi Beta Kappa formed their own groups, established their own rules and traditions, and originally lived in separate dorms. Over time, these sororities and fraternities began to buy houses for their exclusive use and if you’ve seen any of these today, they are not your average house. They are notoriously thought to be snobbish and ridiculous, but membership can pay off big time as “brothers and sisters” can become life-long friends as well as professional contacts and colleagues. Many presidents, corporate leaders, and Fortune 500 executives are members.

 

 

 

I know this first-hand as truth be told, I’m Greek. Yeah yeah, I’m really Spanish with a tiny bit of French, but in college I pledged a sorority. Upon arrival at the University of Oklahoma, I knew nothing about sororities, soon learned Greek life is HUGE there, and somehow ended up in a really good house. I still have four really good friends who I travel with annually and who I consider “my people.” One of my closest friends in college was even Phi Beta Kappa!

 

Okay, enough about me and enough about fraternities and sororities. As for French and Greek though, many words and phrases you and I use on sometimes a daily basis are actually foreign. We know what we think we mean when we use them, but do we know their real meanings? It’s all Greek to me and maybe you, but not anymore!

 

Let’s go!

 

 

 

Some of these phrases are used without really knowing what they mean and many are very useful. Let’s look at a few, starting with the one that Mr. Berra kinda misused.

 

Déjà vu. French for “already lived.” A feeling of having previously experienced something and the experience of thinking a new situation had occurred before.

 

Ad nauseam. Latin for “to nausea.” To a sickening or excessive degree.

 

Quid pro quo. Latin for “this for that.” An equal exchange. Something given in return for something else; a favor for a favor.

 

E.G. Abbreviation for “exempli gratia” or “for example” in Latin.

 

I.E. Abbreviation for “id est” or “in other words” in Latin.

 

Alumnus and alumni. Latin male nouns.

Alumna and alumnae. Latin female nouns.

 

Faux pas. French for “false step.” A social blunder. A violation of accepted social norms.

 

Schmooze.  An English mangling of the Yiddish word shmues, which is apparently an adaptation of the Hebrew word shemuos for”tidings.” To talk casually, chat, network.

 

Vis-à-vis. French for “face-to-face.” Often also used as in comparison with and In relation to.

 

Shlep. Yiddish for “to tote.” To drag, carry with difficulty, or to travel slowly or awkwardly.

 

Je ne sais pas. French for “I don’t know.” “Je ne sais pas how the Olympic athletes do what they do but I loved watching most of them in Paris!”

 

Je ne sais quoi. French for a quality that cannot be described or named easily. Gotta admit, this is one of my favorites. I love using it when someone has a quality that is just hard to describe.

 

Persona non grata. Latin for “a person not welcome.” Unacceptable or unwelcome whether it’s someone at a party or someone walking on your lawn.

 

Piece de resistance. French for “a thing of strength or stamina.” A prized item in a collection.

 

A la carte. French for “according to the menu.” Individually priced items from a menu in a restaurant.

 

Coup de grace. French for “blow of mercy. “ A decisive finishing blow, act, or event such as an action that ends something that has been gradually getting worse.  Example:  My disastrous exam results dealt the coup de grâce to my university career.

 

RSVP. French.  Short for “répondez s’il vous plaît” or “”respond if you please.”  A phrase often used at the end of invitations meaning “please reply” as in please let us know if you’re coming or not.

 

Carte blanche. French for “blank document.” Unrestricted power to act at one’s discretion.

 

Status quo. Latin for “the state in which.” The current situation.

 

Mea culpa. Latin for “My guilt.” A formal acknowledgement of personal fault or error.

 

Carpe diem. Latin for “pluck the day.”  Seize the day. Seize the moment.

 

C’est la vie. French for “this is the life.”  Acceptance of a situation, often with a sense of resignation. Basically “that’s life!”

 

Et cetera. Latin for “and the rest.”  And so forth, and other things, all the rest.

 

Per se. Latin for “by itself.” In English, we use it to indicate that something is thought of independently, without any additional factors or context, in essence, or inherently. Example: Karen’s new restaurant is not expensive per se, but the menu can be pretty pricey.

 

Per diem. Latin for “per day.” Used generally for paid or calculated by the day.

 

Al fresco. Italian for “in the fresh” as in fresh air. Outdoor dining, painting, or activities of any kind.

 

Bona fide. Latin for “in good faith.”  Well-intentioned, fairly, genuinely, sincerely, authentic.

 

Ad hoc. Latin for “for this.” A solution designed for a specific purpose, problem, or task.

 

Hasta la vista. Spanish for “until we see (each other) again.”

 

And until we see each other again, have fun with these and let me know if I missed any!

 

Hasta la vista readers!

 

 

 

“Sometimes you find yourself in the middle of nowhere and sometimes in the middle of nowhere you find yourself.”

 

I’ve always loved that quote and have thought it in my head or out loud many times. I also love the above photo, taken in the middle of nowhere and highway on the way to Marfa, Texas.

 

 

 

Our daughter and I have a running joke consisting of simply saying to each other, “Welcome to Tempe.” It all stems from when she lived in Scottsdale and we’d venture out somewhere telling ourselves we didn’t need to use a GPS to get somewhere nearby or somewhere we’d been a million times but nine times out of 10 we’d seen that sign, which meant we went the wrong way once again. Truth be told, we are both severely directionally challenged.

