Yesterday, all women of a certain age lost a beloved friend and role model, when the star of TV and Broadway, Bea Arthur passed away. Ms. Arthur in her role as Maude blazed a trail for all feminists in her stand for Women’s Rights and Pro-Choice. Personally, she reinforced my burgeoning view and gave me a strength of conviction. In her long-standing role as Dorothy Zbornak in “Golden Girls”, Bea Arthur made me realize that my coming of age as an older woman was an adventure not a dismal epic of deterioration.

I still watch reruns of “Golden Girls” and remember fondly seeing Bea Arthur on stage in L.A. The special performance was one to raise money for the Humane Society. It was a memorable evening because she performed songs from the then upcoming Bea Arthur one woman play on Broadway. I saw two of the other actors from Golden Girls, Betty White and Rue McClanahan in the audience and to me, it was obvious that their support and friendship were highly valued.

She went on to star in her on woman show “Just Between Friends” at the Booth Theatre on Broadway. Oh how I wish I could have seen just one performance of that salty and gossip filled play.

So farewell to a talented TV and Broadway star. Good by to a woman who made us laugh, inspired us to take stands, and most importantly to believe in ourselves.

I imagine that the woman we knew from “All in the Family” as Edith’s liberal sister and Archie’s nemesis, is now marching through the Pearly Gates. Perhaps if I close my eyes and listen, I might hear her boisterously greet St. Peter. In my mind’s eye, he will take a step backward as Bea Arthur announces her arrival with that famous line from “All in the Family, “NEVER FEAR, MAUDE IS HERE!”.

It as been a weird week of weather. First we had clouds and heat and then sun and heat. As you have probably heard California had a few days of record breaking temperatures For us, this meant our roses bloomed early and with temperatures nearing 100, it felt more like June than April.

Bob has been devoted to cutting roses and bringing them into the house. There must be four or five vases filled with roses in our dining room and the fragrance is very pleasant and I have found that although the flowers go from bud to full blown in about two days, I am enjoying the challenge of arranging and rearranging as Bob brings in buds and I remove the dead or nearly dead flowers.

The photo of the sunrise is from our front door. It actually is the western sky and not the sunrise but it’s reflection off the clouds in the west. This was so spectacular that I grabbed the camera and caught this photo of the pink clouds and blue sky just before it changed.

Why is it every time I visit the twins, I come away with a downright awful cold. This time both of them were perfectly healthy so I must be truly plagued with my own paranoia. I drove back home on Monday and went to my Cardio Class on Tuesday. From Tuesday evening until Friday morning is a Nyquil-Dayquil blur. I feel almost back to normal now although I sound like Marlene Dietrich and I love this new husky voice.

I promised photos and I made an album which refuses to show the thumbnails, but if you click on the broken picture, it will take you to the album. Then click on the first broken picture and the real thing comes up beautifully . After that just use the next button. . GO FIGURE! I have worked all day to correct the problem with no luck so just decided to leave it as is and let friends and family figure it out. The captions will pretty much tell you how much I enjoyed a wonderful Easter Sunday.

Ridgecrest had its annual Health Expo today. The woman who runs the Dog Therapy Program was there. She asked about Lucky and LuAnn’s progress, and I told her I didn’t think they would make it into the program. They are barkers and very lively and are often aggressive toward other dogs. I must say as a doggie parent, I was painting a very bleak picture. Bless her heart because she said, “Don’t give up on them. Let’s meet so I can help you with the training. ” So with that little bit of encouragement, they are back to their lessons and I have renewed hope that somedayLucky and LuAnn will be happy volunteers in the Care Dog program.

One more absolutely wonderful thing happened at the Health Expo and this is pure unadulterated bragging, but I deserve to do so. I took a balance test designed to show Seniors if they are at risk for bad falls. The test was done by our Physical Therapist and was all computerized etc. I found that at age 73, I have the balance of a 50 year old. This means all those mornings of weight training, cardio, and pilates over the years are actually paying off big time. Let’s just hope that my head doesn’t get so big that I lose my balance and tip over backwards LOL

I do hope you will take time to look at the Memory Book pages that I posted in the album. I could use some feed back. Thanks.

