October 12, 2025 My name is Jon.I live nowhereAnd everywhere.Today I sitOn the sidewalkLearning against the fence.Waiting for…I don’t know what.My name is Jane.I live nowhereAnd everywhere.Today I sitOn the sidewalkLearning against the fence.Waiting for…I don’t know what.Others are here,Folks like us.Nowhere to go.Waiting.Just waiting.We don’t know why.Here we are all the sameHopeless.You look atContinue reading “FAILURE”
Author Archives: rothenbush37
WHERE WISDOM LIES (a little free verse)
October 12, 2025 I am that man, sitting on the bench.My hair white and thinning,No streaks of greyOr my natural brown.I am sad. I am that old lady, in the grocery aisle.My hair white and thinning,No streaks of greyOr my natural blonde.I am sad. My body moves slower now,Fingers jerk when holding a pen,Knees stiffenContinue reading “WHERE WISDOM LIES (a little free verse)”
A SHORT FUN LITTLE BLOG
September 13, 2025 I have a glider swing out back, facing my woods. It’s my place to ponder in the early morning, to think about who I am and how God and I relate to each other. This morning the white cosmos were hanging over the path, clearly right in front of me. The awesomenessContinue reading “A SHORT FUN LITTLE BLOG”
SO NOW WHAT’S NEXT?
August 30, 2025 So, this is a followup to my last article. The one about how healing from emotional wounds can be similar to healing from physical ones. How, first we bleed profusely, but eventually that needs to stop or we will bleed to death. I went on to talk about scabs and about stoppingContinue reading “SO NOW WHAT’S NEXT?”
WE ARE A WOUNDED PEOPLE
July 19, 2025 I did a lot of traveling in June, lots of days in the car by myself, thinking and questioning the meaning of everything! I think it’s when I get some of my best inspirations. I started thinking about how to heal from emotional wounds. The kind that haunt us even years afterContinue reading “WE ARE A WOUNDED PEOPLE”
A THING OR TWO (OR THREE) ABOUT MY “BLOGGING”!
June 29, 2025 Sometimes I think I am terrible at this! Other bloggers have huge followings, and lots of comments. I don’t. The others actually generate on-line discussions! And so, I judge myself! Some bloggers write multiple pages every few days, or at least once a week. And they do little things on “reels”.Continue reading “A THING OR TWO (OR THREE) ABOUT MY “BLOGGING”!”
Cool Words
November 3, 2024 I’ve shared before that while I am definitely a person of faith, I don’t share much beyond my friendship circles because I don’t seem to fit into the “traditional Christian box”, whatever that is. Maybe I’m a little too private about this unless asked. I don’t know. But the topic of “words” has beenContinue reading “Cool Words”
MORE ABOUT DAILY HABITS
September 24, 2024 If you’ve been following my recent blogs, you know I’ve taken a new path on my journey to “peace and happiness.” Whatever that looks like as I’m walking (running?) through my 80s. I’ve shared how I like writing or speaking when I’ve come through a rough time, have worked it out, andContinue reading “MORE ABOUT DAILY HABITS”
THE POWER OF POSITIVE HABITS
September 5, 2024 I started this book a while ago. “You Are What You Love” by James K. A. Smith, subtitled “the spiritual power of habit.” While I’m trying to find some order to my chaotic life, and since I do love and thrive on order, the title attracted me. It’s a great read, the firstContinue reading “THE POWER OF POSITIVE HABITS”
Subvert The Dominant Paradigm
August 22, 2024 I have a bumper sticker on my car that says: Subvert The Dominant Paradigm. And at my core, my faith is what defines me, but even that can be told in ways that are not me. I often call myself as an “out-of-the-box-Christian” because there’s so much that organized religion teaches thatContinue reading “Subvert The Dominant Paradigm”
ALL MY DUCKS IN A ROW
August 5, 2024 I often suspect I am a terrible blogger! I don’t post dynamic articles every week. I want to…I have random thoughts about things to say, but they don’t seem worthy or monumental enough to warrant your time. Or maybe even my time. It takes time and effort to move random thoughts toContinue reading “ALL MY DUCKS IN A ROW”
ART JOURNALING
April 12, 2024 I’ve been doing this thing on FB and Instagram lately, posting Art Journal Prompts, partly as an exercise for myself and partly to encourage others to try it. A bit of backstory is that a number of years ago my brother passed away and it was a pretty traumatic event for me. Continue reading “ART JOURNALING”
“AUTOMATIC” STAGES OF LIFE
March 4, 2024 Lately I have been pre-occupied with this question: What Do I Really Want? And then pre-occupied with needing to figure it out. That’s what everyone said. For some unknown reason this quandary started as I was turning 80 last summer. I don’t know if there’s something significant for everyone approaching that birthday.Continue reading ““AUTOMATIC” STAGES OF LIFE”
ALL THINGS OLD – AND KEPT BEAUTIFUL
February 16, 2024 Recently I watched a well-done movie on YouTube titled “An American Rhapsody” with Scarlett Johansson. It left me in near tears, because of the convincing acting and incredible story line. As do a number of movies. But this movie left me with a yearning and appreciation for the “old.” Much of itContinue reading “ALL THINGS OLD – AND KEPT BEAUTIFUL”
Values and Priorities. Again!
