Dear Reader:

Isn’t it wonderful that as we age and enter different stages of our lives…the idea of ‘being rich’ redefines itself?

Anne invited me for lunch after church yesterday….she and her neighbors had a Greek festive dinner Saturday and there was lots of food left over. It was delicious!

It was while we were devouring that wonderful Greek meal that Anne mentioned a former students of hers was writing now and had contacted her about this undertaking. (Anne taught middle school English and Creative Writing) She loved that he remembered her and wanted to share this personal/professional endeavor with her… as an adult himself, married, with a precious baby.

She said she thought about her response to a comment he made…that he hoped this endeavor would, one day, make them both rich. Anne said she decided to respond with ….“Thank you but I don’t need anything because I am already rich…. And from the picture you sent me of your family…so are you.”

It made me think about my own situation now in life…and just how rich I am too. I have been given a most valued gift – unexpected time – along with the opportunity to use it with my own personal passion for writing. It doesn’t get any better than this.

Except…perhaps for having the luxury and freedom to read, read, read. I love losing myself in another time period and location…with characters who become my friends for as long as the story unveils. (And I must admit some days or evenings…I do schedule my reading to correspond with the evening news that is upsetting and unsettling…which sadly, these days is most of the time.)

How many of us have cheated, at one time or another, and read the last page of the book to discover who “dunnit” or at least what the ending of the story looks like? (I imagine most of us are nodding our heads)

Some days I wish we could fast-forward the present to the future to see how a particular time period we are living in ends up on the last page of our own stories…the billions of us who are all living together today on this planet.  Other days I think that “ignorance might be bliss” and I would lose the courage to turn to the ending. (My concern is not for me…but for my loved ones who will follow.)

So instead…I pray hard, tend my garden, write my blog, hang out with my friends and family, watch my adorable grandchildren grow, and thank God for the blessings of time.

Over the weekend I came across this visual message of six simple directives that can help us all live life more fully. I made a small cardboard copy of it to keep in my purse.

So until tomorrow…Think about how you would define your “riches.” Since we are all unique ….a one of a kind creation in God’s eyes…our own riches will differ but still shine just as brightly as another.

“Today is my favorite day”  Winnie the Pooh

* Riches is also watching your grandson’s face light up when he discovers he is Star Student of the Week. Jakie is so proud and excited! He gets to see his poster up all next week. So proud of you Jakie!

*Look at these beautifully bold, brilliant-colored Mexican sun flowers in Anne’s front yard!