 

 

 

For me personally this all came to light recently as I was visiting my mom and sister in a city I’m not totally familiar with. I’d take my sister’s car to my mom’s assisted living center but every time I had to use my GPS, which I affectionately call “Poopsie.” Poopsie got me there and back safely the first time, but, for some reason, on my second trip home the signal on my phone wasn’t working and I panicked just a bit. I literally thought to myself I’m going to have to call my brother-in-law to come get me so I could follow him home. Thankfully I smartened up and realized their car had a built-in voice navigation system. Alleluia! I got home safe and sound.

 

 

What’s sad is if I were my husband or the tens of thousands of other good navigators, I would have been able to get home simply by remembering how I got there. That doesn’t work for me and it certainly doesn’t work when Poopsie often takes me to places in different ways depending on traffic, road closures, and the likes. I can’t remember the route if that route changes!

 

I can say I always know my way around any city I’ve lived in, including shortcuts and back roads. I credit this to my days in TV news when we’d have to get somewhere every day all day and the photographers driving always figured out the easiest ways to do so. Which brings up another navigational issue: those who drive and those who ride.

 

 

I definitely fall in the latter camp as I’m not someone who always wants to drive. I’d actually prefer to just ride and enjoy the view. This is especially the case with my husband who travelled for 40+ years and as I previously mentioned, has an amazing sense of direction. I have no problem sitting in the passenger seat and letting someone else take the wheel. Trouble is, I don’t pay attention to where we’re going or how we’re getting there.

 

Come to find out there’s somewhat of a science behind all of this. Navigational skills are highly studied and I find it all fascinating.

 

 

Discovermagazine.com discovered the world is full of people like both my husband and me and those in there are “route followers” who are able to navigate by using landmarks and those who have “survey knowledge” and are able to build a sort of mental map of where they’re going. I’ll never forget the two of us driving around Switzerland and opting to drive up Furka Pass. IFKYK and we didn’t know! It was treacherous yet memorable drive and my husband navigated it like a pro while I was covering my eyes half of the time and holding a physical map to cover my window. He also did amazing driving in Scotland on the “wrong” side of the road.

 

 

Of the two, route following is considered easier and most people do pretty well at it once they’ve taken a route a few times. If I’m either, I’m definitely more of a landmark girl. Even though I’m of the age of someone who actually used printed maps in my younger years, I much prefer you tell me “Turn right at the 7-11 and then left at the park” rather then “go north until the 7-11 and then go east.”

 

 

How, though, does navigational ability develop and why do some people have it and some don’t. These have proved difficult for scientists to explain but research does suggest that to some extent, a good sense of direction is somewhat shaped by upbringing. And, if you ask many, it is also shaped by gender.

 

The classic gender stereotype is that men are good with directions but that women easily get lost. Sad to say in our marriage, this is definitely the case. Studies do show that navigational skills do have slight gender differences and that men tend to navigate by maps in their heads while ladies do so by routes and landmarks. Again, hubby and I are raising our hands on this one too. I’m happy to report, this all goes way back. And I mean waaaaay back.

 

 

Some swear by the evolutionary explanation of all this in that in hunter-gatherer days, the men hunted and the women gathered. Psycologytoday.com explains this further in that men as hunters chased game across open spaces so they needed a good sense of the lay of the landmarks, resulting in their brains evolving to navigate by mental maps. But women as gatherers collected fruits and veggies. Since plants remain n the same location, female brains evolved to navigate by routes and landmarks.

 

 

This all makes total sense, right and it may be accurate, but there are plenty of men who are bad at directions and plenty of women you are good at it. Mental mappers boast hallmarks of good navigators as they can estimate how far they’ve traveled, read and remember maps, and learn routes easily. A University of Florida study also found that better navigators are also good at using alternate strategies so that when they find themselves in a new situation, they’re better able to find their way out and around.

 

Two psychologists, Nora Newcombe and Steven Weisberg also discovered individual navigational skills can depend on actual personality traits. They first looked at motivation and found that those who performed poorly did so because they weren’t motivated to learn the layout. I get that. But, most of us do have a strong incentive and desire not to get lost.

 

Next, they considered anxiety and found that some are bad at directions because they get nervous and feel apprehensive when they need to get themselves somewhere they’ve never been. I get that too.

 

Newcombe and Weisberg then examined cognitive abilities and then personality factors including openness, extraversion, and conscientiousness…all of which contribute to a good sense of direction. Having a high level of curiosity and new experiences, an outgoing nature and high level of energy, and a diligence and determination to get things done are often the makings of a good navigator. As for me, I’m just the third one. And that’s okay.

 

 

The research team concluded that those who are good at navigating shouldn’t assume everyone is and if they’re not, they’re flawed and those who get easily lost need to remember there’s nothing wrong with them and they are definitely not alone in this.

 

What about using and relying on GPS? Yes, it’s a good thing cuz it finds the way for you but studies show the more you use it, the worse your skills to navigate get.

 

 

So, what’s a navigation failure like myself to do? One suggestion is to pay attention to compass direction and I will say I do have my version of a mental directional map in that I picture the eastside mountains in my hometown or the westside lake in my current home as well as where the sun sets and rises. From  there I can picture if I’m going north or south somewhere. I also try to remember that on the interstate, east/west highways are generally even numbers and north/south ones are odd numbers and the placement of the exit numbers above them indicate the exit will either be on the left or the right. It doesn’t always work, but Poopsie does and if by chance I see “Welcome to Tempe” sign, I’ll drive away as it’s a great place to end up!

