Everything Breaks!!!

Just as I was preparing to write a new post on my blog, my laptop died. What an excruciating experience. Fortunately, I do keep all important documents backed up to flash drives and my new novel is always on a flash drive so the data wasn't at risk; however, it's the issue of whether or not it's the hard drive crashing or did the operating system decide to blow up??? And where are all of those program disks that came with the system??? (Very important!)

So I was over a week without the use of my laptop as I know it, and did manage to check e-mail remotely through web mail just to put out fires, but try being without immediate access to the computers to which we have become enslaved and see how it feels. You may find that you accomplish some household projects that would have otherwise been once again delayed, but I have to tell you that I felt as though I had been cut off from civilization. Additionally, I don't like having to reschedule clients, which is exactly what I had to do since I was unable to function efficiently.

Thank God there is a local guy that I call Jim, The Computer Guru, who has me up and running and able to attempt to catch up with everything that has been put on hold. Thank you, Jim!!

As I thought about how instantaneously a computer can cease to operate, it occurred to me that eventually almost everything breaks. Think about it. Computers, cars, our bodies, pets, appliances, houses, HVAC systems--everything has a life expectancy. If we're fortunate, these things may operate beyond that time frame but eventually everything needs repair or replacement. Sometimes we feel as though products were designed to fail twenty-four hours following the last day of the warranty.

The interesting thing is that everything else can break, but not our souls. The body will decline, die, and decay, but our souls continue throughout eternity. They have no shelf life, and what a blessing to consider that in the BIG picture, all of this stuff that seems so important to us that breaks, was only temporary anyway. But the soul.....the eternal soul.....an overwhelming concept. So the words of inspiration today are from Psalm 62:5--"Find rest, O my soul, in God alone; my hope comes from Him. He alone is my rock and my salvation; He is my fortress, I will not be shaken."

I wanted to start with something inspirational this time before moving on to the subject of exercise because in my last blog post, I was so caught up in describing the unusual restrooms at the Broadmoor Spa, I realized that I didn't write ANY words of inspiration, and I don't like to neglect to do that, because God truly is my rock and I always want to give Him glory for everything that is accomplished in my life.

With regard to exercise, my 40th High School Reunion is RAPIDLY approaching, and have I met my exercise goals? I really believe so. I have been using my jogging trampoline almost every day and feel very comfortable that I am not bursting out of my clothing. I, personally, love a jogging trampoline because I can park it right in front of "Dancing With the Stars" and just keep jogging along without even realizing the time. I don't recommend this for everyone, however, because some folks report a feeling of dizziness or lightheadedness when using this form of exercise equipment, so if you have this tendency, a jogging trampoline is probably not your best choice. I think that regardless of how we choose to do it, the object is to keep moving, and to try to approach it as part of a daily routine...just like brushing our teeth and flossing. We can't wait until we're in the mood to exercise, because it probably isn't going to happen! I'm looking forward to writing a blog post about the reunion! It should be mighty entertaining.......

On the subject of memoir writing, there has been an interest in giving gift certificates for family members who want to write their own stories, but just don't know how to get started on a memoir project. This can be arranged! I will work with individuals (even long distance by telephone) to give them all of the information that I provide in my local workshops. Don't hesitate to contact me for the details if this interests you as a gift for a loved one!

Now that my laptop is once again under my fingertips, I have a great deal of catching up to do so I will sign off now, but I am HAPPY TO BE BLOGGING AGAIN!

Roughing it at the Broadmoor

Pike's Peak-14,100 foot
elevation-Mary not
smiling-turning green

Outdoor pool at the
Broadmoor

The Broadmoor:

Last week, we had the privilege of spending a few days at the fabulous Broadmoor in Colorado Springs. I can't begin to describe the beauty, relaxation, and accommodation that this location provides. From the yummy dining, the fabulous spa, the picturesque outdoor lakeside pool, charming paddleboats, hidden flower and sculpture gardens, the blue Colorado sky with the cottony white puffy clouds, and charming boutiques to the meticulously manicured 54 holes of golf, this place is amazing. The staff members were incredibly helpful and friendly. Rumor has it that one of the three golf courses is far more challenging than the others, but I won't reveal which one is the toughest. A visit to the spa is a MUST, where one will find all tension eliminated by the experts in facials and massage. It features a special relaxation room, where one can lean back in a comfortable, cushiony lounge, sip lemon flavored water and nibble on fruit, and read a book or magazine while occasionally gazing out a gigantic picture window that exposes a background of spectacular blue sky and mountain scenery. A visit to this spa isn't complete without a brief stop in one of the restrooms--even if you don't really have the urge to go. The restrooms were the talk of the dinner table, as the ladies were astounded at the unique experience of sitting on a heated toilet seat at the spa. That wasn't all, however. The bidet has nothing on these toilets. They were fitted with some type of contraption with a control panel on the righthand wall where one could choose a front light spray, front heavy spray, rear light spray, rear heavy spray, and the best----a dryer. I must say that I have never seen anything like this in my entire life--the toilet seat of all toilet seats. I could have stayed in there for half an hour just to experiment with the various sprays and dryer. I pushed every button just to see what it would happen next!

