From the Coffee Table

I sat down to write Coffee Talk this week and realized I had exactly one thing on my mind. My house. More specifically ... contractors, paint, drywall, schedules, insurance, decisions, questions, things that were supposed to happen but didn’t, things that are finally happening, and approximately 47 other details I never wanted to know this much about. At this point, I have opinions about drywall. This was not on my midlife bingo card. I haven't really talked about this here, but our house has been dealing with the aftermath of water damage for what feels like forever. Something like 17 loooonnnng months, to be exact. Don't ask. Friends and family have heard plenty about it. Probably more than they ever wanted to. And just when it felt like things were finally starting to fall into place, we hit another not-so-fun-snag with the insurance company. So yes ... it's been a lot. Now that reconstruction is finally underway, you’d think I’d feel nothing but relief. And I do. I real...

I’m not sure how this happened, but somehow July is over. And just like that, it’s August. There’s something about this month that makes summer feel different. In June, summer feels fresh and new. In July, it still feels like there’s plenty of time. But August arrives, and suddenly you start paying a little more attention. You notice things. The warm breeze on the deck in the evening. The way the light turns everything golden just before sunset. A doe and her fawn wandering into the backyard. Because, of course, you have to stop whatever you’re doing and watch. You head out for a quick evening walk and come home much later than planned because you ran into a neighbor and stood there catching up on the day. The weather. The kids. The neighborhood. All the ordinary things that somehow feel better when they’re shared outside in the summer air. There’s no rush to get back inside. Maybe that’s what I love most about summer evenings. They give you a little more room. Room to linger. Room to ...

I could feel my blood pressure fall the minute we arrived at the lake. We hadn’t even untied the boat. My shoulders relaxed. My breathing slowed. It was as if my body let out a deep breath before my mind even realized it had been holding one. That surprised me. There wasn’t anything extraordinary about the weekend. We spent time on the boat, laughed with friends, ate good food, and caught up on life. Simple. But somewhere between the gentle breeze, the sound of the water, and conversations that didn’t have to end because no one was watching the clock, I realized something. I’d forgotten what calm felt like. I’ve always loved being near the water, but the older I get, the more I realize it’s not just because it’s beautiful. It’s because something about it quiets me. The emails can wait. The laundry isn’t going anywhere. For a little while, I stop thinking about everything that’s next and simply enjoy what’s right in front of me. It made me wonder … Maybe we all have a place like that. M...

Pull up a chair. I almost bought something the other day for one reason. It was on sale. Not because I needed it. Not because I’d been planning to buy it. Not because it solved a problem I actually have. It was simply on sale, and apparently that is still enough to override common sense. 20% off can be very persuasive. But for once, I stopped. And it got me thinking about all the things I’ve finally learned not to buy. Not because I’ve suddenly become disciplined or turned into one of those women with three neutral sweaters and one perfect handbag. Although honestly, I’d like to be one of those women. Anyone who knows me knows I love a bag. I think it’s more about finally knowing who I am. And who I am is someone who does not dry clean. Nope. Too much work. Too much expense. Too many steps. Buy the thing. Wear the thing. Remember it needs to go to the dry cleaner. Take it there. Pay for it. Remember to go back and pick it up. That is not clothing. That is a part-time job. If something ...

Pull up a chair. Can I tell you something I've been thinking about this week? I have a feeling a lot of us are carrying more than we realize. Maybe that's why we're so tired. Not just "I didn't sleep well last night" tired. A different kind of tired. The kind you feel in your shoulders. The kind that follows you through the day, even after you've had your cup of coffee ... or two. Maybe you've felt it too. The other day, I caught myself standing in the kitchen, trying to remember what I walked in there for.  While I was standing there ... my mind was already somewhere else. I needed to make a doctor's appointment, I still hadn't answered a text, and I was already wondering what we were going to have for dinner. And then it hit me ... I was pretty sure the laundry was still sitting in the washer because I forgot to move it to the dryer (which meant I was probably going to be washing it again.) I finally laughed at myself because none of ...

Pull up a chair. The older I get, the more comfortable I am saying, "I don't know."  Not because I don't want to learn. Because I do. I just don't feel like I have to pretend I already know the answer. If you know me, you know I love a good rabbit hole. I'm also a bit of a detail girl, so once I get curious about something, I like to figure it out.  I'll read, research, compare notes, and keep digging until it all starts to make sense. Here's the thing ... I don't do it because I need to know everything.  I do it because I enjoy learning.  And if I can take what I've learned and save someone else a little time and confusion ... even better. Maybe it's the marketer in me. Maybe it's just how my brain works.  But I love taking complicated topics and breaking them down until they make sense. The problem is, there's so much information coming at us these days.   Social media. Podcasts. YouTube. Websites. Facebook groups.  Before long, w...

If you're reading this, I'm really glad you're here. Pull up a chair. Pour yourself a cup of coffee ... or tea ... or Diet Coke ... or whatever happens to be in your favorite mug today. Mine usually has my feel-good coffee in it ... but that's a conversation for another day. ☺️ I've spent a lot of time thinking about what I wanted this space to be. I created The Midlife Edit as my little corner of the internet. It's where I share the things that catch my attention as I navigate midlife ... travel, wellness, healthy aging, favorite finds, and the occasional rabbit hole. If I'd bring it up over coffee with a friend, there's a good chance you'll find it here. Funny enough, this wasn't even supposed to be called "From the Coffee Table." I was working on my website one night when I realized something. It wasn't a website anymore. It felt like a home. The different pages became rooms. And suddenly I knew exactly where these stories belong...