 

As a golfer, it’s not every day you get to play an uber private and legendary course but years back my husband got to do just that at Royal Troon in Scotland. It was a once-in-a-lifetime round and one courtesy of our dear friends Mary and Brian who we’ve known for many years and who are originally from Scotland. They contacted a dear friend of theirs “back home” who was a member at Troon and before we knew it, he was playing, I was touring, and later we were both inside the clubhouse and locker room with the most hospitable and friendly of Scottish couples and where hubby had to borrow a jacket from the club to wear over his golf shirt in the strict “jackets only” restaurant. We will never forget it and are reminded of it this week as the 152^nd British Open is played at Royal Troon’s Old Course.

 

 

Founded in 1878, the famous course was designed in the traditional out-and-back manner of another Old Course, St. Andrews. Troon is a tough test and includes a gentle opening through some of the most striking links land found at any Open venue. It wraps things up with a back nine that’s considered as tough as any finish in the world.

 

 

 

As memorable as Troon and all of Scotland was, one of the most unforgettable things we did and that I’ve ever done on any trip is seeing the famous Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo. This pageantry of all pageantry consists of 1,000 musicians, pipers, drummers, singers, and dancers as well as stirring performances of the Massed Pipes and Drums and the Massed Military Bands emerging from the huge castle gates and playing the inspiring battle tunes of Scotland’s famed regiments all with the backdrop of the floodlit Edinburgh Castle. Dramatic, amazing, and mind-blowing don’t even begin to describe it.

 

If you know anything about golf, you know it originated in Scotland and if you know anything about Scotland, you know it’s also the home of bagpipes. Kind of.

 

 

 

Yes, bagpipes today are officially associated with Scotland, but ancient and medieval art and sculpture dating from 1000 BC depict forerunners of the bagpipe in Middle Eastern, Egyptian, Roman, and Grecian cultures. The earliest appearance in the British Isles didn’t appear until sometime in the 14^th century and in his classic “The Canterbury Tales” from 1380, Chaucer mentions “a baggepype wel coude he blowe and sowne.” So, there’s a snippet of its history, but what exactly is a bagpipe?

 

 

There remain several versions of the bagpipe, but the one we are most familiar with is the Scottish Highland one consisting of three drone pipes on the top of the bag and a nine-note chanter pipe along with a bag made out of sheep or elk skin.

 

From the bagpipe’s first days in Scotland, tradition had it that each town had an official tax-funded bagpiper who played at formal occasions, country fairs, weddings, and in churches. Not only were pipes entertaining, they were also protective. The first mention of bagpipes used as instruments to spur on the troops occurred at the Battle of Pinkie in 1549 and in 1746, they were used in the Scots’ failed Battle of Culloden, after which the instrument was banned by the British for 40 years.

 

But, by WWI, the Brits had adopted 2,500 Scottish comrades to bravely lead the troops into battle, many of whom were killed or wounded by the Germans. Pipers were then forbidden on WWII front lines but one brave Scottish piper called Private “Mad” Bill Millin could be heard on D-Day through gunfire on Normandy Beach.

 

 

As important as the pipe itself is, so is what a piper wears, often called the “full highland dress No. 1.” Essentials are traditionally the tall, ostrich feather bonnet; a highly decorated jacket and plaid kilt; a short sword called a dirk at the side; a large bejeweled brooch; horsehair tassels called sporran; and white spats, short for spatterdashes or spatter guards, which cover the instep and the ankle. As for what’s worn under a kilt; well, that’s a tale all its own.

 

 

Most of us have heard that it’s a Scottish tradition to not wear undies under a kilt. If you ask a kilt-wearing gent that question, you might regret doing so as his answer could vary and very well embarrass you, not him. (I may or may not have asked the piper pictured above with me and hubby!) Historically, many believe the tradition of not wearing undergarments under a kilt began in Scottish military regiments. It is rumored that the Scottish military code from the 18th century prescribed a kilt but did not mention underwear so Scottish soldiers took that as a challenge rather than an oversight and the underwear-less tradition began. The popular saying “going commando” evolved from this and the rest is kilt and underwear history. Oddly enough, Scottish regiments wore kilts in combat until they were banned during WWII for fear that a Scotsmen’s private parts would be exposed to chemical weapons. Ouchie! Some still consider it inauthentic to wear underwear while others insist that the regimental style is outdated and unhygienic. Today, a Scot’s choice of commando or not is theirs and theirs alone but I did learn that The Scottish Official Board of Highland Dancing has made underwear part of the dress code. Apparently, one’s approach to what they wear under their kilt is as varied as the kilt tartans themselves. So really quickly; what is a tartan?

 

 

 

We are all guilty of using the term “plaid” when talking about any fabric that has checks going this way and that. But a plaid is actually a long piece of wool worn over the shoulder as part of traditional Highland dress. Tartan, on the other hand, is a checked pattern that has stripes meeting at a 90-degree angle and the vertical stripes are exact duplicates of the horizontal ones.  A tartan is a weave of colored threads registered with the Scottish Tartan Authority and owned by specific families and clans. For true traditionalists and those in Scotland, tartan is a pattern while plaid is a piece of cloth that consists of tartan prints.

 

One of the most famous plaids is the iconic Burberry plaid. Established in London in 1856 by Thomas Burberry, the brand’s distinctive plaid is recognized and imitated the world over. The Burberry plaid is a tartan recognized by the Scottish Tartan Authority and forever a fave of mine.

 

But back to bagpipes.

