Author: jjranson

Can I ask you a personal question? Promise me you’ll answer honestly. Are you in a hurry? By that, I mean… Do you count the cars as you approach a stoplight and get in the shortest line?Do you change lines in a store or a bank?Do you multitask so...

Writing Prompt #30: Decisions, decisions I’ve had trouble deciding much of anything this past year. So, I may not be thoroughly and clearly responsive to this prompt! It’s not that I haven’t tried to decide. I considered buying a waterfront property — twice! Then I pondered how much money...

No one who knows me would doubt that I adored my late husband, Bob. He meant so much to me. Bob was the kindest person I’ve ever known, truly. He “saw” me, and still loved me — for that, I will be eternally grateful. When we got married, I and my...

If you’re a parent or have ever tried to help a toddler, you have heard this, “I’ll do it myself.” All three of my now-grown children are different, but they all declared this many times. It’s just the stubborn, trying-to-learn nature of the little human. And apparently, the nature...

Back in the day, three kids meant cram-packed kitchen cabinets. Being well-stocked and never running out of food required planning, money, and adequate space. Living alone in a big house, I can make different choices. Particularly in the grocery shopping department. It’s just me now, and for two years...

Or the surprising benefits of minimizing Have you ever thought about the time you invest in managing all your stuff? Maybe it’s your investment in the caring of things — the yard, the floors, all those windows in your big house. Perhaps you invest emotional energy worrying about upgrading a possession...

Are you tired of the crap lying around your house? Or in your car? Your workplace? I sure am! Last year, with the Ninja Writers’ encouragement, I embarked on a yearly theme of organization. I started out with Marie Kondo’s book about tidying up. Hubby and I tried to...

So much depends on it I’m not going to mince words. Ask my children. They’ll attest that I am not one prone to beating around the bush. You need to take care of yourself. I’m here, dear reader, to offer some simple tips to keep your life ship from listing...