So, I am back. I know I said this would be my last blog post, but things changed, and so did my mind. In the past, I have made foolish mistakes because I was embarrassed to change my mind; however, as I have aged, I have come to appreciate embarrassment as a valuable tool for personal growth.

*great article cited at the end, Brij Garg on Embarrassment

SO, my sweet friends and readers,

Throw off your mourning clothes and sackcloth; your friend Lee-Lee isn’t going anywhere. I will be here, sharing my thoughts and experiences with you on the ether of the intertelly, offering my somewhat useless insights. However, things are going to be different this time around, chickens.

Time has passed, and we are all different. A significant change for me is that the magazine for which I wrote for five years closed abruptly. I was deeply saddened by the news. It was a source of great satisfaction for me, both creatively and emotionally, and it was a tremendous asset to our county. However, print magazines of that caliber are so expensive.

For me, interviewing the good people of Cherokee County was an eye-opening experience. I couldn’t believe how many talented and interesting people I met, including amazing artists, dedicated community activists, and gifted individuals who enrich the tapestry of my community. Many of them have become my friends. You’re going to meet some of my favorites.

That job led me to an epiphany: I don’t just love to write about my story, I love to tell other people’s stories. Everybody has a story, everybody has a struggle. When we share ours, we embolden and encourage each other.

So, putting all these factors together, I realized I didn’t need to stop blogging; I needed to rebrand myself.

It has tickled me to death that anyone wants to read my musings, let alone people in countries like Belgium, Thailand, Ireland, Germany, and China. Maybe I am a global joke, like in China. Perhaps I am known as 瘋狂的白人女士, which translates to “Crazy White Lady/Bad Nurse.” They probably eagerly anticipate every Blog Post to see if I have killed Dennis yet with my bad nursing skills.

*My sincere apologies if I butchered this translation; Google Translate did it.

Frolicking to Fifty mainly was about myself, my adventures in caregiving, and the tasks I set before myself. In hindsight, most of those tasks were more caregiving tasks on my part. That’s ok, that is who I am, but Dennis’ condition has further deteriorated, and I now have four GRANDchildren. I only have so much caregiving juice.

From now on, my readers will no longer be my Dibbuns or little creatures. My maternal nature is now focused on my little cherub grandchildren, my kids, and of course, my primary purpose right now, caring for Dennis; that is all the caregiving I have left in me. I am working on taking better care of myself. Unless, of course, an orphan pony wanders in my backyard, then I will take it in, knit it sweaters (after I learn to knit), take moonlit rides through the neighborhood in a white nightgown, and feed it the best organic carrots ever. That’s self-care! Of course, it would need a pony friend, hmmm…

With that settled, the first order of business for my rebrand was to find a new name for the blog.

FROLICKING TO FIFTY

I settled upon:

SASHAYING THRU LIFE

Definition: Sashay: walk in an ostentatious yet casual manner, typically with exaggerated hip and shoulder movements.

I have always wanted to be the kind of woman who sashays confidently, striding through life with flair and a hint of sexiness. I’m more like a camel on roller skates, seconds away from wiping out and taking out anyone near me.

My flat feet are somewhat to blame, but I attribute much of my awkwardness to a particularly unhelpful YMCA day camp instructor from the 1970s. She gave out team awards, and she gave me the award for the biggest feet and ears. Other awards included prettiest hair, nicest, and best hair. That didn’t scar me too much; wearing a hat most of my youth had nothing to do with it.

One day, she and her co-counselor decided it would be a great idea to have us, a group of eight-year-olds, compete in a sexiest walk competition. ???? What on earth was that, we wondered.

As I moved up the line, I felt increasingly anxious and uncomfortable. I watched what the others were doing to achieve an “award-winning” sexiest walk; the more confident girls seemed to be taking big steps, then wagging their butts like they had tails. I had butterflies in my stomach, but I took a big step forward with my long chicken legs. Then, when I tried to move the other foot, I tripped on the other of my” biggest feet and fell on my face. My counselor couldn’t stop laughing. It was deafening for me because of my” biggest ears.” I hope she ended up getting a terrible case of Psoriasis.