 

 

 

I love a good bagpipe. I loved them in Scotland and I love them at parades, weddings, and even funerals. There is something so unique about them and their sound and when accompanied by snare, tenor, and bass drums in a “pipe band,” there is nothing comparable.

 

Considered a woodwind instrument  using enclosed reeds fed from a constant reservoir of air in the form of a bag, bagpipes are equally complex and simple. The most common “Scottish Highland” bagpipes consist of a few pipes all connected to the bag, with the main melody pipe, called the “chanter,” in the same family as a double-reed oboe and bassoon. The other pipes are often single reed like clarinets and saxophones.

 

The chanter pipe plays the melody and is pitched in a certain scale by covering holes, like a recorder or song flute, while the continuous tone of the “drone” pipes is each pitched on one note. Close your eyes and you can probably hear that distinctive drone sound as a bagpipe warms up. But what about the bag?

 

 

That floppy bag, traditionally made from skins, actually serves as a “third lung” to store air. Interestingly enough, a piper doesn’t blow directly into the pipes but into the bag. He then uses arm pressure to squeeze air out of the bag and into the pipes. His goal is to keep refilling the bag with air so it never runs out, which results in an unbroken and continuous tone.

 

Bagpipes and all things related to them are not only interesting but historical. They look pretty and they sound pretty and they make for a pretty good story.

 

 

If I’ve piqued your interest in bagpipes and if you’re going to be in New York City, you might want to check out the extensive collection of historical bagpipes at the Metropolitan Museum of Art or check out the work of American composer Michael Kurek, whose compositions I learned a lot from. Better yet: go to Scotland! You might even want to buy yourself a kilt!

 

 

 

I blogged recently that one of my biggest regrets is not visiting my niece when she lived in Japan or joining her and her Japanese-born husband on any of their many trips back to his homeland. Kamoshiremasen itsuka? (I Googled that one and am hoping it means “maybe someday?” in Japanese. I could be way off but it’s worth a shot.)

 

As luck would have it, today is my nephew-in-law’s birthday so what better day to celebrate something Japanese: the fortune cookie. Say what Carla? Aren’t you getting your Japanese and Chinese mixed up? Fortune cookies are Chinese traditions, right? Yes, and no.

 

 

In the U.S., those yummy vanilla-flavored, butterfly-shaped treats concealing pithy predictions, corny puns, and sage advice that Chinese restaurants give out with the tab are indeed a Chinese-American meal tradition, but their Western origins actually trace back to Japan. How in the literal world did fortune cookies migrate from Japanese bakeries to Chinese restaurants in America? That’s a lot of country hopping for one little confectionary, but stay with me.

 

 

What we Americans know as a fortune cookie is something almost identical to a Japanese tsujiura senbei, or “fortune cracker.” These nutty sesame and miso tea cakes date back to the early 19^th century and also hide a wise saying or prophecy tucked inside. They are traditionally served with tea and made their way across the pond in the late 1880s and early 1900s. That’s when a surge of Japanese immigrants arrived on the American west coast but discovered opening a Japanese restaurant was risky because Americans didn’t want to eat raw fish. (Oh, how times have changed!) So, as ingenious as they were, they opted to open Chinese restaurants and served everything from chop suey to chow mein to egg foo young. In keeping with their Japanese traditions, they also served tsujiura senbei.

 

Much credit is given to the Japanese Tea Garden in San Francisco as the first known U.S. restaurant to serve fortune cookies. The restaurant got their cookies from a local baker called Benkyodo, which claims to have pioneered the treat’s trademark vanilla and butter flavoring as well as inventing a machine to mass-produce them sometime around 1911.

 

 

Things changed however in 1941 after the Japanese-American Internment following the attack on Pearl Harbor, which resulted in Chinese manufacturers taking over the production of them as the Japanese couldn’t and weren’t allowed to.

 

 

 

After WWII, returning American military personal who passed through San Francisco starting requesting the little cookies at their local Chinese restaurants and the cookie’s popularity spread across the country. In the 1950s, more than 200 million cookies were manufactured annually and Wonton Food in New York became the nation’s largest producer of fortunes cookies. Today the company makes more than 4 million of them daily and 3 billion annually.

 

Think about, that’s 3 billion fortunes tucked inside those fortune cookies. Where do these words of wisdom come from? As a writer, this is of great interest to me.

 

 

All those fortunes come from somewhere and believe it or not, are written by one person. All of them. (Sounds like a dream job to me; right up there with picking names for OPI nail polishes!) For 30 years Wonton Food Inc.’s CFO Donald Lau wrote what he estimates to be between 2,000-3,000 fortunes. In 2017, Lau passed the pen to James Wong, nephew of the company’s founder. That company is said to have a database of 10,000 messages, the majority of which are reused although 100 or so new ones are written each year. As Wong told the BBC, it’s more pressure than you’d think.

 

“It can be challenging to write universally pleasing and uplifting sentiments,” he said. “We need to bring happy messages. We want to make people feel good and there’s always an expectation of some type of fortune-telling.”

 

The many years of fortune messages have included advice, encouragement, life predictions, and a little comic relief. The inspiration for them comes from such diverse sources as Chinese proverbs and New York City subway signs. Freelance writers are also outsourced. Pick me, pick me!

 

 

I actually love fortune cookies. I like their simple but appealing flavor and I love serving them at dinner parties. Who doesn’t love a fortune by way of a cookie? Hopes are that the treats will encourage meaningful discussions and laughs and I love that about them.

