It’s me again

Recently I was reminded by my husband that I used to like to write! Oh that’s right! I even had a blog! 

I looked up some of my posts and they brought back really nice memories. I guess when I was writing about the little “petals” of  my life, I never thought how one day looking back on these trivial moments would be a great way to remember those small details of everyday living. A trip to the grocery store. A massage. Buying a mattress. There really can be a story each day that we rise and try to shine. 

I used to blog on my desktop, now I’m on an iPad and I’m not even sure how to enter a post. 

I’ll try with this one. 

I wonder if I’ll still receive a comment

I wonder if my blogging friends from years ago are still blogging. 

I wonder if they’re all ok. 

If they’re reading this.. I hope they’ll say hi 

So in case I can enter this, I’ll remind my future self about what a happy day I had today.

It’s Dec 12,2025. Today after my two festive Zumba classes, I asked my students to meet me at our communities beautiful pool for a Christmas photo and the to the b+c afterwards for a cocktail toast. 

(That's Margaritaville abbreviation for our bar and chill) 

I wish I remember how to post a pic, or save this as a draft because I really just wanted to pop in for a second. 

I guess blogging about my new home in my new community in my new state and about all my new neighbors and friends could possibly make for some good future memory posts … 

Wish I was a little bit taller

Recently I had an experience that made me feel that it may NOT be such a good thing to be an 'approachable' type of person..  I am always the person in the grocery stores that strangers start talking to. Same story in the nail salon, the theater..where ever! Even in restaurants, I've had people look at my food and say.. "hey that looks deliscious!" I must have a face that says.. I'll listen to whatever you want to share and not tell you to.. "Fuck off"
I used to not mind having this face.

Until..

I went shopping for a sexy pair of .. I guess they're called.. hooker heels! You know.. the type that at MY age you wouldn't dare leave the house in (or maybe actually attempt to walk in!) They kind of have one purpose, no? Having a difficult foot to fit, instead of shopping online.. I ventured out to my shoe warehouse.. hoping not to spend too much on these babies... (between the sexy Christmas gift I got him and now the shoes, it may be more reasonable to just hire him a real hooker.)

As I was quietly minding my business and trying on different pairs of HIGH shoes.. A STRANGER approaches me.. " Oh MY God, Where are you going to wear those??"..  first thing that came to my mind & I answered with a friendly smile.. "Oh i have the perfect outfit for this" (she should see it haha).. and I went back to trying to stand up..

A few minutes later... ANOTHER lady.. "WOW they're really HIGH.. you're actually going to buy those?..  I laughed and said 'Maybe'..  Tried to turn away from her... but she continued.. "Are you going to be able to walk in those" ( what I need them for doesn't usually require walking).. but I just replied.. I am pretty sure I'll be okay.. thanks.. (I so wanted to say NONE of Your Fucking business but us approachable types can't hurt feelings)

A few minutes later with about 5 boxes of various crazy looking shoes near my little bench.. one of my neighbors sees me and HE comes over for a hug!  He laughs and says... OMG what the hell are you shopping for?!!  I could feel the heat rush over my beet red face... "OH, I was just fooling around, wasting some time,  I could never buy these!"  change subject Lucy!.. move away from the shoes that are screaming Street walker!... Try to walk him towards the door!..

He finally left me alone... I was nearing a decision, when you guessed it..

ANOTHER woman approaches... "Oooh, They're so high! When would you wear those?"  I gave HER the red face when I replied.. " Oh at work, I'm a part time pole dancer." (my brains kinder version of 'fuck off") and I swung my red hooker heels confidently to the cashier. 

You know that feeling when you have an experience and afterwards think of ALL the things you Should have, could have, wished you would have said. yeah.. satisfying when you get it right. Apparently, FOURTH times a charm for me. 

Seriously though, As I started thinking about this experience,  I don't know why I wasn't just plain honest with these shoe shopping women. Maybe I would have encouraged them to make a 'fun' purchase too. It's not a crime after all. As open of a person as I am I don't understand why I Wasn't just honest. Maybe I'll go back for another pair in another color and give myself the chance to stand Tall with friendly approachable.. honesty.  

NO one reads my blog anymore... but if you happen to..

