Author Archives: joyocala

There is so much about being a native Floridian that I take for granted. There is constant warmth throughout the year. Well, except for two-three months in winter. Even the cold days rarely extend beyond a week. There is the … Continue reading →

I recently had the privilege of attending an inspiring performance of Handel’s Messiah. Before the concert began, the conductor stepped aside to share a few thoughts with the audience. I was moved by his message and would like to share … Continue reading →

Butterflies, dragonflies, red cardinals, flickering lights, random coins found, stopped clocks, and for my brother and I it was a cloud. Of course, the signs I mentioned are what some folks notice and/or find when a loved one has died. … Continue reading →

We post this blog in loving memory of our friend Terry.  You also are gone but not forgotten. I just read a poem called the empty chair prayer.* As we prepare for thanksgiving, we think of all the things that … Continue reading →

Gratitude or being thankful is not a practice which is relegated to the fourth Thursday of November. It is an everyday practice. Gratitude can turn a life from deep depression to profound appreciation for all the benefits in our lives … Continue reading →

Having no new ideas today, I decided to write about nothing. There’s a Latin expression ex nihilo nihi fit, from nothing, nothing comes. It has its roots in Greek philosophy, but you can find it all over the place, even … Continue reading →

On Friday, November 9 we celebrated the thirty year anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall. I can vividly remember watching television and seeing people standing on the wall and chipping away at it with hammers and chisels. I … Continue reading →

The stories of our lives – or maybe just mine – seem non-descript, painfully ordinary. Our daily lives roll along with their usual, often mundane regularity. I have never considered anything about my life to be book-worthy, let alone blog-worthy. … Continue reading →

I didn’t choose my name; you probably didn’t either. But our parents thought long and hard before they chose a name for us. Did you like your name when you were a child? I didn’t. So many girls shared my … Continue reading →

Just a few days ago, my husband was enjoying a delicious salad I prepared when suddenly he winced, “Ouch, I don’t believe I almost cracked my tooth. This olive has a pit in it, instead of a pimento!” Olives still … Continue reading →