Welcome.

I’m a Boomer—born in Boston, raised in Pennsylvania, where I still live, but New England is my spiritual home. I’m 100% Italian-American with blue collar roots. I’m deeply grateful for my beloved family and friends. I love language, books, music, art, travel, food, flowers, trees, dogs, kitties, and koalas. I speak French respectably, Italian mezzo-mezzo, and German just a little.

The inimitable Dorothy Parker thought “cellardoor” was the most beautiful word in the English language. I’m partial to “Mom,” “Nonna,” “Schnooky,” and “Done”; the order of preference shifts with the company and circumstances. Not euphonious, but all with deep meaning for me. Ask Hubby about “Schnooky.” “Done” needs no explanation.

I am “demi” retired. I work part-time for my daughter’s wine importing business in a fascinating role reversal I wouldn’t have anticipated but now thoroughly enjoy. Did this liberal arts advocate ever think she would end up learning wine logistics? My office is my couch; our puppy Enzo is my able assistant-in-charge-of-affection.

I am solidly in the Oxford comma camp and will continue to defend the value of the semicolon.

Nine later, I still think of this blog as a conversation with a good friens, one that I hope will give its readers a lift, especially on those days” when everything seems out of whack. Misery loves company, but we often forget that joy does, too. Hence “Adventures in joyful living.”

Do feel free to comment, share blog posts, and email me at hello@hashtagretired.com.

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