July 15, 2023 I’m so stressed! I’ve done it again, fallen into the whirlwind of just ordinary living in this modern world. I never know how it happens that I find myself thinking about all the clutter in my life, trying to solve the problems of those around me, and letting my to-do list getContinue reading “Values and Priorities. Again!”
How I Starting Blogging!
June 1, 2023 I like to write, always have. Putting my thoughts to paper is not only therapeutic, but it’s just fun. I never want to get started though, it seems like a chore and I put it off, thinking I have nothing to say that anybody will care about . But when I finallyContinue reading “How I Starting Blogging!”
CLUTTER
Enjoy this trek down memory lane: August, 2018 Skittering, shuffling, scampering, out of breath I am. Books and papers and recipes, Photos and letters and souvenirs. Memorabilia. Spilling over. Cramped and crowded I am. This stuff of forty years, tucked away, stored, forgotten. I have become not the boss of my house. Declutter I must.Continue reading “CLUTTER”
Why I Wrote A Book
May 1, 2023 In my last post I told about writing a book on my life when I was a young, senseless, lost, girl (50 years ago) and what it took to wake me up. What it took for me to change. Most people think I wanted to write this book to chronicle a journeyContinue reading “Why I Wrote A Book”
Fresh Thoughts
April 5, 2023 So, I think I started this blog about 5 years ago. In all my enthusiasm for writing things for people to read, I thought I’d have something to post every week! Silly me! That didn’t happen! If you’ve only followed me a short while, you may want to go to the menu andContinue reading ” Fresh Thoughts”
“I can’t wait to be an old lady!”
February 28th, 2023 This is what I said all the years of my growing up! I had several elderly aunts that I was inspired by. They didn’t mean to be inspiring, they just were. Incredibly funny, they seemed to love life and live it fully. Getting together, these sisters told stories of growing up inContinue reading ““I can’t wait to be an old lady!””
A FRESH PERSPECTIVE
I love writing. Of any kind. You know I do.But the last few years flattened me in some ways and I wanted to write but felt I didn’treally have anything to say worth someone else’s time. I had lots of good paragraph, alllooking to become articles. But nothing that I felt excited enough about toContinue reading “A FRESH PERSPECTIVE”
NEW ADVENTURES!
I love to write. Articles, teachings, even sermons on occasion. But these past two years have been hard for all of us and I couldn’t think of anything to write about that would have purpose and meaning. I had started writing a book a few years back, a memoir actually, about a period ofContinue reading “NEW ADVENTURES!”