Then we took the cog railway to the top of Pike's Peak. The Broadmoor is at an elevation just above 6,000 feet and Pike's Peak boasts an elevation of approximately 14,100 feet. Let me assure you that at that height, it definitely impacts your body. I felt light headed, queasy, woozy, and almost disoriented; however, it is something that everyone in good health should experience once. I've been there twice, so I've exceeded the requisite one visit. Next time, I think I'll try out the golf course or the heated toilet seat instead. You will notice in the photo that I am not smiling, and yes, that is snow on which I'm reluctantly standing. I was turning green at the time, and stayed outside just long enough for the photos.

I highly recommend the Broadmoor, however, for a well deserved getaway!

Exercise:

I can honestly say that I have continued with my goal to exercise every day, if possible, even during our travels. I have been able to take long walks or find some form of exercise almost every day. Last night, realizing that I hadn't managed to walk outdoors all day, I retrieved my mini-trampoline out of the closet and jogged while I watched the season premier of Dancing with the Stars. I'll be doing the same thing in just a few minutes. When all else fails, the mini-trampoline is a life saver. My goal is to make exercise as vital to my schedule as is eating!

Memoir Writing:

I feel sorry for anyone who is unfortunate enough to be seated next to me on a long flight. Not only will they find out that I advocate passing along our stories to future generations, but before I'm finished with them, they'll be embarrassed if they don't agree that they need to capture the stories of living relatives before it's too late. I met some wonderful folks during this recent trip to Colorado Springs, and I hope that they will forgive my enthusiasm for memoir writing. I can't restrain myself from discussing this passion. Pretty soon, my photo will be posted in airports with a caption "Sit by this lady at your own risk!"

See you soon....

Labor Day Cogitations

UPDATE ON EXERCISE:
When you are determined to incorporate exercise into your daily routine, it is challenging as well as interesting to find ways to vary your fitness routine. I find that if I don't deviate from just working out with an exercise DVD or just walking the neighborhood, I'll definitely get bored and begin to find excuses not to exerise at all.
Thus far, I've managed to remain "on track" in my determination to add some form of exercise to my daily schedule; however, this becomes difficult during times of travel. On a recent trip to Albany, New York, I took one look at the treadmill in the hotel's small workout room, and knew that I just couldn't stand there, trudging along, looking at a blank, white wall. I remembered a beautiful park, The Crossings, that is located in close proximity to this particular hotel. I grabbed my sneakers and a bottle of water, drove to this lovely park, which offers a variety of paved, peaceful walking trails, and thoroughly enjoyed several long walks during my stay in the Albany area. There is something to be said for the benefit of fresh air during exercise, as opposed to being couped up in a small room that is dense with the odor of sweaty, well worn sneakers. Bad enough if they are your own, but sometimes in the gym setting, your nostrils are filled with the combinatorial malodorous atmosphere of multiple pairs of sneakers that should have been replaced long ago.

The point is that wherever you are, you can locate a pleasant place to work out. If the weather isn't cooperative, you can even choose a free TV exercise channel that is available at many hotels. This channel allows you to pick a workout that fits into even the tightest of schedules, choose one that enables you to concentrate on a particular problem area, and all in the privacy of your own hotel room. I definitely took advantage of this during my recent trip.

I'm considering going out for a neighborhood walk right now, but I keep hearing the sound of rifles firing in the distance. I understand that today is opening day of alligator season in South Carolina, and Fred and I are assuming that what we are hearing would be those permit-carrying alligator hunters out there shooting like people practicing at a firing range. Hopefully, none of those shells will find a spot in the local neighborhoods, but perhaps a beach walk might be in order today! I think it's safer there.

I've been joyously entrenched in working on writing the life story of a fine octogenarian gentleman, who would like to share his memoir with family and friends. It's a fascinating process, and his memory is remarkable. I'm having such a great time with this project, and every time I work with individuals or groups in life writing, I am so blessed to hear and learn about their unique experiences and aspects of living to which I might never have been exposed. I LOVE what I do!!

