Lockerbie with Colin Firth on Peacock

 

My reaction to the first two episodes of Lockerbie, starring Colin Firth, was visceral. December 21, 1988 Libyan operatives smuggled explosives onto Pan Am Flight 103.by way of Malta, which exploded over Lockerbie, Scotland, raining debris over the village and killing several people on the ground. 

This event is personal for me, in part  because I heard about the terrorist attack when I landed in Cincinnati that same evening following air travel from Chiang Kai Shek Airport in Taipei, Taiwan. I’d flown that Pan Am Flight from Heathrow in the past. Ultimately, it was the death for Pan Am, which had been the American flag ship airline from the early days of commercial aviation. Lockerbie defined the moment for me.

I was living in Asia during Tiananmen Square, the 1st gulf war, terror attacks on US facilities.  I knew people who were traumatized by the bombings in Lebanon, the evacuation of US citizens in Tehran during the revolution, the airline and cruise ship high jackings, and understood that if we were in danger- the best places to find help included the Swiss and Canadian government entities…not the US. How disappointing to know that my own government did not have the best interests of its citizens at the forefront.

Perhaps it is for this reason that I felt the agony of those fighting for answers after Lockerbie. Secrecy     Y governmental entities is toxic. It erases trust of citizens. Maybe this is why so many Americans applaud DOGE. Transparency! Light! Peeling away the layers of the onion. 

The people are entitled to truth. God bless Dr. Swire for reminding me that government owes us truth. Lockerbie is a reminder of that. Obfuscating is wrong. Opacity is wrong. We, the people, deserve truth.

After Years of Exploring BedLinens~ It’s Cozy Earth

 

I e spent years looking for the perfect sheets that satisfy the disparate requirements of my spousal unit and me. If I were only concerned about my personal preference, I would luxuriate in my Belgian linen sheets, which I’m saving for the unfathomable future. My partner believes they are too scratchy for his sensitive skin. I love the breathability and natural antibacterial properties.  🤔

My partner loves Egyptian cotton. As a woman of a certain age who continues to experience ‘personal summers’ not allayed by air conditioning, this is a non- starter for me.

About ten years ago, my dearly departed mother suggested exploring bamboo sheets. I did my due diligence and decided to try a set that was offered at Costco at one of the regular special events. This set was comfortable with a disappointing life expectancy. 

During a holiday special, I tried Cozy Earth. We both loved the Cozy Earth sheets that felt like silk, laundered well, and provided the durability we wanted. However, these sheets are expensive. When it came time to replace them, I went down the research rabbit hole looking for comparable quality at a more affordable price point. 

Reviews for the Quince viscose bedding were excellent. My sister exclaimed the quality of Quince products. So, I ordered a set. Within a week the bottom sheet pilled. I reached out to customer service. Quince replaced the set at no cost. The bottom sheet pilled yet again. I tried another resource. My husband found them unsatisfactory. 

Consequently, we decided that at this point in our lives we were worth the cost of Cozy Earth. The new set arrived today. Feeling the sheets as I opened the package convinced me we’d made the right decision. Easy care. Silky. Moisture wicking. Luxurious. I anticipate an excellent night’s sleep. 

Cozy Earth is worth it! 

Looking Forward to New Adventures

 

2025 may be a turning point. I’ve reached a place where I’m yearning for new adventures, the next phase of life, another reinvention. After a year of losses, I feel it is time to move forward and embrace there years ahead of me. 

Interests and hobbies abound. When I pull the plug on my career, I have no trepidation that I will face boredom. There are too many opportunities to embrace- new and old.

On ce our darkroom is divested of car parts, I plan to re-engage in collodion wet-plate photography. I love the process, the artistic engagement, the striving for a unique perspective..

Todd and I together enjoy attending antique car events. I’m particularly enthusiastic about future opportunities now that we’ve jointly invested in a 1929 Auburn. We can now participate in events with the Auburn Cord Duesenberg club. I’m so excited to have a classic Indiana car. 

Gardening, fitness, meditation, exploring new recipes, target practice at the shooting range,  Civil War. Era civilian events, educational travel, wineries, special events at museums in DC & Richmond, longer time spent reading at the beach and trying new dining establishments.

I’m ready. The degradation of the civil litigation environment into a morass of unethical behaviors by judges, attorneys, physicians, legislators, litigation funding agencies, runners, fraudulent individuals, and dimwitted jurors has exhausted me. Whatever happened to honor, ethics, fairness, common sense and reason?? Rhetorical, I know. But I’ve reached a point where I feel the need for a decontamination shower at the end of my workday. 

Moving Forward in 2025

 

After a heartbreaking 2024, Todd and I have decided to celebrate life on 2035. There is no magic formula. It is one minute at a time, one hour at a time, one day at a time. Despite the losses, we know that together we are stronger. We are optimistic about the future. We’ve made plans individually and jointly.

That is the beauty of a healthy relationship. Todd has his goals. I have mine. And we have collaborative plans. I support his goals. He supports mine. That may require one of us to work longer, one of us to embrace independent travel, both of us to make compromises. 

 But that is the beauty of a healthy relationship. We don’t agree on everything. We have joint and disparate interests. We bicker. We discuss. We disagree. We see eye to eye. We know we are on different, parallel, joint paths at the same time. And, it is okay. We support one another. And, we’ve jointly bought a 1929 Auburn. So, we have a plan.