THE VALUE OF BOREDOM
Every fall I go away for an extended time alone in a cabin in the woods and I’m off to do so again in a few days. I’ve chronicled it in previous posts. I choose state park cabins because they are fairly primitive: no TV, no internet, heat by wood stove. There are lots ofContinue reading “THE VALUE OF BOREDOM”
RAMBLING THOUGHTS ABOUT RESTING MY BRAIN
I have just turned 78!! Getting older never bothered me much, but as my body is catching up to the numbers, the last few years have given me pause to think about what I want to do with my remaining “perky” years. Someday travel will be too exhausting, it almost is now sometimes. Someday my kidsContinue reading “RAMBLING THOUGHTS ABOUT RESTING MY BRAIN “
A THOUGHT IN NEED OF FURTHER PONDERING
OK, here’s what I’m thinking, as I’m way past midlife. At almost 78, I guess I’m an endlife girl! I used to see life as a series of many stages or phases, 1, 2, 3, etc; but now I’m thinking maybe not so much. Maybe only two. First we build and explore in order toContinue reading “A THOUGHT IN NEED OF FURTHER PONDERING”
CHAOS AND PEACE – FOLLOWUP
I have a very long dining room table. It sits 16 people before the leaf is added! I treasure the many family dinners here, crowding in, bumping shoulders. My grand-daughter chooses the linens and plates and tablecloth. We line the silver and glassware along the table Martha Stewart style. It broke my heart to giveContinue reading “CHAOS AND PEACE – FOLLOWUP”
BEING AT PEACE WITH MY UNREST
I am not at rest, not at ease. My mind churns over and over, looking to make a decision, to decide, to then be at rest. But I am not at rest, and I wonder how it can not be so? The Pandemic looms over us as the holidays approach. Something in our hearts propelsContinue reading “BEING AT PEACE WITH MY UNREST”
To Write or Not? (When I don’t feel like it)
First, a bit of clarification might be useful about my article on the strength of my Aunt Marian. I certainly am not implying that any woman must stay with a drunk or abusive husband. I do not admire her because she did that. I have no idea how she decided that she would not kickContinue reading “To Write or Not? (When I don’t feel like it)”
This Was My Aunt Marion
In my last article I promised to write short bios of the strong ladies in my family, the history I have listening and observing them as I grew up: here’s the first. This was my Aunt Marian. We always called her that. Never simply ‘Marian’. Had to be ‘Aunt’. It was that way in myContinue reading “This Was My Aunt Marion”
Crisis
We think we live in a time of crisis and maybe we do. But we’re not the first. Americans havebeen here before. Not exactly like this, but we have been afraid before.We’ve faced unknown futures, unknown tomorrows. But we survived. I don’t know how wedid, but we found joy in our days and we movedContinue reading “Crisis”
When I was 21
When I was 21…oh, forget my 20s…I was a mess! When I was 31 I was raising my children, learning to cook and make a home. Things I knew nothing about! So I read books (a ton of books!) and talked to older and wiser women to see how they did life. I followed directionsContinue reading “When I was 21”
Menagerie
MY MENAGERIE! A child I must still be. I have stuffed animals on my bed. Lots of stuffed animals! It started with big curly-haired lamb on the clearance shelf at Kroger the week after Easter. White he was, huge black eyes staring at me. Pitiful eyes they were, lonely. That lamb, begging to be takenContinue reading “Menagerie”
Decluttering
September 25, 2018 Skittering, shuffling, scampering, out of breath I am. Books and papers and recipes, photos and letters and souvenirs. Memorabilia. Spilling over. Cramped and crowded I am, this stuff of forty years, tucked away, stored, forgotten. I have become not the boss of my house. Declutter I must! Out with forgotten books weContinue reading “Decluttering”
Fall
October 1, 2018 I have an awesome view out my back window. Yard and garden beds. Flowers and butterflies. And woods. With trees, lots of them. They are thinking of changing color and dropping their leaves. Not doing it yet, just getting ready to. They phase into it, this dying, a little at a time.Continue reading “Fall”
Diversity
October 7, 2018 I am often taken with a few key words everybody’s using. A fan of words, I’m always interested in what people mean when they use a certain term. Does it mean to them what it means to me? Are they using that word because its popular right now and if asked toContinue reading “Diversity”
DOING IT ALL!
October 15, 2018 Last week I was overwhelmed, over committed, and crabby. Its been a crazy busy summer. We’ve traveled a lot, bought a property, tore down a house, and hosted a wedding, among other things I can’t even remember. And of course, all the disagreements that come along with. So about a month agoContinue reading “DOING IT ALL!”