In working on my current novel-in-progress, I'm looking for a resource who is a plastic surgeon. A character in the book is in medical need of the services of one, and I need to ask him/her a few pertinent questions in order to insure the authenticity of this particular situation. I put the word out to a friend, who will work on this for me during this upcoming week. Hopefully, her friend, the plastic surgeon, will be cooperative. I feel it's so important to fully research areas with which I'm unfamiliar because although it is fiction and I can make up anything I want, it has to be realistic!

I think that's about all I have to say today, this alligator hunting Labor Day, 2009, except for one thing! If you've never heard of the Four Spiritual Laws, visit www.4laws.com/laws/english/flash/. It could change your life.

See y'all very soon!!

Capture the Life Story of your Beloved Pet

SAMMY'S TALE
Pet Stories:
If you check out my Home Page at http://www.awriterspresence.com/, you'll notice that I am launching a new arm of my writing business. This is something that I had never imagined I'd be doing, but the idea was suggested to me, and I decided to see if it is actually a service that people desire. What is this new offering? Writing the life story of your treasured pet!
The average life span of Fido, Fidette, or Kitty is comparatively short. This is a fact. There are a multitude of heartwarming pet stories out there, but people rarely take the time and effort necessary to capture them. How does this service work? I will ask you a series of questions to formulate the story of your pet or former pet, you can e-mail me a favorite photo (or small prized photo collection), and I will create an attractive booklet that preserves his or her life story to share and treasure forever. You can order one single copy or several copies to distribute to people who love your pooch or kitty.

To create the prototype for this booklet, I interviewed Amy Maselli, who told the gripping story of acquiring her little Maltese, Sammy. My sincere thanks to Amy and Sammy for participating in this project, which resulted in the adorable booklet, Sammy's Tale.

The beauty of this service is that it makes a fabulously unique gift for the loving pet owner, and gift certificates are available! (Think Christmas, birthdays, anniversaries, Mother's Day, Father's Day...) The cost is only $50.00 to have the story written and approximately $10.00-$15.00 per booklet. Booklet costs vary based on the number of color photos included in production. This service can be easily provided from a long distance, so you don't need to be a Myrtle Beach area resident to take advantage of this opportunity. Don't hesitate to call me any time if you have questions!! (843) 215-4676 or (518) 441-8107

Class reunion:
I'm counting down to October 17, my 40th (YIPES!) high school class reunion. Our Southern California high school class has decided to hold this event in Las Vegas, and that brings an entirely different level to "getting in shape for your reunion". Las Vegas in October, weather permitting, could mean wearing a bathing suit at the pool, definitely cocktail party attire, and the possibilities for feeling weight-scrutinized are endless. From dearest old best friends to the women who didn't like you then and couldn't care less about you now, an impending reunion gives you a sense of being under the microscope. From the guys who have gone from six pack abs to sixty extra pounds and thinning or mysteriously vanished hairlines to those who have managed to retain a certain charm and tremendous appeal, a reunion makes you feel as though you want to make some attempt at looking your best--at least for that one weekend of visiting Memory Lane.


Therefore, in honor of and preparation for my October 17 reunion, I am committing to at least 1/2 hour or more of exercise five days a week. And for the purpose of accountability, I am going to include in my blog entries whether or not I have managed to achieve this goal and what types of exercise I managed to squeeze into my schedule during the prior week. My ultimate goal is not to be a skeleton by October 17, but simply reasonably toned. I'll keep you updated on how this works, and perhaps you'll want to start your own exercise accountability blog in the future!!



Update on FLOATERS:
Since my last blog post, I've been amazed at the number of e-mails I have received from friends and family who said ,"Welcome to the World of Floaters!!" or that they had experienced this within the last few years or even just recently. I also appreciated those who e-mailed and said, "Thanks for the warning!" I'm happy to report that the pesky black spots that I've been viewing through my left eye have become less obvious, but seem to be more prevalent when I first walk outdoors into the bright sunlight or when I step into my shower, which is surrounded by a very light background. It would seem that posterior vitreous detachment (cause of floaters) is sort of a boomer right of passage, similar to receiving your first AARP card in the mail.

Lifewriting:
I'm gearing up for the fall lifewriting classes that I'll be teaching through Coastal Carolina University's Osher Lifelong Learning Institute. I absolutely love teaching these workshops and giving people the tools to make them realize, "Yes, I really can create a memoir project!" Some folks would love to write their stories to pass along to future generations, but they find the very idea overwhelming. After they have attended my workshops, they know that it is not only possible, but they are enthusiastic about making this potential project a reality. Please see my web site at http://www.awriterspresence.com/ and choose the page "Write About Your Life". Scroll down to locate the dates, locations and descriptions of the workshops that I'll be teaching this fall, and don't hesitate to call me at (843) 215-4676 or (518) 441-8107 if you have any questions! I'd love to see you in my workshops. You can also visit www.coastal.edu/olli to view the entire catalog of classes.

