Reflections

Notes from our first year of retirement, travel, transition, faith, and the quiet work of paying attention.

The Flag, the Anthem, and a Letter

American Flag from A Flag, An Anthem and a Letter by John Adams

https://youtube.com/shorts/elvRVZN0Azo Yesterday, July 4, 2026, was the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. Our family was present ....

Railfanning the Big Boy

Railfanning in the Big Boy approaching Dekalb crossing.

On June 2, 2026, I drove to DeKalb, Illinois to railfan Union Pacific’s Big Boy locomotive roll through ....

Sick and Tired

yellow and orange lantana featured in Sick and Tired blog post

Returning and Recovery We returned from Cozumel very early last Saturday morning. (6/13/2026) Thursday morning I was rudely ....

Another Great Day by the Sea

Another great day by the sea

Cozumel June 6-11 then 12, 2026 In May Michael and I read about the diving in Cozumel. We ....

What a Glass of Barolo Taught Us

A Barolo vineyard in Piedmont

The hills stretched out in ordered rows, each line set with a care that felt almost too precise ....

Filling Boxes and Filling Rooms

An involuntary retirement and a celebrated retirement

I did not choose retirement the way Michael did. He walked out of a forty year career at ....

Enneagram Types in Retirement: When a Type 1 and Type 4 Share a Cup of Coffee

Patton's Third Army book, WWII tank models, Ardennes game map, and a B&O Railroad coffee mug on a game table

About three weeks into retirement, I banned General George S. Patton from our morning coffee. Not from our ....

Travel: Reframed and Learning a New Way in This Season

A couple in Cortona traviling

Learning a New Way to Travel We are recently back from three weeks in Italy. When the trip ....

Planes, Trains & Automobiles by Michael

Peougot 2008 Car in Italy

This was originally published on Travel & Rhythms in Italy 2026 Catherine begins Part 5 by mentioning our ....

If you’ve found yourself in a similar season,  newly retired, reorienting, or simply learning to slow down, you’re welcome here.

Read what resonates. Skip what doesn’t. Stay for a moment or return later.

Scroll to Top