 

Custom fortune cookies are also popular at events like birthday parties, anniversaries, and weddings. They’ve even been known to be used for marriage proposals. How cute is that?! Finally, in 1968 Robert F. Kennedy used them with a “Vote Kennedy” message inside during his presidential campaign. Hmmm…I can think of a GREAT slogan for our current 2024 election!

 

Wherever you eat one and whatever its message is, here’s hoping for all good fortunes for you and Happy Birthday Takeshi. You’re one smart cookie too!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

There is so much stress and strife out there but I’m pretty sure most of us are all looking for peace and harmony. Wanna know where you can find true joy? A dog park. Yep, a dog park.

 

 

 

My husband I and recently took our three dogs to our local dog park and it dawned on me that, despite the endless barking and aimless running of many canines, everyone had a smile on their face. The owners are happy. The dogs are happy. The heavens are happy. That’s our beagle Nick above running with some new friend he met and look at the smile on his face! Priceless.

 

It’s not very often you find a place of true, unadulterated happiness but my friends, go to a dog park and you’ll find it. And it’s no wonder considering all the ways dogs make us happy.

 

 

 

The fact that science tells us dogs make us happier really only enforces what we already know, right? We know that whether we leave the house for five minutes, five hours, or five days, our canine family members will be there to greet us enthusiastically with open paws. They love us. They adore us.

 

 

 

 

They also improve our moods. You could say it’s a two-fer relationship. They make us happy and we make them happy. Study after study show our furry friends lessen symptoms of depression, loneliness, and overall feelings of sadness. It’s hard to be sad when a buddy follows your every move, looks adoringly at you with those “puppy dog eyes,” or even jumps on your lap and starts licking your face! Come to find out, those licks actually mean something.

 

 

 

When your dog licks your face, and yes, I agree it can be annoying, but know that it’s a sign of affection and respect. They also may lick when they’re curious about how you are feeling. Dogs sense everything. They have special receptors in their nose and mouth that process and interpret scented molecules in a person. This means that by simply licking your face or smelling your body, your dog may be able to tell whether you’re happy, sad, or stressed. Then, the therapist in them moves in.

 

 

Dogs have actually been shown to make great therapists and reduce stress. They have an innate sense of compassion that cues a desire to bring comfort, affection, and encouragement. I distinctly remember this happening when my sister died. Of our three dogs, one is not a big snuggeler unless you constantly pet him. But on that day when my emotions were all over the place and I laid down on our bed, sweet Barry the Beagle jumped up and laid right next to me. He didn’t require petting. He only wanted to comfort me.

 

 

 

As my friends and I just this week, sometimes it’s just about showing up. Often times there are no words to ease the pain someone is going through, but showing up and just being there can help. That’s what dogs do. They don’t say anything. They just show up. It’s all about love.

 

 

 

Dogs know a thing about love as it’s known that they increase oxytocin; “the love hormone.” Simply spending time with your dog actually increases the level of this hormone, which is a neurotransmitter that increases trust and reduces fear. Amazing, right?

 

 

 

 

Dogs aren’t called “Man’s Best Friend” for no reason. Man, woman, or child, every dog’s middle name could be “Loyalty.” The most common cartoon name for a dog is Fido and how appropriate since the Latin word for “faith” is “fidem” and who’s more faithful and loyal than a dog? The special skills of dogs and their undeniable loyalty were on full display during WW1 when “Mercy Dogs” were trained to sniff out the wounded and bring them first aid in the battlefields. If a soldier was beyond saving, the dog would lay down next to him so he didn’t have to die alone.

 

 

 

Also interesting is the story of a dog who went missing. Lots of people searched for the dog to no avail, and then someone suggested the owner to put an item of his clothing down in the area the pooch was thought to be lost. At first light, the dog was found sitting on the owner’s coat. Don’t believe me? Okay men, put your wife and your dog in the trunk of your car. Come back in a bit and let them out. One will be sooooo happy to see you; the other one not so much. It’s pretty easy to guess who’s who here and if you disagree you’re definitely barking up the wrong tree!

 

 

 

All joking aside, you can learn a lot from a dog, as one of my favorite authors and bloggers Courtney Carver wrote. (Her book “Soulful Simplicity” is one of my all-time favorites.) Her “Seven Lessons My Dog Taught Me About Living Simply” can teach us all something.

 

Your favorite things are enough. Dogs tend to have their favorite toys, beds, spots, even humans in the family and we humans do too. Do you use or wear the same things again and again? Like dogs, Carver recommends if you want to enjoy your favorite things, only own your favorite things. Her “Be More with Less” site helps enforce the fact that living simply is not a sacrifice and that we all need less than we think to be happy.

It’s always a good idea to go outside. Hello dog park! Hello walking your dog! Best thing about our local dog park? Yes, it’s a place of delight but it also has a track around its perimeter so while the dogs run around, I get my walk in. They say if your dog is fat, you’re not walking enough. Dogs love going outside and it’s good for us too. I agree with Carver that I always feel better after a walk or any outdoor activity.

Just be there. I talked about this above in that just being there for someone, not necessarily solving any problems or giving advice, is often just what they need. As my friends and I joked about this very subject, we were reminded you never want to come in hot as “the devil’s advocate.” It’s called that for a reason and it’s not good. Instead, be a dog. Just be there.

Appreciate a small space. Bigger is not always better. Wherever you are in your big or small house, your dog is going to be right there with you. They don’t care if they live in a mansion or an apartment, as long as you’re there they are happy. And secure. And content. We need to be like that and appreciate the magic of living in a small space.

