I am so happy that my auntie Jamie was willing to partake in Q&A. I love hearing and learning from the wisdom of women who have lived more life than me. There is a lot of richness in their stories and experiences that I always find value in. Auntie Jamie is my mother's younger sister and I have many memories growing up sprinkled with her and her family from overnight visits to holiday parties to babysitting her kids, my cousins, in junior high. She always sends me, Jay and our kids birthday cards. It might seem simple but I think it's a beautiful act of kindness that takes time, thought and care. 

Auntie Jamie has had to live her life with cancer for the past several years. From my perspective just getting a small glimpse from miles away, she is THE example of how we should all approach life, no matter what our circumstance - with love, grace, good energy and faith, whatever form that might take. I have recently been curious to tap into my own spirituality and have been reading and listening to a lot of different spiritual leaders. I should have just gave her a call because she is spot on with a lot of the teachings and themes I have been learning!

Bits + Pieces

Where do you live and with whom?

I live in Dighton, MA with my husband Frank. We live in the basement in-law apartment of my son and Daughter-in-law 's house. They have a 3 1/2 month old baby girl, Rylie Rose 

What did you have for dinner last night?

Last night we had left over turkey dinner from Thanksgiving! Yummy!

Choose five words to describe you.

Thrifty, loving, sentimental, organized, strong!

What keeps you up at night?

Thinking about my children - their futures, their lives.

What inspires you?

Music, sunshine, energy, my kids

What do you do for “me time”?

Read, sit outside, walk, listen to music

Some of Your Favorites

What book are you reading right now?

Truly Madly Guilty

What song or album are you playing on repeat right now?

I've been listening to Anita Baker, Willy Nelson, and Eva Cassidy lately

What is the one beauty product you have used for years and swear by?

Oil of Olay

What is your favorite item in your closet?

An asymmetrical sweater

Go to adult beverage?

I am not really a big drinker, and don't have a go too drink. Probably enjoy a glass of merlot most of all.

Life Questions

Give me three words to describe your life right now.

Scary, unpredictable, precious

Now that you have adult children, name one thing you would go back and do differently as a parent.

One thing I would do differently would be to let the housework go. Try not to be so tidy about everything, and spend more time just playing with my kids. When my kids were little, I worked 3pm to 11:30pm as a nurse and always left the house neat and tidy. Now I look back and say, "who cared".

What stands out as one thing you did really well as a parent when you were raising your children?

The one thing I know I did do right, was raising polite and thankful kids. Kids that were respectful to teachers and adults and fellow students.

What is the best part about being a parent to adult children?

It's great to see your ' babies' mature and blossom into adults. Kind of like seeing the fruits of your labor. They are all three wonderful, caring, loving people. Very funny and very bright! I am so very proud of all of them and the lives they are living.

What is the best decade of life you have lived so far and tell us a little bit about why?

I would have to say my best decade was my 40's. Kids are not babies anymore, my career is going well, I am still young and healthy and able to live and enjoy my life.

Name one thing you spent too much time worrying about when you were younger that in retrospect was not worth the time you gave it?

Probably worried about my looks, my weight, what people thought of me; things that I think most of us worry about. With age we see that these don't matter. What matters is that you like yourself and know you're a good and kind person.

Give me one piece of advice that you would give to the other, and perhaps younger, women reading this?

Life is short, no matter what age you are. No one wants to die and leave this world and life we know. Material items don't matter. Big houses and fancy cars don't matter. All that matters is love. Love of family, parents, siblings, children, God. Being kind to strangers and your fellow human beings matter; helping and encouraging others matter. Not "stuff". Believing in a higher power, and for me that's God, matters. When life gets tough, this belief will help carry you. 

Faith in a life after death, makes leaving this world a lot more tolerable. Knowing that love remains makes life more meaningful, and death less sad. We live on in the hearts of those we love and who love us.

Another piece of advice I'd give is to face your fears head on! Deal with what life has given you, good or bad. It's not going away, and no one can save you but yourself.