I'll leave you with this quote, "Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord; trust in Him and He will do this: He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn, the justice of your cause like the noonday sun." Psalm 37:5-6

Have a wonderful week, and find something that makes you laugh!!!


Mary Anne Benedetto

I'm BACK..........

Okay, I'm totally mortified that I haven't blogged in almost a month, but it's been an incredibly wild and busy time--consumed with travel and entertaining friends and family here in beautiful South Carolina. I'm back on schedule now (I hope) and feeling like a blog delinquent--overcome with guilt.

In the past two weeks, I've seen more Grand Strand attractions than the Myrtle Beach Chamber of Commerce. While my friend, Lori, was visiting, we saw the Magic of Ireland show at the Palace Theatre at Broadway at the Beach, a tour of Brookgreen Gardens, time at Huntington Beach State Park, shopping, and an evening at Legends in Concert. Love those Blues Brothers!

When our son, daughter-in-law, and three grandchildren arrived, we went to Alligator Adventure, the Aquarium at Broadway at the Beach, enjoyed time at our Blackmoor pool, dinner at Medieval Times, played miniature golf at Jungle Lagoon, and thoroughly kicked up our heels in the warm ocean waves at Huntington Beach. Had a fabulous, memorable time!

On a different subject, I keep wondering why someone doesn't provide us with a list of events to anticipate as we age--just so we'll know what to expect. For instance, after Lori arrived a couple of weeks ago on a Saturday, we were sitting there calmly enjoying a delicious lunch at the TPC of Myrtle Beach, where we were overlooking the infamous 18th hole. I saw this sudden flash before my eyes, as though someone had just taken a photo with a flash or lightning had just struck directly in front of my eye. Then the best part occurred. I began seeing black spots through my left eye. I'm the kind of person who doesn't like to panic and seek medical attention at the drop of a hat, so I calmly sat there and didn't tell Lori or my husband, Fred, who was then chatting with us at our table. I recalled a few years ago when Fred had a similar experience, he was told by the doctor that this was a common occurrence and the "floaters" he was seeing would likely be permanent, although in time, less intrusive.

On Monday morning, I visited a recommended ophthalmologist, who essentially told me, after examining both eyes thoroughly, that in our 50's and 60's, the vitreous gel (the clear, jelly-like fluid that fills the inside of your eye) can pull away from the back wall of the eye, causing a posterior vitreous detachment, creating "floaters" (which are tiny clumps of the gel or cells inside the vitreous). He did say that they tend to fade over time and become less bothersome, but never really go away completely. GREAT!
I've also been told by other people who have had this experience that your brain begins to adjust to seeing these spots, and it does become less annoying. GREAT!! I can't wait.

The point is this.....if and when this happens to you, the important thing is to see an ophthalmologist as soon as possible to be certain that the retina isn't damaged. That is the danger in this occurrence. I am fine and am adjusting to the aggravating spots..I am less aware of them each day. But why doesn't someone warn us about these weirdo things that happen to people as they approach senior citizenship? If my husband hadn't already had this experience a few years ago, I would have thought I was having a stroke. So I just thought I'd write about this experience in the hope that if and when it happens to you, you'll know what it is all about and remember to seek the attention of an ophthalmologist at first opportunity!

That's it for tonight, but I'll be writing within a few days about my upcoming lifewriting workshops. I promise......

Memorable Moments

In my last post, I wrote about long term friends from whom I had recently heard. I also connected with another friend from my California school days, and her name is Cathi. We were essentially inseparable during our school years, and she was truly like one of our family members. My brother, John, was born when I was 15 years old and my friends considered him quite the novelty at the time. Cathi was right there to give him a bottle when needed, but I don't recall whether or not she was into diaper changing. As 15 year olds, I'd say we thought that was pretty gross and should be left to the parents whenever possible.

