Well…. The Nanopoblano blogging challenge is over. Strange that I can manage to write every day for the month of November… But then hardly ever write the rest of the year. Sigh! I guess I like writing in community!
Every year I say that I’m going to do better… So I won’t bother saying it here… you’ll just know that I’m thinking it.
My/our big news this week is that my husband and I decided to get basic iPads as our Christmas gifts for each other. Neither of us are big gamers. We have basic tech skills and needs, so we don’t need anything fancy. I’ve used my iPhone almost exclusively for about 6 years….including all my blogging. I think an iPad and a larger screen might be a nice change. Time will tell. Wish us luck with the whole adjustment process.
Now that I’m not blogging every single day, I plan to try and spend some time reading again. I didn’t read much in November, because my head was always focused on what the next blog post would be about.
Besides the end of the blogging challenge….I had a bit of magic/serendipity this week.
About 15 years ago (or more?), I saw author Randy Pausch being interviewed. He was so thoughtful and engaging. His book, entitled, THE LAST LECTURE, was something that I have always wanted to read. And 15 years later, I still haven’t read it. But this book crosses my mind a few times every year. And, when it does, I always think “Gosh, I still haven’t read that book!” I had just thought about it last week! Well….on Wednesday, my friend and I were at a (new to us) used book store. She saw THE LAST LECTURE on the shelf and asked if I’d read it. She loved it! So now I have my copy of the book. I just love serendipity.
***As I was writing this post, I received a call telling me that my friend had just passed suddenly. We had been friends for 38 years. She had just spent Thanksgiving with us last week. I’m not sharing this for sympathy. I’m understandably stunned right now….But….My reason for sharing this with you is to remind you/us/everyone that tomorrow is not guaranteed. None of us know how long we’ll be here. I know we all know this on a superficial level. But it’s not something that remains in the forefront of our minds. And it should. We all need to live like we KNOW that tomorrow is not a given. So tell people you love them. Forgive as soon as you can. And try to be gentle with yourself.
And, if you’re so inclined, say a quick prayer for Kathy and wish her a blessed journey into the Great Beyond.
Wishing you a wonderful week ahead.
I’m glad you’re here💜
The Nanopoblano blogging challenge may be over. But my friends and their blogs are still there. Please visit them when you have a minute. (See below)…You’ll be glad you did….
Angie at TinyTurtleTalks.wordpress.com
Ashly at DeconstructingDaisy.com/blog
Bill at BillFriday.com
Carol Anne at TherapyBits.com
Daniel at CelticFamilyChronicles.co.uk
DiAnne at DianneEbejer.wordpress.com
Dinah at WithAngelsAndElephants.com
ghostmmnc at Teleportingweena.wordpress.com
Hasty at HastyWords.com
Janet Jones Bann at Facebook.com/janet.kay.jones
J. Gi at JGiFederizo.wordpress.com
Janelle at BreakingMoulds.com
Ka Malana at FiestaEstrellas.com
Karen at LeapFlowWonder.wordpress.com
Kim at DrunkOnLifeblog.com
Kel at RewritingKel.wordpress.com
Leanne at
ReadAndWriteHere.wordpress.com
Lillian at HumanInRecovery.com
Lisa Marie at LisaMarieBlair.com
Lizzie at CatsAndChocolate.com
Llama! at TheLlamalogues.wordpress.com
Marley at DailyBastardette.com
May at The89life.tumblr.com
Myster Rey at Mysterrey.wordpress.com
Ocean Bream at OceanBream.wordpress.com
Owen at NoTalentForCertainty.com
Ra at Rarasaur.com
Renee at ReneeAnnPierce.com
Sharon at MommyVerbs.wordpress.com
Twindaddy at Twindaddy.blog
The weekend coffee share is hosted by Natalie the Explorer and you can see more coffee shares HERE
With Angels and Elephants 
Dinah, I echo your sentiments about blogging in November daily but not managing to blog for the rest of the year despite good intentions. I, like you, love writing in community. Might start seriously looking for a good writing club, i think, now. I am so sorry to hear of your friend’s passing. Rest in peace, Kathy. It’s always stunning when that happens to us, even though death is inevitable. You’re so right that we are not guaranteed tomorrow, not one of us! I wish you well today, Dinah. Sending you warm thoughts and condolences.
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Thank you for your kind thoughts and support. And yes… It would be great to have a year-round writing community… I wonder if we could create something like this through the Cheer Peppers Facebook page? I might just ask that question and see what people say… Thanks for the idea.
Big hugs.💜
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Good idea!
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Are you in the Facebook group for nanopoblano? If not would you be willing to join? I brought it up to Ra. We are talking about doing some kind of group support thing there and having a goal of posting one or two times per week and being able to add our posts to the collective… Could you do that?
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I think I might be in the group already. I am not on facebook much so let me log on and see what’s what! Thank you!
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I’m sorry to hear about your friend, Dinah. Hugs to you.
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Thank you for your kindness and for visiting!
💜🙏💜
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Hi Dinah, I’m really sorry for your loss. That’s shocking and hard. There are no words for it.
Blogging beside you is also my favorite. You do not write alone.
💗
I’m always here in spirit and if you ever want to reach out, you know where to find me. Sending love 💗
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Thanks so much! I appreciate you and your very loving presence!
And I hope you know that I am always here for you as well!
Love and hugs returned!
💜🙏💜
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You are definitely a sweet light and wonderful spirit and thank you! 🙏🏼
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Sorry for your loss. As you said, nothing is a guarantee and we need to learn to live in the present.
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Thank you for your kindness and for visiting!
🌺🙏🌺
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Hi Dinah,
Like others, I was sorry to hear about Kathy and it sounds like you two had a wonderfully significant friendship. It was sad to hear of her passing but I bet you two made some great memories together and you honored her above while reminding us to not take tomorrow for granted either for ourselves or those we know and love.
Blessings and thanks for sharing with us.
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Thank you for your kind words Gary! Yes, we had some fun over the years! I believe she was ready to be done with this life. So I’m happy for her that she’s free now.
Thanks so much for visiting my friend!
🌺🙏🌺
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I am so sorry to hear about your friend. I agree with everything you say that tomorrow is not a guarantee. That’s why I work so hard to craft towards my best life possible while also helping my kid on the way.
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Thanks Julie! Yes…none of us know how long we’ll be here. So we all have to make the most of each day!
I love your philosophy about work-life balance. That’s so important. It took me way too long to get that concept when I was working. It’s good for your daughter that you figured it out so early.
My friend’s funeral was yesterday. I don’t know if I’ll get a coffee share in this weekend….I’m lacking motivation and inspiration.
Thanks for visiting. And I’m grateful for your kind words of support.
💜🙏💜
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I am so sorry about your friend…and thank you for the reminder! It’s so true.
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I’m sorry for the delayed reply. I missed the notification. Thank you so much for your kind words! Wishing you peace going into the new year.💜
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