THE LOG
October 22, 2018 Awhile back my husband and I had a fight, sort of. We like to build fires in our fire pit, sit on the benches and have coffee some chilly mornings. He collects old logs and cuts up wood so that we always have a ready supply. One of his fave things. OffContinue reading “THE LOG”
TWO THINGS: MY ADVENTURE and CATCHING UP
October 28, 2018 Last year about this time, I decided to rent a cabin at a state park and go there for several days to be alone and think through some things that were troubling me deeply. At home I am easily distracted, so going someplace where there were no household chores and no TVContinue reading “TWO THINGS: MY ADVENTURE and CATCHING UP”
Silliness
November 5, 2018 Just back from my “alone-in a-cabin-survival-girl-in-the-woods-for-days” adventure and have stuff to say about that but want to think about it a bit first. But I did spend some time thinking about silliness and how much I love it and how little of it I do. So I sat on the couch upContinue reading “Silliness”
The Cabin In The Woods
November 11, 2018 Halloween night I took off to my yearly “be-alone-in-a-cabin-in-the-woods” excursion. I take a survivor-girl attitude to this event. Isolated, no phone, no internet. If I fall while on a hike, I must crawl myself out to a far distant highway so somebody can find me. I survive boredom. I conquer fear. IContinue reading “The Cabin In The Woods”
Holiday Traditions
November 20, 2018 One of my favorite movies is “Fiddler On The Roof”. Tradition! Tevye’s life is built on it. His entire Jewish community is built on it. Two of his daughters challenge Tradition by choosing who they will marry and Tevye wavers back and forth. Should he give his blessing or no? He choosesContinue reading “Holiday Traditions”
More About Traditions
November 28, 2018 I’m still pondering Tradition. Some of ours have been repeated for so many years now I wondered if they’d become boring and old and over-used to the point of non-usefulness. So for Thanksgiving I changed things around a bit, to keep things alive and interesting. So I thought! And I learned aContinue reading “More About Traditions”
Discovering New Roads
December 4, 2018 “Bored” seems to be a bad word nowadays. Something to avoid. Bored at a red light, a commercial, a line at the grocery store, or during a meal? Reach for our phone. Or newspaper or magazine. Or the TV remote. Kids reach for an IPad or other device. As though our mindsContinue reading “Discovering New Roads”
Quietness
December 10, 2018 I didn’t want to sit and be still. I’d rather do the laundry, Make the bed, Wash the dishes. I didn’t want to think and ponder. I’d rather mop the floors, Shop for groceries and gifts, Bake bread. I didn’t want to write and draw. I’d rather hang garland, Decorate the tree,Continue reading “Quietness”
My New Adventure
December 28, 2018 I have an ache in my heart. Its been there a long time. When I was a little girl, I wanted to go to ballet class. I wanted to be a ballerina! A beautiful ballerina who wore a fluffy pink dress and moved with grace and looked elegant. But someone told meContinue reading “My New Adventure”
New Year’s Resolutions?
January 8, 2019 I’m a pretty goal-oriented, purpose-driven person, so I sorta make resolutions all during the year and usually keep them. So putting resolutions to work each January is something I’ve hardly ever done. Some years I did put one word down on paper though, as something I wanted to pursue, like “love”. IContinue reading “New Year’s Resolutions?”
My Next Non-Resolution
January 17, 2019 Last week I shared my thoughts about New Year’s Resolutions, and that I am doing something different…a new thing to start this year! Instead of focusing on what I haven’t done, where I’ve “failed”, making resolutions to do better… I’m making a list of what I have done, where I’ve succeeded, andContinue reading “My Next Non-Resolution”
I need a re-start button.
January 26, 2019 I need a re-start button. My phone has one, so does my laptop. When they get all crazy I push a button…and boom! For a breath-taking moment The screens go black and silent Before they come alive again. Alive again! No static, no rebellion, no laziness. They act smart, no longer confused.Continue reading “I need a re-start button.”
Just Wondering!
March 7, 2019 How do I want to live my life? The rest of my life as I am approaching my 76th year? The answer I give, that books and magazines give is: “with joy and purpose, giving to myself and others.” I’ve pondered what that exactly means in my real world, in the dayContinue reading “Just Wondering!”
Funky Moods and Puzzle Pieces
May 22, 2019 I got myself into this mini-funk the past few months, not depressed…just disinterested in general. Every one thing was good, each piece of life was, but I didn’t know what to do with the pieces. They didn’t connect into some one bigger thing. Like jigsaw puzzle pieces scattered all over the table!Continue reading “Funky Moods and Puzzle Pieces”
Introduce Yourself (Another Example)
This is an example post, originally published as part of Blogging University. Enroll in one of our ten programs, and start your blog right. You’re going to publish a post today. Don’t worry about how your blog looks. Don’t worry if you haven’t given it a name yet, or you’re feeling overwhelmed. Just click theContinue reading “Introduce Yourself (Another Example)”
My First Blog Post
Be yourself; Everyone else is already taken. — Oscar Wilde. This is the first post on my new blog. I’m just getting this new blog going, so stay tuned for more. Subscribe below to get notified when I post new updates.
Introduce Yourself (Example Post)
This is an example post, originally published as part of Blogging University. Enroll in one of our ten programs, and start your blog right. You’re going to publish a post today. Don’t worry about how your blog looks. Don’t worry if you haven’t given it a name yet, or you’re feeling overwhelmed. Just click theContinue reading “Introduce Yourself (Example Post)”
Wildly Clara 