This little bit of Easter Bunny philosophy came today in the California Retired Teacher’s monthly newsletter. However, Lucky and LuAnn who were forced to wear @#%& bunny ears again this year, announced that certainly they should receive credit for this post.

All I need To Know About Life I Learned From The Easter Bunny

1. Don’t put all your eggs in one basket.
2. Walk softly and carry a big carrot.
3. Everyone needs a friend who is all ears.
4. There’s no such thing as too much candy.
5. All work and no play can make you a basket case.
6. Everyone is entitled to a bad hare day.
7. Let happy thoughts multiply like rabbits.
8.. Some body parts should be floppy.
9. Keep your paws off other people’s jelly beans.
10. Good things come in small sugar-coated packages.
11 The grass is always greener in someone else’s basket.
12 An Easter bonnet can tame even the wildest hare.
13 To show your true colors you have to come out of your shell.
14. The best things in life are still sweet and mostly Chocolate.

Time for the Easter Rabbit to make his appearance rapidly approaches so I am on my way to celebrate with Kristi, Theresa, and the twins. I did want to take the time to wish all of you a Happy Easter, Passover, or Brilliant Spring Day.

I’ll be back soon with Easter Sunday photos.

This is an open letter to my grand daughter Jade. Last night her beloved little dog passed away. Over the phone, I listened to both her broken hearted sobs and those my daughter. I felt so terribly far away and so unable to be of comfort. This morning, I wrote a letter to Jade and I thought I would share it with all who remember how devastated we felt when that first special pet died.

Jade, My Dearest Grand Daughter,
When we talked last night, I told you of a poem that I would send to you. So here is the Rainbow Bridge. This poem over the years has brought solace to me and I pray that its words will bring you comfort.

Just this side of heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge.

Author unknown…

I truly believe little Tinkerbelle will be waiting for you at the Rainbow Bridge and that she rests peacefully and playfully in the doggie knowledge that her life with you was filled with purpose. You see Jade, she was more than just a little Chihuahua, she was a spirit of unconditional love and from the first moment that your Mom brought you home from the hospital and Tinkerbelle curled up next to you, her devotion to you never wavered.

I know how sad you feel. This is the first major loss in you your life. If Tinkerbelle had a choice, she would have stayed with you forever, but she had no choice. She had grown old and that beautiful little heart of hers simply wore out and no amount of doggie love or human help could have kept her here longer. It was her time to go. Just as years and years ago, it was her time to come into this world to be a member of your family.

I believe that on that day so many years ago, when I promised your mom a puppy named Tinkerbelle, God in her wisdom, made me wait a month or two so she could perfect the little spirit that would be so special. The first time I held Tinkerbelle and looked into those beautiful dark eyes, I knew she was the right puppy for your mom.

For a long time before you were born, Tinkerbelle was a lifeline for your mom. She saw her through difficult times and times of high achievement. Tinkerbelle’s devotion to your mom was never ending and her joy and love of life were inspiring examples that your mom, in her wisdom, will always treasure.

And then when Tinkerbelle was four or five years old, you came along, with all your wee baby charm and beauty. Little Tinkerbelle was pure doggie love for you. She followed you everywhere and shared her toys and sometimes her food with you. I know you have so many tales to tell about your time with her and I hope you will want to write about them someday so others will know about Tinkerbelle, too.

By now Tinkerbelle has arrived at the Rainbow Bridge. Perhaps her doggie brother Jake is there to greet her. From now on, she will hold you in her heart, just as you are holding her in yours. Remember, Tinkerbelle will always be with us in family stories, in remembering good times, and in our continuing love for all animals. So when you see a beautiful rainbow , look up and smile. That rainbow is Tinkerbelle’s way of saying, “I love you, I miss you, and I am here at the Rainbow Bridge.”.