The next thing doesn’t matter. This I need to work on and didn’t realize my dogs can teach me about being fully present. I’m a planner. I don’t like to forget something or forget to do something. Our dogs? They don’t care what happened yesterday or what comes next. All they care about is right now. If nothing is going on, they lie down and slow down. We could all do more of that ourselves.

Forget what happened yesterday. You could say this is the cousin of #5 as just as much as what comes next doesn’t matter, in many ways neither does what happened yesterday. Every day is a new day. Dogs don’t have very long memories, which becomes apparent in training or disciplining them, and that’s not always a bad thing. I tend to hold on too much at times but unless something yesterday is something you can learn from or improve, let it go. Let it go with love.

Be gentle. Oh, how I love this one. Being Hispanic and married to a Yankee, a calm and gentle demeanor isn’t always easy to come by in our house. Our dogs on the other hand, are gentle. They are not aggressive or angry and are great examples of being gentle in our relationships, our health, and our work. Quiet your life, slow down, and enjoy the moment. Sit. And stay.

 

 

Well dog gone it, look at all we’ve learned! As I write this, I have a Beagle next to me reminding me to be loyal, be loving, and be active. Those are such tail-wagging ideas I may even go to the dog park and enjoy these dog days of summer!

 

 

Happy summer! The season of sun and fun officially started Thursday and I’m here to say I didn’t even realize it. Then, I started seeing all these posts about summer and I realized the season is upon us. Where I live, summer means one thing: heat. Okay, maybe two things: heat and air conditioning. But it can also mean vacations, school’s out, gardening, and swimming. Leave it to my blogger and author girl Gretchen Rubin to present a whole new way of looking at the change of season.

In a recent blog, Rubin brainstormed about ways to make the most of this summer and challenged herself to write a five senses portrait of summer. She writes how exploring our five senses can get us out of our heads and into the world. I loved it and I’m up for the challenge. Are you?

Tied into her New York Times best-selling book, “Life of Five Senses,” which discovers a surprising path to energy, creativity, loves, and maybe even a little bit of luck simply by tuning into your five senses. The challenge asks you to list your five senses and tie each on into a memory of summer. Let’s dive in!

Sight. My immediate summer sight memory takes me to Costa Rica and gazing out on the ocean from our hotel balcony. It’s a happy place and a happy memory.

Hearing. Where I live, summer hearing means cicadas. Yep, those buzzing bugs that once we hear them chirping each evening, we know summer, or at least the heat, has officially arrived.

Smell. Flowers. I think of all the flowers blooming everywhere, especially my knock-out roses that go crazy once the weather warms up. They are so beautiful they could also be in my “sight” category.

Taste. Grilled anything. Summer (and spring for that matter) mean grilling outside for us. This could be anything from burgers to hot dogs to fajitas to BBQ ribs or brisket. Some of these could also qualify as “smells” of summer.

Touch. My skin. Weird, right? But yep, in the summer I tend to touch my skin a whole lot more cuz off went the hoodies and leggings and out came short sleeves and dresses.

Quick diversion here. Rubin also has what’s called the “What’s Your Neglected Sense?” quiz. I took it and discovered my most neglected sense is seeing. Rubin notes that is can be useful to recognize your neglected sense because that’s where you have the greatest opportunity to fin more enjoyment and heighten your mindfulness. Got to gretchenrubin.com to find out more about all of this.

Back to summer…

Last summer was one of endless days of 100 degrees or more, so I’m hoping this summer is a little different in that sense…excuse the pun. For me, summer also means getting up earlier for my morning walk with one of our three dogs, as by 9 a.m. it is way too hot for either of us to be out. Same goes for evening strolls, as it never really cools down enough for their little paws or me for that matter.

Summer came early this year, actually the earliest in two centuries. The summer solstice, which happened on Thursday, marks the longest day of the year north of the Equator, the exact moment when the sun reaches its most northern point in the sky, when the Earth’s north pole is most tilted towards the sun, and is the beginning of summer. The Earth has a solstice every six months, in June and September. After the summer solstice, the days get short and the sun will appear lower and lower in the sky each day until the winter solstice on December. Interestingly enough, the hottest temperatures of the year usually don’t occur until July or August, as it takes time for the sun’s rays to warm our planet. Don’t tell that to people in the northeast right now who are melting in an extreme heat wave!

Even though the sun gets all the attention during all of this, the moon had its own party with a stunning “Strawberry Moon” reaching its stunning peak on Friday. Did you see it?

It was the sixth full moon of 2024, was named after strawberries that ripen during the summer, and is always the lowest-hanging full moon because it mirrors the sun’s position when the sun is at its highest. It all coincided this year not only with summer solstice, but also with a rare “major lunar standstill” not seen since 2006. This happens when the tilts of the moon and Earth are at their maximum and when the moon rises and sets at the furthest points on its range on the horizon.

Whew! That’s a lot of astronomy! Truth be told this writer loves astronomy as being a word person, my math and science skills have always been lacking. In college, when I had to take a science, I took astronomy! I loved it!

But I digress. Back to our summer five senses portrait. It’s all for fun but maybe you’ll learn something useful out of it. Maybe you’ll acknowledge smells and sounds that make you reminisce about something enjoyable. Maybe a taste will not only make your tastebuds happy but your lips smile. Give it a shot. You might just discover what you see hung the moon in some fantastic way.

Have fun and happy summer!

