5:15 am and she called. She called to let her Me know that the hospital said to go in about 7am Today to give birth to her Son! I am Avo! Portugese for Grandma and Avo is the name my children called my Grandma. My 2 1/2 year old granddaughter, Charlotte, calls me Vovy...and soon her little baby brother will do the same. There are peaks and valleys in life and this is a Peak Moment for which I am deeply grateful. My Daughter had a fairly easy time of it delivering my Granddaughter and I am praying for the same experience this time around. Naturally, I am excited and a bit worried...but have great hope and faith that all will go well. I pray for an easy delivery and for a healthy Mommy and Baby. My Grandmas Birthday is tomorrow, July 18, and my Grandson will be born sometime today, July 17, 2017. Being born so close to her Birthday I know that he has a special Angel in her and that she will be protecting him from this moment on As well as my parents in Heaven. Their spirits were there when Charlotte was born and they are there now with my daughter and her new soon to be born Son. I am on Charlotte duty for 3 days. I will pick her up at 6 am this morning. We'll go to Denny's for breakfast and then over to target to get her a new toy and to get her brother a Birthday Present. Then back to my place for swimming and lunch...and maybe off to the library for storytime this afternoon. It is my responsibility to remain calm and to simply shower my granddaughter with love and affection through this wonderful time.

Living Solo: I have been sorting out and embracing living a single life. What once was the thing I dreaded most, being Single FOREVER, has, over time, become one of the my best parts of my life. I am living a different life now. I am learning to embrace my Singleness. I do not find myself seeking out a coupled relationship. Yes, I date at times but I am content with many relationships of many kinds. Recently "Singlism" has been brought to my attention and I am intrigued. Singlism is discrimination against Single people. It is everywhere. It is subtle and yet it is in your face. Put any song on Spotify and 90% of more will be about being in a relationship, guaranteed. Movies, magazines, books all seem to glorify being coupled, while portraying being Single as a horrible, miserable and lonely existence. Even friends and family want to see you coupled. I'm here to state the Being Single is Not Horrible, It is Not Miserable! And It is Not Lonely! And let's not forget our tax returns, which penalize Single people right and left with paying higher taxes than married couples...and denying group health insurance to a "friend" unless we state we are Married to them. Why is being coupled portrayed as being so much better than being single? I don't understand it but I know something is very wrong with this picture. Studies have shown that married people are not happier than single people. In fact one study I read indicated that the Happiest people over 50 were married men with hobbies and Single women with Children and careers. I've always found that very intriguing. Yet it seems most logical that people are happy if they tend to have a positive approach to life in general. Being coupled or Single has nothing to do with long term happiness, except in the case of a bad relationship which can create tremendous unhappiness. In fact being Single is Freedom. Freedom to have as many friends and relationships that one wants, Freedom to come and go as one pleases, Freedom to answer to no one but oneself (and God, if that's your thing). It is an act of self-reliance and self-responsibility. There is no one to blame for a bad mood or a bad day, except oneself. If things aren't going well it is up to only oneself to change things...and If things are going well, it is one's personal accomplishment. What about Love? You might ask. I have Loved, I have been In Love and I still Love and I am still In Love. The only things that have changed are my priorities and the objects of my affection. Instead of being In Love with one Person, I am In Love with Life, with my little Grandchildren and with my grown kids. Instead of Loving one Man I Love many friends of many ages and many ethnicities and lifestyles. I am not confined in an insulated relationship. As a single person in the world I have to work harder to develop meaningful friendships. If I want to go do things I have to go do them on my own, which is fine, or find good friends with similar interests. I do not have the luxury (or confinement) of relying on One Person to enjoy all of my interests. I must cultivate friendships. And This is one of the best things about being single. Creating opportunities to know more people is a stimulating and engaging exercise. Frankly I am sick and tired of society putting negative labels on Single people, and especially on Older Single Women. STOP portraying us as the crazy aunt with all the cats! or the spinster living like a hermit in the hills. Most of us are Intelligent, Creative, Successful and Adventurous Women Creating and living lives that we Love.