How would you have hoped to handle the same situation? ty!

My nose and ears are growing, my eyes are getting smaller

They tell me that I’m 4 -11 but I used to be taller.

Osteopenia! Saggy boobs! droopy Ass! 

I can barely See ya and I’m looking through Bi-focal glass

I’m feeling so forgetful or did I already mention?

Oh right, Doc now told me. I may have dementia. :/

Wrinkles and Arthritis! Thinning hair! barely there!

Some other kind of ITiS, Not sure as my ears can’t hear

Bowel Movements now a pleasure, some times they take all day 

To pass the time I count liver spots or pull out all my grays.

High Cholesterol! Crooked back!  Creaky knees!

Cant even eat sweets! Borderline sugar disease! 

My new pastime… Sitting.. as I hope for and wait for mail

My taste buds must be failing, I thought this bread went stale

Wasn’t it only yesterday I was young and peppy and spry

Wasn’t it only yesterday my vagina, not so dry!

Varicose veins!  Extra chin!  Back end fat! 

My brain is feeling so foggy. changed my name to dingbat.

They say to embrace aging, they say embrace the change

I don’t know who ‘they are” but they must all be deranged.

As long as I can still converse in coherent sentences

I’ll fight aging, hold it back! like a bad case of flatulence! 

a tip FROM the hairdresser

Oooh interesting… I found my very old drafts folder. Here’s a bitch fest that  I guess after I wrote it  I decided it was too bitchy  to publish… sheeshhh. This new lucy doesn’t care that old lucy felt bad to be bitchy   .. let it ride baby! 

What your hairdresser does for a living your hairdresser DOES FOR A LIVING. I guess because of how social it is and how intimate it is, people feel comfortable with me. Maybe, TOO comfortable? After many years of hairdressing and many years of really Loving hairdressing, I am starting to get impatient with some of the inconsiderate things SOME clients do.
1. Not showing up!
everyone can slip up sometimes and I am a very understanding person if someone forgets their appointment ONCE. But THREE times?? NO. A precious Sat. morning time slot is VERY in demand.You just took money out of my pocket.There were several clients interested in this spot, while I am now having an unwanted coffee break. The best is that I've texted you your appointment time.. Just take a look..it's there. Not like a business card that you can misplace.
Why is it a Dr. can Charge you if you don't give him 24 hours notice, yet hairdressers have to eat this loss?? Well.. this very perturbed hairdresser says 3 strikes you're out! It's time to Find a new stylist or at least offer to pay for the time slot!
2. Being consistently Late!
If you're scheduled for a color and cut.. the color takes 15 min. if you're 10 min. late, You've really missed that appointment. You've made the next client have to wait and you've pissed off the one that will have a scissor near your face. It's really disrespectful to your hairstylist. If your appointment is at 10 am.. that means you should be sitting int the chair at 10 am. Pretend your appointment is at 9:30 and move your ass.  I take a lot of pride in the fact that I DON'T keep you waiting. I have this timed beautifully. Don't mess with my system!  And for those who think.. well just tell everyone their appointment is really 9:45 for a 10:00, I've tried that .. it's unfair to me to try to remember who my slow pokes are.. Also then the prompt people are made to wait unnecessarily. How many times I've RUSHED my 10 min. lunch break to be ready for you and you stroll in 15 min. late. RUDE!  I've heard EVERY excuse imaginable but my favorite is NO excuse at all. no apologies at all.
I'll usually say.. Oh I thought you maybe forgot your appt.... "oh am I late?"
PAH-LEASE!
3. Not having enough money to pay! This one is my favorite. You know you have an appointment. You know how much it costs.
I can't even count the number of times I've heard.. "I'll have to send you a check"  " I have to run to the bank" "I forgot my checkbook" 
"OH I just went to the store" and my favorite of all.. Well I know you don't like when I am late so I couldn't stop at the ATM AND be on time"  REALLY?? Well I am not the bank! AND I was counting on eating this week.
  One client  bought shampoo the last time she saw me but didn't have enough to pay for it. "I'll just drop off a check in your mailbox".. WELL.. she must have changed hairdressers because that was 3 years ago. What should I have done? hunt her down for the 20 bucks?? She just left a message and wants to make an appointment with me. Hmmm.  not even sure what I'm doing about this one. Don't want to CUT my nose to spite face but I really don't want her as a client. If I owed you $5. I wouldn't sleep until I payed you back.