Happy summer! The season of sun and fun officially started Thursday and I’m here to say I didn’t even realize it. Then, I started seeing all these posts about summer and I realized the season is upon us. Where I live, summer means one thing: heat. Okay, maybe two things: heat and air conditioning. But it can also mean vacations, school’s out, gardening, and swimming. Leave it to my blogger and author girl Gretchen Rubin to present a whole new way of looking at the change of season.

In a recent blog, Rubin brainstormed about ways to make the most of this summer and challenged herself to write a five senses portrait of summer. She writes how exploring our five senses can get us out of our heads and into the world. I loved it and I’m up for the challenge. Are you?

Tied into her New York Times best-selling book, “Life of Five Senses,” which discovers a surprising path to energy, creativity, loves, and maybe even a little bit of luck simply by tuning into your five senses. The challenge asks you to list your five senses and tie each on into a memory of summer. Let’s dive in!

Sight. My immediate summer sight memory takes me to Costa Rica and gazing out on the ocean from our hotel balcony. It’s a happy place and a happy memory.

Hearing. Where I live, summer hearing means cicadas. Yep, those buzzing bugs that once we hear them chirping each evening, we know summer, or at least the heat, has officially arrived.

Smell. Flowers. I think of all the flowers blooming everywhere, especially my knock-out roses that go crazy once the weather warms up. They are so beautiful they could also be in my “sight” category.

Taste. Grilled anything. Summer (and spring for that matter) mean grilling outside for us. This could be anything from burgers to hot dogs to fajitas to BBQ ribs or brisket. Some of these could also qualify as “smells” of summer.

Touch. My skin. Weird, right? But yep, in the summer I tend to touch my skin a whole lot more cuz off went the hoodies and leggings and out came short sleeves and dresses.

Quick diversion here. Rubin also has what’s called the “What’s Your Neglected Sense?” quiz. I took it and discovered my most neglected sense is seeing. Rubin notes that is can be useful to recognize your neglected sense because that’s where you have the greatest opportunity to fin more enjoyment and heighten your mindfulness. Got to gretchenrubin.com to find out more about all of this.

Back to summer…

Last summer was one of endless days of 100 degrees or more, so I’m hoping this summer is a little different in that sense…excuse the pun. For me, summer also means getting up earlier for my morning walk with one of our three dogs, as by 9 a.m. it is way too hot for either of us to be out. Same goes for evening strolls, as it never really cools down enough for their little paws or me for that matter.

Summer came early this year, actually the earliest in two centuries. The summer solstice, which happened on Thursday, marks the longest day of the year north of the Equator, the exact moment when the sun reaches its most northern point in the sky, when the Earth’s north pole is most tilted towards the sun, and is the beginning of summer. The Earth has a solstice every six months, in June and September. After the summer solstice, the days get short and the sun will appear lower and lower in the sky each day until the winter solstice on December. Interestingly enough, the hottest temperatures of the year usually don’t occur until July or August, as it takes time for the sun’s rays to warm our planet. Don’t tell that to people in the northeast right now who are melting in an extreme heat wave!

Even though the sun gets all the attention during all of this, the moon had its own party with a stunning “Strawberry Moon” reaching its stunning peak on Friday. Did you see it?

It was the sixth full moon of 2024, was named after strawberries that ripen during the summer, and is always the lowest-hanging full moon because it mirrors the sun’s position when the sun is at its highest. It all coincided this year not only with summer solstice, but also with a rare “major lunar standstill” not seen since 2006. This happens when the tilts of the moon and Earth are at their maximum and when the moon rises and sets at the furthest points on its range on the horizon.

Whew! That’s a lot of astronomy! Truth be told this writer loves astronomy as being a word person, my math and science skills have always been lacking. In college, when I had to take a science, I took astronomy! I loved it!

But I digress. Back to our summer five senses portrait. It’s all for fun but maybe you’ll learn something useful out of it. Maybe you’ll acknowledge smells and sounds that make you reminisce about something enjoyable. Maybe a taste will not only make your tastebuds happy but your lips smile. Give it a shot. You might just discover what you see hung the moon in some fantastic way.

Have fun and happy summer!

Tis the season for travel. Americans are traveling overseas in record numbers this year, setting aside worries about inflation and “prioritizing meaningful experiences over material goods,” according to a new report from Mastercard. Don’t believe that? Just look online. Everywhere I scroll someone is posting photos of their trips to one fabulous place after another. I’m guilty of posting a few photos of past trips myself and I enjoy doing so but I gotta admit I don’t enjoy travelling as much as I once did. Especially flying and especially flying during the summer. I seem to be joined somewhat by fellow travelers as choices are being made mindfully and earnestly.

 

“Today’s travelers are discerning, choosing destinations that offer both value and authenticity,” Michelle Meyer, chief economist and head of the Mastercard Economics Institute, which compiled the report, said. “Travel & Leisure” also interestingly reports that trending destinations are once-in-a-lifetime events, whether it’s a Taylor Swift concert, an international soccer tournament, or a solar eclipse. Consumers are also looking for places that offer excellent value, whether through favorable currency exchange rates or the overall bang-for-your-buck, somewhat proving that current inflation rates and overall increased cost-of-living expenses are playing a big part in where people go.

 

 

 

Among the hottest trending spots on Mastercard’s list are Tokyo, where the yen is down significantly compared to the U.S. dollar, as well as warm weather tropical favorites Aruba and Cancun. Additionally, rather than hopping from one destination to another, today’s travelers are extending their stays and immersing themselves in the experiences and wonders of each locale.