I am no longer a shrinking violet; I am just fine with blundering around in my biggest feet, but maybe I can learn to sashay in my own way.

So, this is the plan: Sashaying Thru Life will be more visually appealing and professional looking.

I dove into what my sashay should look like.

This is old-school sashaying, with glamorous gowns and big diamonds being a prerequisite. N/A for me.

Nice, Bubbly girl sashaying. Hmmhmm, I’m too old for this bubble-gum innocent look.

After much study, this is my take, PRESS PLAY ON THE PICTURE

It turned out as I expected; I looked like an awkward, past-middle-aged lady trying, albeit earnestly, to look hip.

This rebrand includes not just a new title but also new, sassy, bright colors for my site. I will also be offering book suggestions and interviews with fascinating individuals who are learning to thrive with the life they have been given, not just survive. I suppose I’m creating my own magazine?

One of my first points of inspiration for creating a look for my new blog was my daughter’s friend, Lauren Tilashalski, whom I follow on Instagram. I’m not familiar with all the right terms for what she does, but I’d describe it as fancy, prancing of a smarty-pants; she’s a lawyer. You know, all the fun things—clothes, good food, cocktails, hobbies—her Instagram has a dreamy feel and look, making you feel like you really know her from the images.

https://linktr.ee/laurentilashalski?utm_source=linktree_profile_share&ltsid=07d3ce86-cbdd-4c74-92a9-f46ef94851c3

Don’t get the idea that Lauren is marshmallow fluff; she and her husband faced a terrifying health crisis at a young age. She’s what we call in the South a steel magnolia, and she is prettier than a field of poppies.

My life bears no resemblance to Lauren’s at all. I am 57, do not look precious in a romper, and most days have a sign on the door stating we have an infectious disease, so no one can come in and see the mess. However, I believe our mantra is the same: curate a life you love and make it beautiful with what you have. Lauren has inspired me to elevate my blog’s visual appeal and figure out how to make it visually appealing.

I will be profiling individuals who exemplify how to live life with dignity and joy, regardless of the circumstances.

My first post will introduce you to Nataliya Venger, a Ukrainian from the city of Dnipro, who has come to Canada under the CUIET program, which is similar to a refugee program but with some slight differences. She has a Plett Research Foundation Grant. Nataliya is living in my hometown of Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.

Nataliya is an extremely well-educated academic who has sought shelter from the war.

Dnipro, the city where Nataliya worked, lived, and loved until Russia invaded.

I’m hoping to put a face and a personal story to a war that has captured the world’s attention but feels distant for many of us.

This should bring it home for those who have compassion. It is a firsthand account of a woman, wife, and mother whose life was blown apart by Russian bombs. She had to leave everything behind to find safety in a small prairie city in the middle of Canada.

You will find out how she is coping and what she hopes for the future.

You will be educated, moved, and inspired.

If you are worried that Auntie Lee-Lee is getting all serious and dark, and want me to go back to the fun blog days when I accidentally gave Dennis an Ambien at 8 a.m. and put his shoes on the wrong feet, or when we dressed up like Santa and his reindeer and went to Waffle House at Christmas.

Have no fear, zany Auntie Lee-Lee is still here.

The thing is, there are dark shadows in this world, but the more you are willing to look at them, the brighter the light is when you come back out.

So, off I go, sashaying as long as my hips hold out! Rebranding myself as an endeavor of my heart, primarily for my own enjoyment, but maybe some of you will be inspired to begin something new.

We will talk soon, and you will have the opportunity to meet and be inspired by beautiful Nataliya.

Until then, I will be Sashaying Away, as much upright as possible.

Auntie Lee-Lee

https://brijs-newsletter.beehiiv.com/p/seek-embarrassment

*Yes, after re-reading this post many times, I realized I have spent my life trying to get a do-over of that sexiest walk. To my detriment.

Yup, that was a real fall.

Nothing a plate and a few screws couldn’t fix.