Miriam Nelson

That’s what friends are for

Published by admin on Mon, 08/24/2020 - 3:12pm

When it comes to having friends, I like to have a wide variety, mostly because I can live vicariously through them.

One friend of mine equates athletic activities to being as necessary as breathing. Needless to say, she puts me to shame in the “get out there and move” department, but I’m not the one sidelined with yet another concussion.

I’ve suggested that she wrap herself in bubble wrap, never leave her bed without a helmet or stop all extreme sports immediately, but all these suggestions have fallen on deaf ears.

Traveling the world in my own backyard

Published by admin on Mon, 08/17/2020 - 5:53pm

I had an errand to run to the golf course and, as is my nature, I started up a conversation with a couple at the bar.

They were from West Allis and were here for a vacation, a chance to get out of the city. They were renting a place in Tilleda that they had found through an online website and were just hanging out, enjoying nature and a round of golf. Of course it fills me with great pride when tourists bring up the fact they also came to see the Walls of Wittenberg, before I can even slip the suggestion into the conversation.

Will it ever feel normal to gather with family again?

Published by admin on Mon, 08/10/2020 - 6:40pm

I’m a hugger by nature, and the weirdest part of starting to venture out again is that I actually stop and contemplate if I should hug or not.

I was able to go to a bridal shower last weekend. It was in northeast Iowa — a small event with relatives I haven’t seen for quite some time. As always, I showed up with my mask in place and did my best to practice social distancing, which normally isn’t a problem. But I hadn’t seen my 84-year-old aunt in a couple of years, so I had to resist my usual hug mode.

Pet lovers see the world through different eyes

Published by admin on Mon, 08/03/2020 - 11:51am

Pet people are special people. They give love unconditionally to dogs who give that kind of love right back. They give love to cats even though some won’t even acknowledge their existence. They give love to fish who are probably amused at the faces that get made at them all day.

Some people make shopping a joyful experience

Published by admin on Mon, 07/27/2020 - 1:49pm

Being out and about and shopping is an experience I haven’t participated in for quite some time. I’ve had the occasional trip to the grocery store and the gas station, but those trips didn’t involve a lot of decision-making or searching.

Where, oh where, did my curiosity go?

Published by admin on Tue, 07/21/2020 - 2:22pm

I love to read those posts about how much things have changed over the years in terms of technology. It helps me keep things in perspective when I feel I’m not grasping the latest trend.

Change, adjust, repeat: I might as well embrace the new normal

Published by admin on Mon, 07/13/2020 - 4:09pm

In spite of the limitations, in spite of crazy work schedules, the summer is zipping by rather quickly for me. It’s so good to be home on weekends now, especially since bit by bit the world as we used to know it is beginning to reappear. Getting used to new normals for almost everything in life is all about adjusting.

Sweetness of life found in a summer farmers market

Published by admin on Mon, 07/06/2020 - 1:33pm

Because of my schedule, I’m not always able to partake of the wonderful Wisconsin summer ritual of attending a farmers market. Truth be told, I’m either out of town or unable to get up at the crack of dawn to grab the best of the pick. I’m also only buying for me, and it seems like a lot of work to go outside to check out what is mostly vegetables, of which I’m not especially fond.

Open for business and ready to run away

Published by admin on Mon, 06/29/2020 - 4:14pm

Hooray, hooray. Everything is open; all is well with the world. I can go back to doing everything the way I did before the pandemic forced us all to stay at home.

I guess that’s not entirely true. In fact, I’m pretty sure it’s not even mostly true. All I know for sure is that it’s safer to come out now than it has been in the past. Rules may vary from county to county, state to state, but here in my version of Wisconsin, I’m seeing different precautions in different restaurants, and I’m not sure life is going to get any less complicated any time soon.

Opening the mailbox and still finding wonder

Published by admin on Mon, 06/22/2020 - 2:26pm

As I add another year of existence here on the third rock from the sun, I think of all that I’m grateful for as I open up the birthday cards sent to me via the U.S. Postal Service. It’s a lot more fun to open those cards and letters than it is to open the plethora of bills, bargains and bait and switch opportunities that generally fill my mailbox.