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Do Not Go Quietly Into That Good Night

I hope I can still dance when I am old. I hope I can still flirt with the opposite sex. I hope I can still cry when watching a romantic movie. I hope I can still have romance. I hope I can still walk on the beach when I am old and delight in its beauty. I hope I can still read a great book, laugh, love, sing, pray and so many other things that I can't name.

I hope we will all have this je ne sais quoi into our twilight years.

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Sunburn Twins

Me and Emma
Here is my wonderful, niece Emma and me after a long day walking in 80 degree weather (without sunscreen!) at the Liberty Antique Festival. We ate BBQ, home made ice cream, kettle corn and had old-fashioned lemonade. It was the perfect day, not a cloud in the sky and antiques on every corner. I stopped along the way to chat with Louis, a big standard poodle with diamond collar and his owner, the lady from Morehead City with the best nautical booth and anyone else who cared to talk. I also found a second edition of Jane Eyre that I can't wait to read.

Why was the day perfect? Because I was in the beautiful great outdoors with someone that I love more than life itself, my adorable and fabulous Emma. She makes being an aunt one of life's best moments.

Home Sweet Home

No truer words were ever spoken - "Be it ever so humble, there's no place like home." I am feeling sentimental today and will share some pictures taken during a recent visit at my parent's home in Mt. Airy, North Carolina, home of Andy Griffith.

I can feel the weight of the world lift from my shoulders when I am in the country, where all is quiet and at peace with the world. Thomas Wolfe was wrong. You can go home again.

The Evolution of Jane

Jane is fast becoming a favorite name of mine. It is old-fashioned but has panache. And, in my family it is a heritage carried by five generations, starting with my great-grandmother Eliza Jane, who had Emma Jane, who years later had Mary Jane. Mary Jane was my father's sister and while she did not have children, he did and you guessed it. He had a daughter named Jenni Jane. My other sister Michelle, named her daughter, Emma Jane, which is where the story ends for now.

Great books are written about Jane and by Jane. The obvious examples are Jane Eyre and the ultimate female writer Jane Austen, who is still popular years after publishing her first book. I just discovered a new writer by accident, Cathleen Schine and her book the Evolution of Jane.

Apparently, I am not alone in my fascination Jane - the name is inspiration for Jane magazine, Mary Jane shoes, Calamity Jane, Dick and Jane series, movies like the Jane Austen Book Club and Becoming Jane. The name is even captured in lyrics by Jefferson Starship in the song "Jane."Why are we taken with Jane? Determined to have a good life and destined for greatness are the Jane's and I lay claim to the heritage in my family, even though I am a Jane by default. These women inspired me and still do, including my niece, Emma Jane, who surprises and delights me continually.

For all the Jane's out there, this one's for you!