 ON the brighter side...I do still love what I do. I love the knowledge I get from my people. I love my people. I care about my people. I really do. I also feel I not only helping them feel good about themselves outwardly, but I so often feel like their therapist and am helping in other ways too. MOST of my clients are loving and loyal and fun and considerate and respectful. I consider them my friends first. I take their secrets very seriously and have NEVER betrayed their trust in me. I often times cry after hours over the troubles I am told throughout the day. I send them cards and texts of my concern. Reassuring them that I am here for them. Many people are suffering emotionally. Listening to others problems takes its toll on my heartstrings. Hunching over the chair takes its toll on my back neck and hips. Standing all day pains my legs feet and ankles.
NONE of these pains however can equal the aggravation frustration and anger I feel from the few who are just pains in my ass.

Hello in there

I've been thinking and worrying too much about aging lately. Today as I stood on line at babies R us for an unbelievably long time as the elderly cashier slowly helped the one hoity-toity person in front of me and as I observed the line behind me grow longer and longer, I almost cried.

Ruth (she had on a name tag) had a full head of crooked synthetic hair and bright red lipstick and rouge. She was trying to be friendly to the 30 something year old impatient woman she was helping. The woman decked out with her Louie Vuitton purse and expensive looking boots and jacket, rolled her eyes at me as if to say.. can u believe how long she is taking. Ruth had a hard time scanning the woman's Iphone to use her coupon. So happy and  boisterously she asked Ms. 30 something to read the numbers to her. Ruth stopped her and said NO NO not so fast! where are u rushing to missy? (hoity-toity abruptly said.. WORK!) Ruth then requested they be read to her 4 digits at a time. It finally went through. She tried to put the large Items into bags too small and had to start again. She forgot the gift receipt and had to redo that too. At this point the woman behind me sighed Loudly and said.. really?!  My heart just broke for Ruth.

I'm embarrassed to admit this but in my younger busier days, I too would probably have either sighed or walked off the line or been an eye roller. ( It So upsets me now to know that as being a truth about my younger self but I think SO many young people are just clueless to what it's like to grow older.)

My mom is nearly 88 and thankfully doing pretty well but of course she is not the same as she once was. 

Recently there was an 'incident' at her assisted living facility and Mom was banned from her favorite pastime (bingo) for a whole week. 

I felt this was a ridiculously stupid consequence as she is paying a fortune and she is NOT a child but my sister who is the person they contact for Moms bad behaviors and health issues, didn't protest. 

I respect and trust my sisters judgement so even though I voiced my opinion to her, I let her handle it her way.

Mom had forgotten something in the bingo room and went back there with her walker to get it, when she went inside No one was there but sitting all alone on a table was the BIG bowl of candy that they give out to who ever wins each bingo game. Mom decided she wanted that candy! She wanted So much of it that she couldn't fit it all in her pockets of her sweater and pants so she stuck some down her pants! As she walked down the hall back to her room, A candy trail fell out of her pants legs as she walked giving her away!

As my sister explained this to me and was conveying how embarrassed and upset she was by this phone call from the director, I just couldn't stop laughing as I could just see this entire 'sweet' scene! 

As adorable as Ruth and my Mom are in my opinion that is also how sad I see their situations too. 

I'm feeling like it will be right around the corner for me that I will be in their orthopedic shoes.  It goes by quickly folks. I recently put a bright pink streak in my hair and my youngest son said to me.. gee mom I hate to tell you this, but this is what they call a mid life crisis.. I said Joey I  hate to break the news to you, but mid life was about 20 years ago.

If we are lucky We all WILL grow older and of course behave differently. Slower yes, limited yes, confused maybe but ALL Old people were once young and that young person is Who they still feel like they are inside. It's who they ARE!

And Like every living person or thing they So deserve to be respected and valued. They deserve patience and understanding. 

