Catching Up

 For those of you who have never read my old blog SusieSays(susiesays-susie.blogspot.com) that I wrote three times a week from 2009-2023, this will be different.  Susie Says was born during the financial crisis and I was often focused on saving money.  Fast forward 16 years and we're still in a financial crisis, but I will concentrate more on ageing, maintaining physical and mental health and how to stay happy, reduce stress, and basically enjoy the last chapter of our lives.

So let me just catch you up on what I've been up to for the past 2 1/2 years since I stopped blogging.  The most important thing that has happened, is my mom, Dorothy, age 102 now, moved to Ocean Hills in June, 2023.  She sold her Los Angeles home, where she lived for over 70 years, and moved here to be closer to me.  What a great move.  She bought a beautiful home, about 10 blocks from me, with wonderful neighbors nearby if she needs them. I'm close enough, but not on top of her.  She jumped right into our activities, playing bridge, learning bocce, enjoying the garden club, art club, and many others.  I am so happy to have her nearby.

Mom and I have spent the past few years traveling, and are getting ready for another trip in a few weeks.  We took a family cruise for Dorothy's 100th birthday, which was great fun.  We took a Crystal Cruise from New York to Montreal to see the changing of the leaves, another cruise through the Panama Canal, another to the Caribbean and we just returned from a road trip from Atlanta to Asheville.  Whew!  I'm tired just thinking about all that travel.

As for me, I have a group of 4 bridge players that love to travel, and we've taken many trips together.  Portugal, Poland, Mexico City and we're currently planning a trip to Guatemala.  The beauty of traveling with bridge players, is that at night when we get home from touring, we can always play a little bridge!

Fortunately I am still able to play pickleball, golf, hike and go to the gym.  Sadly, I can not boogie board anymore.  I am concerned about an injury to my neck. With a slowdown in the more physical side of life I have gotten more involved in politics than ever  before.  I am so concerned about protecting our democracy, and have joined local groups to that end.

Finally, bridge is still one of my great loves, and I play often.  I think I am playing better than ever (or at least that's what someone told me and I believe him) so I participate in duplicate games and tournaments as much as I can.  I think it's something I will be able to participate in until I die.  I'll talk about that at another time.

Life has been good to me for these past years, but it's now time to get back to blogging.  I love it!  I can't wait to share my perspective on ageing, how to do so with grace, and how to live in the moment and make each day count.  I definitely feel the affects of ageing, but as they say, "When one door closes, another one opens."  I'm closing the ones that no longer suit me, and opening doors to opportunities I never thought existed.