You may have to think for a minute, but it won’t hurt. I promise.
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Soooo many to choose from, but I’m going with the scene that chokes me up no matter how many times I see it.
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Casablanca.
The part where the Nazis start singing the German anthem and Paul Henreid instructs the band to play La Marseillaise. The French patriots stand, sing… and drown out the Germans. A simple, poignant moment where good triumphs evil.
It’s classic.
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If you’re young… and you’ve never seen Casablanca? Please do so immediately. It’s the perfect movie.
Drama, romance, humor, war.
Love, loss and sacrifice. I don’t care how many times I watch it… it never disappoints.
Apologies to those too young to understand the title reference.
Lord Dudley Mountcatten loves looking out the window and keeps a close eye on birds and visiting critters. But when an enemy dares step foot in his backyard?
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He lets the whole house know about it with snarls, growls and hisses.
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Said enemy is Silas, the neighbor kitty who likes to stalk mice in our field and occasionally takes a stroll under the bird feeders.
But I do admit to enjoying their Clydesdale commercials… and thankfully, after a long absence… those beautiful horses will be back for this year’s Super Bowl.
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I haven’t seen any of the other new game day ads, but I’m going to go ahead and say this one will be my favorite, hands down.
In 2016 the state of Maine voted to legalize marijuana. While this would have been a dream come true in my teenage years, after giving it up 4 decades ago I can’t honestly say the decision has affected my life one iota today.
Other than the occasional chuckle while driving.
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Be still my adolescent heart.
I’m old enough to remember rolling my own blunts out of a Ziploc dime bag hidden in my locker…. now there are pot stores on every corner in every town. Seriously, tiny podunk villages that only have a gas station and a post office have marijuana distribution centers. It’s bizarre.
There are so many choices for legalized weed, the stores have to get creative with their advertising to attract customers. Like this place we passed the other day….
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That built a giant leafy Adirondack chair.
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And outlined it with Christmas lights.
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The chronic is alive and well in the state of Maine.
I was the child who never caught chicken pox, measles or mumps.
The teenager who never had acne, a cavity or broken bones.
The young adult who still had her tonsils, appendix and wisdom teeth.
The middle aged woman who’d never had the flu, a migraine or been in the hospital.
I made it to 49 without diabetes, high cholesterol or literally any health issues whatsoever.
Then I turned 50… and the downward spiral began.
I blew out my knee, and arthritis set in. I caught chicken pox because my husband had shingles. (It’s not fun at an advanced age. Neither is it pretty.)
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That’s not acne, it’s pox. 🥴
Bunions started to form on both my feet making pretty shoes painful and virtually impossible to wear. I had a full hysterectomy which wrecked my body in too many ways to list. My fifties were not kind. And now that I’ve entered the next decade? I barely recognize the perky, energetic, up for anything person I used to be.
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I’m currently 5 for 10 on this list.
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I sailed past #1, 2 and 3 as I always have my phone, don’t bruise easily and my memory is still intact.
4. Yes, damn it. I’m there.
5. I’ve got cheater reading glasses in every room, my purse, my car and 3 in the kitchen. No trouble finding a pair for this chick.
6. Show up at my house unexpectedly? Please leave your copy of Vogue at the door.
7. 9:30? I’m in bed by then, better make it 8:00.
8. People do still say those words in my universe… and for that, I’m thankful.
9. I’ve woken up with a stiff neck, sciatic pain and a knee so locked I have to tumble out of bed. When the mere act of sleeping causes injury? You know you’re over the hill.
10. After hormonal shifts from menopause and a dramatic weight gain the likes of which I’d never previously experienced? There are no scales in our house.
For those of my readers who qualify, how many of these 10 apply to your life?
The husband and I celebrated a wedding anniversary recently.
This was my Facebook post for the day.
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Sorry, but it’s true. He’s an amazing husband, partner and overall great guy. Generous, strong willed, kind hearted and honest. Is it any wonder I’ve kept him so long?
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A lovely bouquet was delivered that morning…
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And then the happy couple took a drive down the coast for a walk.
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It was a bit brisk, so we didn’t make the whole loop…
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But we ended the day with cocktails and a nice meal.
The blackberry elderflower Prosecco spritz with fresh mint was divine.
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As were my giant crab cakes.
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These sexy swimmers of yesteryear were hanging on the wall to my right, but I only had eyes for my guy.
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Honey balsamic salmon for the husband… the sugar caramelized, but it was perfectly cooked.
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And a fabulous chicken Marsala for moi.
Here’s to another four happy decades.
💕
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Where there's only one step from the sublime to the ridiculous.
River's world..... 