I'll never forget the evening my parents broke the news to me that they were expecting. It was quite a shock to me (as well as to them, I believe). They sat me down and told me that Mom was pregnant, but they promised that it wouldn't interfere with my social life. Dad specifically said that I would not be expected to be a built in baby sitter. "Whew!" I thought. "I'm glad to hear that!!" But something magical happened when that little guy was born. I really didn't mind helping with him. I spent many an hour with him cuddled against my neck, as I sat with him in the rocking chair in his nursery, singing sweet little songs to him to help him go to sleep. It turned out to be good training for me because when my own dear son was born when I was twenty, I felt reasonably confident about infant care. I have to laugh because Fred and I sat in Magiquest at Broadway at the Beach last night, chatting with my brother, John, as his three children raced around with their wands--doing whatever it is that kids are doing in there with those wands, and John's patient wife, Amy, was dashing around attempting to keep track of their three children and a nephew! It's rather mind boggling to realize how much time has elapsed since John was that little toddler who was always so curious about what his sister and her friends were doing. He's turned out to be a fine family man and someone that I am proud to call a good friend. And I always love to hear from Cathi.

Cape May was a fabulous time once again this year. The photo at the top of this post is from that location. I was able to produce a great deal of writing for my second novel during the trip. Once I get on a roll with the thoughts and ideas, it just flows so automatically, and hours can fly by. The Cape May Girls are making their bucket lists, naming all of the things that they would like to do before their demise. We're going to produce a booklet with a group photo on the front and individual pages with a photo of the particular person and their bucket list following. I have two participants who haven't yet turned in their bucket lists....I won't mention any names....but I hope they are almost complete. They know that I'll be hounding them before very long. As soon as I finish the three main projects I'm working on right now, I want to tackle the Bucket List booklet! It will be lots of fun to look at these booklets in the future. We had a wonderful week in Cape May, and the time seems to fly. I guess when you are spending so much time doubled over in laughter, the hours tick by quickly.

Okay, I probably shouldn't be blogging this late at night after working most of the day on a client's family history and then working on my book. I'm beginning to get drowsy and there is no telling what I'll write, so I had better sign off for today! God bless you all.

Connecting with Dear Friends

This has been a banner week for connecting with "old" friends. Don't you just love those friends who are a part of your history and although you don't see or hear from them for months or even years, when you finally have the opportunity to chat or visit, the time since your last connection is non-existent? It seems as though you just talked yesterday because you seem to pick up exactly where you left off.

If you have friendships that I just described, you are so blessed. Take a moment to call one of those special connections, and you will be uplifted by a sense of closeness that is punctuated by the unique space of your heart that is occupied by that individual.

This week, I heard from my friend, Janie. We've been friends since childhood, and although she lives in California, we touch base periodically. We'll always feel linked regardless of the miles of separation and the peaks and valleys of life that we have shared via letters, telephone calls, and e-mails. She probably doesn't know that she had a nickname in high school. She was referred to as "Hollywood" because her father was a cameraman for a movie studio and worked with many celebrities including Barbara Streisand. He was such a kind, down-to-earth guy--even though he was well acquainted with many famous people. Anyway, I'll see Janie at our 40th (you must be kidding!) class reunion in October. Our California high school class will be holding this milestone remembrance in Las Vegas, which is always interesting in itself. I hope that lots of the folks from our class will be able to attend, as it's wonderful to be able to catch up.

The other person that I heard from this week from the past was Tony, the funniest guy you'd ever want to know. We've been friends for many years, having become acquainted when Fred and I were big Siena College Basketball fans back in the days when Mike Deane was the incredible coach. Attending the games was something that we thoroughly enjoyed as a winter activity because those winters are cold and long in the Albany, NY area! It turned out, however, that becoming involved in cheering for the Siena team evolved into a cherished social activity that forged some wonderful friendships. Tony was a vital part of that scene in an era that we will never forget! The very best to you, Tony, in your retirement!!

And speaking of friend connections, I'm on my way to Cape May, NJ to meet a fabulous group of girlfriends for a few days of hilarity that we've been sharing for a week in July for almost twenty years. I'm not kidding. The eight of us never stop laughing the whole time we are there, and it's one of the most therapeutic events in my life every year. It's like a week long pajama party with bathing suits. I highly recommend this for other ladies--get a group of friends who are comical, considerate, caring and conversational and plan even a long weekend together. You'll never regret it!! Looking forward to seeing you Cape May Girls!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

For those who are working on their lifewriting projects, think back to your most favorite vacation and write about the details of that trip. Include a good, solid description of the location, surroundings, accommodations, activities, travel involved, and what made it so special. Make your readers feel as though they were right there--seeing everything you saw, participating in everything you did (okay, maybe not EVERYTHING!), eating the types of foods that you ate, describing the local culture, and bringing us along the paths that you walked. If you can locate photos from the visit, use those to refresh your memory of the details. Capture the moments!

Happy 4th of July holiday to everyone!!!!!!!!!! God bless and keep you safe this holiday weekend.