Monthly Archives: September 2011

Stories to mystify, exact revenge and embarrass

Posted on September 30, 2011 by stillalife

Storytelling was the subject of my last blog, that is, how stories passed on within a culture affect behavior and beliefs of members of that culture.  Today, I’m thinking about other kinds of stories, the silly ones that get told … Continue reading →

Posted in friends and family, humor | Tagged , | 1 Comment

Stories to create and preserve traditions

Posted on September 28, 2011 by stillalife

We all love a good story, but usually don’t think about the role stories play in our lives. In traditional societies, story telling helps preserve customs, pass on important knowledge and set behavioral norms.  According to the blog Architecture and … Continue reading →

Posted in current events/themes, personal reflections, support and caring | Tagged | 3 Comments

Return to sender

Posted on September 26, 2011 by stillalife

We are interrupting our normal off-the-wall commentary to bring you this special warning blog post. True story.  Nobody knows for certain how it happened, so it’s easy to believe that it could not happen to you or to me.  Or … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | 1 Comment

We only want comments from the living

Posted on September 24, 2011 by stillalife

“Never say ‘no comment’ when talking to reporters.”  When I started my career I heard this mantra from every school PR professional I met.  The first thing to understand is that no one is ever tempted to say, “No comment,” … Continue reading →

Posted in changes after retirement, humor | Tagged | 2 Comments

A weapon of Muse destruction

Posted on September 22, 2011 by stillalife

Non-profit boards, agencies, churches and school systems all have their hooks baited to reel in the newly retired as volunteers.  Who can blame them?  Often we have time, money, a social conscience, and are used to…well, working.  Right now I … Continue reading →

Posted in volunteering | 1 Comment

Think of us as Chardonnay and chicken

Posted on September 20, 2011 by stillalife

Anyone who walks for health needs a sidekick striding beside them, the kind of person who can keep them so engaged in conversation that the miles mount up almost unnoticed.  My walking pal is Ronna Weltman, school and community volunteer, … Continue reading →

Posted in arts and crafts, exercise, journaling | Tagged | 2 Comments

Don’t lose face and don’t take off your clothes in church

Posted on September 18, 2011 by stillalife

“Never lose face,” was the motto a friend and I adopted years ago.  The pressure to live by such a stuffy guiding principle came after we presented a workshop on an icy winter night in a forest retreat center housed … Continue reading →

Posted in changes after retirement, memories, personal reflections, writing | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Poker faces don’t age well

Posted on September 15, 2011 by stillalife

When I was younger I felt certain that sadness and aging were companions united in a conspiracy to ruin the last years of a life.  After all, everyone I knew in their sixties and older experienced aches, couldn’t play sports … Continue reading →

Posted in aging, inspiration | Tagged , | 1 Comment

Acting as if there were no future

Posted on September 13, 2011 by stillalife

“…25% of our happiness depends on our ability to manage stress,” says researcher Robert Epstein.  He bases this conclusion on surveys of “3,000 participants in the U.S. and 29 other countries” and suggests we should be “fighting stress before it even starts, … Continue reading →

Posted in books or movies, inspiration, personal reflections | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

What does summer mean to you?

Posted on September 11, 2011 by stillalife

“How was your summer? Great, how was yours? What did you do?” This is a conversation I find myself in now that kids are back in school, backyard bats start hunting by 8 o’clock, and I need to wear a … Continue reading →

Posted in seasons | 2 Comments