by Lynnelle on June 14, 2010
My Mom
Mom is turning 80 this October 22.
8 – oh.
20 years – 4 times. Eighty.
Seriously? How did THAT happen?
A few years ago my work took me to New York. I left everyone and everything in Texas. I was 41. Mom was 68.
It seems like yesterday. I’ve been away from “home” for 12 years. I enjoyed a wild ride in New York, fell in love, fell out of love, moved to Maine (not in that order) and now whoosh! – 12 years has gone by. I’ve always been sure of doing the right thing. Following my intuition; listening to my gut feeling has never failed me – I think. Now I’m wavering a bit and am not sure if it’s gut or fear or a bit of both.
I’ll be putting my Willard Beach house on the market and moving out next month.
The business I’ve built and the work I’ve become known for has become less challenging and less rewarding on a few levels.
Not only is Mom 12 years older, I am 12 years older. Still single. Still ready for the next adventure.
Wondering what that is.
by Lynnelle on April 29, 2010
Kids can go nude - but not hungry on Willard Beach.
Such a response I’ve gotten from my last post!
Wow. I’ve gone back and reread the thing twice now and am still amazed. It really struck a cord.
First, let me say I am NOT sad, depressed or anything other than prepared. (I love you Uncle Bill. Really – I’m fine! 
)
and
Second, I didn’t, and don’t want to communicate anything other than
a) shit happens and
b) you do your best and forget the rest.
There are thousands and thousands who are in REAL difficulty. ***Non Sequitur Alert***
I just returned from a meeting with John Woods, the new chair of Maine’s Share Our Strength organization. I am SHOCKED at how many children in Maine (and the US in general) rely on the school systems for their food. Last week was Spring break in the Maine public school system and it is heartbreaking to hear that many kids had next to nothing to eat until this Monday when school opened again.
By the end of this year over 17 million children will worry about where their next meal will come from. That is ONE out of EVERY FOUR children… We are among the wealthiest, most generous people on earth. This is just NOT acceptable. A five year old going to bed hungry. THAT is real difficulty.
I thank everyone for your well wishes and atta-girls. I love you all. Whether I live in this little house a block away from my Willard Beach or the littlest Pablo and I have to take a 10 minute drive in the morning – you’ll get the morning beach pics. And I’ll not go to bed hungry. I’ll be donating my time to Share Our Strength Maine and if I’m as good as “they” say – there will be fewer children going to bed hungry because of it.
I’m one of the luckiest people I know.
(Check out the Share Our Strength link to see what we’re doing in Southern Maine. I’ll let you know more ways you can participate – help – donate – rattle the cages soon. If you want more info or share a story before then, lmk.)