No one ever knows what another person is dealing with or has dealt with. Is Ruth working to get out of her house and meet people? Or is she struggling and needs to stand there all day and take abuse so she can eat and pay her bills? Does she enjoy wigs for fun or has she lost her own hair due to illness or chemotherapy? It's so important for us to always think.. how would I like to be treated when I'm that age... I kept thinking of Bette Midlers moving song, Hello in there and when it was my turn at Babies R us.. I smiled big and said "Hello Ruth! How are u today?!"  Her surprised look then Big smile and bigger "Howdy young lady" just made my heart melt. 

So if you're walking down the street sometime
and you should spot some hollow ancient eyes,
don't you pass them by and stare
as if you didn't care.
Say, "Hello in there. Hello."

THE BIG SALAD CAPER

 My husband and I wanted to take his mom for a nice lunch before an appointment we had to take her to.

We decided on just going to her local diner because my husband is on a special diet and we  thought they would have the plain salad he needed.
After ordering and stressing to the waiter that he needed his dressing on the side the waiter replied "all our salads come with the dressing on the side." The salad came of course soaked in dressing, my husband nicely asked for it to please be replaced with a salad without dressing.
My mother-in-law and I finished our lunch, visited the ladies room and had coffee before my husband's salad came back soaking wet with the faint taste of dressing as it had been obviously rinsed.
At this point we were going to be late for mom's appointment so my husband nicely called over  the manager and explained what happened. He replied, "of course its rinsed, that's what we do." My husband said well no thank you I am not going to eat this and of course I am not paying for it, to which the manager said in a nasty tone "why don't you just eat the chicken that's on top of it"! 

Befuddled, My  husband looked at him and like he was talking to someone from another planet he said "I don't want the chicken.I don't want the salad". The manager then THREW a takeout box at the table near my husband and said "well then take it home because you ARE paying for it." My husband calmly said "you may as well call the police because I don't pay for garbage put on on a plate and that is exactly what this soaked salad is. "

We paid the bill SANS the salad, tipped the waiter generously as that's what we do, it wasn't his fault after all and we left and got into the car.
The obnoxious manager came running out in the down pouring rain to write down our license plate number!!

(It was hysterically funny when mom saw him and blurted out from the backseat.."OH PLEASE! RUN THAT LITTLE BASTARD OVER!!!"  Glad she wasn't driving!!)

We wished we had the time to wait for the police which  bizarre as it sounds they actually must have called judged by how the employees were expectantly gawking out the dirty window before we left.

Never have we experienced such a horrible, rude dining experience. In hindsight though,what  I think we should have done was charged the entire bill and then disputed with the credit card company because leaving cash on the table makes it their word against ours should we be arrested for petty larceny!!

I would like to think that what my husband expressed to me is true, that the police have WAY more important things to handle and would have been very perturbed to be bothered by such nonsense but since we were driving MY CAR and I am NOT as confident as him  about how police policies or police thoughts or actions work, Or as confident about how I'd fare in jail,
I've been  looking over my shoulder  for weeks now. 

Outraged by our unfair treatment, many friends have advised me to give them a bad Yelp review. Yeah? really? tattling? hmm, That just goes against the ways of my  (italian) people but more importantly  I'm sure that will only reveal my whereabouts.

I prefer to remain ... lucy on the lam.

happy August

"August is like the sunday of summer"...

what does that quote mean? what does it mean to you? I'm always looking for positive relatable quotes to put in my weekly email to my Zumba students. So on August 1st I sent out that quote. To me.. Sunday is my favorite day of the week. It's MY day. It's me first teaching my Zumba class which I love to do, then relaxing or I'm happily entertaining guests or going out to dinner with friends.  I look forward to Sunday. I also love August. My birthday month, beautiful beach weather.  So to me, I saw it as "August is as wonderful as sunday."
I think I am the only one who saw that.  When I read it to my husband he said.. oh thats sad but true. He said he saw it as Sunday is the last day of the week. the end. August always seems like the official end of summer. hmmm.. That's depressing.
well sure enough, several of my zumba students commented about it and they saw it exactly as he did.
Who wrote this damn quote anyway?  I found it in images when I googled Quotes about August.  Why am I up this late, still puzzled by this one stupid phrase.
"August is like....the best part of Summer!"~ lucy petals
goodnight. :)