A - Z Blogging Challenge 04.20.2026

 

Welcome!  I am winding down on this 26-day A - Z blogging challenge...PTL!!  Today I am taking some liberty with the theme I chose, which is glimmers or little blessings, in order to participate in this week's HodgePodge with my friend Joyce at From This Side of the Pond.  Joyce is also participating in the challenge but has managed to continue hosting her weekly hodgepodge series simultaneously.  

Today's post should have reflected glimmers in my life that begin with the letter Q.  But that is requiring too much brainpower for me at this late stage in the challenge and at this hour of the day - approaching 9 pm.  So, please allow me to use the letter Q for questions.  Am always tickled to participate in Joyce's HodgePodge series but especially grateful today to be able to use these questions as a fun way to satisfy an A - Z post.

Q is for Questions (and answers)

1. April 22nd is Earth Day...what's the most 'out of this world' place on earth you've ever visited? Tell us something about it. 

I would have to say Disney World.  I have visited it twice.  Once shortly after it first opened back in the early '70s with my parents, sister and brother.  Then again about 50 years later, in 03.2021 with my daughter Brennyn, her husband Mustafa and my granddaughter Cadence, who was 11 at the time.  My parents had taken us to the New York World's Fair in '64, Expo '67 in Montreal, Canada.  So as children we had been dazzled before but Disney was in a world of its own.  

However, I think I was even more dazzled by Disney World as a big 63-year-old kid.  It is truly 'out of this world.'  Magical.  Whimsical.  Beautiful.  Fun.

2. A favorite quote, verse, or song lyric with the word earth in it? 

"How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world." ~ my beloved Anne Frank

“Why should some people have such a hard time during their few years on this earth?” ~ Anne Frank 

3. What's the most trivial thing about which you have a strong opinion? 

I have a bit of an issue with people parking big trucks, like semi-trailers and trucks that are half-size semis, in our neighborhood.  A few streets over, someone parks a half-sized semi facing the wrong direction at a corner where it is hard to see beyond the truck.  If we are turning onto the street where the truck is parked, we can't see what is coming up the street or turning in front of the truck.  So I have taken it upon myself to call the non-emergency police number to report it several times.  In fairness, I have given the truck a day or two to sit there before I call.  But it is dangerous and unsightly and against the law.

4. What's your most commonly used kitchen utensil or tool? What's the last thing you made using that tool? 

Corn cob holder.  It serves as a mini-screw driver, hole poker, multi-purpose tool.  I used one the other day to open the steam holes on the soleplate of my iron.  It is the first thing I grab when I am trying to poke something or unscrew something very tiny.

5. Marilyn (Memphis Bridges) gave me a great book of 3000 questions, and I'm going to try to use one in our Hodgepodge every week. Here is today's - 

What is your greatest extravagance? 

Hmmm.  Need to ponder this one a minute.  I don't consider myself extravagant.  But I do have too many clothes and yet, AND YET...I continue to buy myself more clothes.  Hahahaha!  So clothes?  

But are clothes extravagant?  We have to wear them, right?  Can't go around naked.  And I don't buy expensive clothes which allows me to have more clothes.  But I do have plenty of clothes.  

In preparation for our trip to London/Edinburgh, I needed/wanted new jeans.  One of my spring goals was to purge at least 26 items from my closet (26 for 2026).  I did that and more.  Several uncomfortably snug jeans went out with the other things so it was time to replace them with jeans that fit my body and my lifestyle.  I rarely need dressier jeans except for substitute teaching and date nights.  Ordered several pair of jeans from Quince and several pair of these Lee bootcut jeans from Amazon.  Now I am all set!!

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

I have my suitcase packed for our trip but now I am thinking I need to unpack it and look at everything again.  The highs in London will only be in the low 60s and it will be decidedly more overcast and damp than we are used to.  Lows will be in the 40s.  And in Edinburgh it will be cooler and wetter still.  

Any suggestions you have for what to pack are most welcome.  

How to Have a Happy Birthday 

The first of the month, I celebrated my 68th birthday.  I didn't consider this birthday to be an especially milestone year but on the other hand, every birthday from here on out is a milestone, I guess.  Have enjoyed answering the questions and responding to the prompts provided in this workbook.  And because it has a generous amount of space for responses to each question, I plan to revisit it again next year.

Since today is Q is for Questions, I thought I would share just a couple of the questions I answered in How to Have a Happy Birthday Workbook: Insight, Inspirationand Ideas for Creating Meaning, Fulfillment and Joy on Your Special Day by Tamar Hurwitz-Fleming.

The book is divided into sections with the first one addressing fears and negative feelings we have around getting older and celebrating another birthday.  

Question numero uno in the book asks 'Why am I uncomfortable with my birthday?'  - way to jump in!!

My response:  I am sure a large part of the discomfort is fear of the unknown.  What is coming?  More travel, more cruises, adventures, time spent in my precious haven - HOME - with family?  And/or health issues limiting my physical abilities, financial woes, the crazy of today's world getting crazier.  Probably some of both.

My mom lived to be 27-years-older than I am now.  I see myself as more active than she was at this age.  But am I really?  Her mind was always so sharp.  I feel like my brain is trying to operate through sludge some days.  

My dad died at 85, while Mom was 95 when she died.  So, at the time of his death, he was 17 years older than I am now.  His body had really broken down with kidney, blood pressure, COPD issues and a never healing wound on his foot.  

Another birthday approaching has me worried how my last decade or decades will look.

In the second section of the book, readers are encouraged to examine their fears, clarify them and find work-arounds for them.  

Here's a question from this section.

Now that I have more clarity around why birthdays can be a challenge for me, what are three areas that excite me about celebrating my birthday?

My response:  

• a celebration that I made it this far, I have been knocked down and gotten back up every time.  I have survived all of my bad days to here.
• German chocolate cake - 3 words
• maybe I am approaching a time when I no longer have to work/no longer will want to work

I am going to continue filling out the book through the rest of April and then put it away until birthday time next year.  It has been a blessing to me as I have tried to gracefully transition into another birthday year.

Your Turn

The count down to our trip has begun.  T-5 days and counting.  Also looking forward to winding up this challenge and having a little time where I don't have to write something everyday...which is called vacation!!  

Is your next birthday one you are looking forward to or dreading?  Or maybe you don't have a strong feeling one way or the other.  This birthday book was a fun gift I gave myself and I think it will help me continue to put birthdays into perspective in the future.

Hey, you...thanks for popping in here today.  I appreciate your visit and your support.  Have a peaceful week, my friend.

Hugs and kisses,