 

I do like the idea of settling in one spot but unless I’m going to one of my few remaining Bucket List locations, I’m happy either staying home or taking a road trip.

 

Speaking of road trips, we are scheduled to take a road trip with our three dogs to Ruidoso soon. We are keeping our fingers crossed that the devastating wild fires are contained and we are still able to make our favorite journey to the charming town, but most of all we are praying for all those displaced and whose homes and businesses were destroyed. Will you join me?

 

We love going to Ruidoso and do so annually. I’d also love to return to Costa Rica, where we visited annually until the pandemic shut the world down, but unfortunately the land of “pura vida” has been officially discovered so it’s more crowded and the hotel we called home each year is now 10 times more expensive. Sadly, no gracias.

 

 

I would love to return to Costa Rica, where we visited annually until the pandemic shut the world down, but unfortunately the land of “Pura Vida” has been officially discovered so it’s more crowded and the hotel we called home each year is now 10 times more expensive. Sadly, no gracias.

 

 

 

 

What about you? Do you prefer to return to places you previously visited or do you like to explore new and exciting places? I’m somewhere in the middle as there are destinations I haven’t been that I’d like to visit, but I also love returning to places I know and love and know that I love.

 

 

 

I’ve pretty much loved the majority of places I’ve been blessed to visit, some more than one time, some more than others, and most I’d visit again but before that, I do still have a few on my Bucket List. I would still like to see Ireland but am okay if I never do and Montana/Wyoming sound lovely but quite a chore to plan. Ultimately, the majority of places I still want to see are in the U.S. International travel is hard and with all that’s going on in our crazy world I’m a bit of the thinking that if I can’t drive home if need be, I’m staying home. That being said, I’m hell bent on seeing the Biltmore and surrounding Ashville; Louisville/Lexington and their bourbon trails, horse farms, and Churchill Downs; Colonial Williamsburg; Coeur d’Alene, Idaho; and Newport, RI. Hopefully I’ll get to at least one of them this year.

 

 

 

Anyplace else I’m okay not seeing. Oddly enough one of those places is Hawaii. Neither my husband nor I have been and have no desire to. Yes, we’ve heard how beautiful it is, but if I’m going to fly that far I’m going to Ireland or somewhere else in Europe. Would I go if it was free? Of course, but if it were up to the two of us, we’re happy with Santa Fe; Ruidoso; Scottsdale; New Orleans; Longboat Key, Florida; his hometown of East Aurora, NY; and a couple of golf destinations in between. Call us old, call us simple, call us satisfied.

 

 

 

We know we are blessed. We’ve experienced many of great cities and charming countries in the world. My husband has played golf at most of the treasured courses and I’ve relaxed in a sundry of fabulous spas…my happy place. For 21 straight years I’ve been beyond fortunate with trips with four college buddies to a different location every year. I do have one travel regret though. I regret never going to visit my niece when she lived in Japan or going with her and her family on one of their annual trips to her husband’s home country. Someday maybe.

 

 

 

Naturally there will be trips to see family and attend weddings, which we always enjoy, but chosen and planned out travels are somewhat off our radar list. For starters, my husband has travelled for business for 40+ years (and yes, I’ve heard the argument “but leisure travel is different than business travel, but tell that to someone who has travelled for 40+ years. A plane is a plane. A hotel starts being a hotel. And a destination is just somewhere away from home. As his grateful wife I respect it and I get it.) and flying today is such a hassle. Truth be told, I would much rather take a long road trip then hop on a plane. Drive me to Montana before flying me to Hawaii.

 

 

 

Speaking of the two states, there’s also the beach vs. mountains and city vs. small town decisions to be made. Both my husband and I grew up snow skiing and continued doing so early in our marriage and in our younger days. We’ve also always loved the beach and now in our more current “mature” years, we prefer the beach although we do love a beautiful mountain town in the summer. Big cities are exciting but I’m kinda over them and prefer small, quaint towns.

 

I do somewhat admire (but don’t envy!) friends who go to what I call “daredevil destinations” like Machu Pichu or Antarctica as I would never choose to do any of them. I have ziplined in Costa Rica, rode in a dog sled in Alaska, jumped on board the Maid of the Mist at Niagara Falls, and breathed deep as my husband and I drove Furka Pass in Switzerland, but those are about the extent of my adventurous spirit. There’s just something very comforting and homey about going back to a lovely hotel and a familiar destination and in my comfort zone. Yeah, I know and have read all about that outside of your comfort zone is where the magic happens but I’m not big into magic either.

 

 

If you do travel this summer or anytime soon, Gretchen Rubin of the Happier podcast shed some summer travel hacks that I loved, including:

• Buy a book as a souvenir. (Oddly enough I started doing this many trips ago and have loved every book I’ve brought home for my library.)
• Choose a signature scent for the trip that will forever remind you of the memories made.
• Bring an extra light tote that can be used as a shopping bag, beach bag, or extra carry-on bag. (I always have one of those foldable ones in my purse and it has proven clutch on many occasions.)
• Take notes on your trip to help you remember details like places you loved and those you didn’t and what you might have do the same or even differently.

 

Tips from me:

• Use hotel shower caps as shoe covers. You’re welcome!
• Pack your patience. Things are not going to go exactly as planned. Flights will be delayed. Weather happens. Crowds congregate. Rubin suggests packing your humor too.
• Count your blessings. Travel is a luxury. Be grateful for every trip you get to take.

 

Safe travels to everyone heading out. I can’t wait to see the photos and hear all about your adventures. Have a wonderful time!