Author Archives: joyocala

Many years ago a good friend of mine (I will all her Mary) went through a very painful and bitter divorce.  Infidelity was the major issue and she suffered a great deal from the personal pain it caused her and … Continue reading →

It is always a busy time of the year when the return to Florida schedule kicks in.  All the projects that I brought north need to be packed up and sent south again – mostly undone.  For some reason, I … Continue reading →

Do you remember from childhood the pungent scent of burning leaves in the autumn? In Chicago people accumulated piles of leaves in October. The easiest way to get rid of them was to rake them into the street near the … Continue reading →

            Paulette and I like to travel, but the pandemic has put a kybosh on that.  We finally decided to have a safe getaway, and have rented a condo for a week at Ormond Beach.  We’re staying safe by keeping … Continue reading →

 Australia is known for a lot of things: the iconic structure of the Sydney Opera House on that city’s skyline; koalas and kangaroos, the Outback, Aborigines, and Crocodile Dundee. Australia is incorrectly identified as the “birthplace” of the boomerang. It … Continue reading →

A couple weeks ago I became aware of National Sons’ Day and National Daughters’ Day.  Ah, the things I learn on Facebook.  Not wanting to neglect my family, I joined in the fun and posted pictures of my sons and … Continue reading →

The house my grandfather built when my dad came into this world, later became my family’s house.  I lived there from the ages of 12-19.  I loved our backyard paradise.  We had apple trees, five different kinds of grapes, cherry trees, pear trees, … Continue reading →

Did any of you expect you would have a life free of problems?  I think when I was very young I assumed when I grew up my life would be so much better.  I could do whatever I wanted, no … Continue reading →

Monday would have been my father’s 100th birthday.  So, my sisters and brothers had a birthday party-on Zoom!  My sister Catherine even baked a birthday cake which, unfortunately, we couldn’t share.  What fun to see my siblings after such a … Continue reading →

I remember the day well. I was nine years old. We were being assigned to our new Sunday school classes. Lo and behold! there weren’t enough chairs. They had to drag a nail keg out of the furnace room for … Continue reading →