Vicki Atkinson's Blog, page 21

Podcast Friday! Best Friend…Part Deux

Shoot. Darn. Rats.  I don’t know where that expression comes from (I haven’t dug in to find out) but it came into my life from a dear work colleague who often wanted to unleash every swear word in her arsenal when she saw someone being slighted or maligned.  Instead, “Caitlin” would vehemently vent, while pacing and gesturing – fists flailing in the air – as she grumbled (or shrieked – depending upon the situation and the audience) “Shoot! Darn! Rats!” 

Those of us who knew Caitlin well u...

Peek Inside: “Surviving Sue” – Holiday Hopefulness

“We’ve all survived a Sue in our lives in one way or another.  It’s a personal narrative that hits our hearts.”  -Elizabeth

I love Elizabeth’s feedback and wisdom. Yes — maybe your nemesis wasn’t named “Sue” but increasingly as readers dig into “Surviving Sue” I receive input that the challenges I wrote about are familiar. When readers offer praise and support – pleased that I found my way through my bumpy life with Sue – I routinely receive the same follow-up query: “How did you do...

Sentimental Significance

Some of you might recall the stories I shared about our big kitchen remodeling project.  The kitchen refresh that morphed into a bathroom remodel…and then a gut of the laundry room.  Guess what?! We’re on the other side and we survived!  Paul and I are still married (and speaking to each other!) and we’re beyond grateful to our design and construction friends.  They were amazing – the best of what anyone can hope for when you invite people into your lives to improve your home. Over the c...

Podcast Friday! Being Your Own Best Friend

It’s a delight when Wynne and I get to visit with our friend, Dr. Gerald Stein and this week’s podcast was sooooo good, it’s dropping in two parts. 

I find I’m especially ready to receive wisdom when the calendar turns to December.  Something about the end of one year and the near dawn of the next prompts introspection and Dr. Stein provides opportunities galore to reflect and consider my path, my purpose.  Borrowing from Wynne’s excellent line, “We know you’ll love it”, I encourage y...

The Best Morning Smile

Don’tcha love it when something simple makes your day?

As I drove to an appointment I dreaded this morning I found myself following a truck with the sweetest bumper sticker EVER.

I tried to capture a pic as I sat behind the large red truck at several stop lights, but they didn’t turn out well and to be honest, at one point I wondered/worried if the intent of the sweet message might cosmically backfire because my behavior probably looked a little odd in the driver’s rear-view mirror...

Peek Inside: “Surviving Sue” – Reasons to Celebrate!

I love reader feedback.  Love it. 

The hardest part about writing, at times, was wondering whether or not I was accurately conveying the intense emotions – the full range of life with my mom, Sue, that bobbed from hilarity to terror.  Sometimes in a blink.  I worried about giving enough of the backstory – just enough to set the stage without boring the reader.  I worried about the balancing act that IS personal narrative. 

I cannot overstate the joy I feel in receiving input from read...

Lucid Dream: Vicki Style

Do you have recurring stress dreams?  I’ve had the same one for years and I think it’s related to my former work life and a lot of travel – presenting at conferences and seminars around the country.  I LOVED that part – doing the workshops and visiting with people.  But traveling for me – then and now – prompts a few quirks and if you ask my friends about it, they’ll tell you my behaviors are more than quirky.  Here’s a sample:

I will not check a bag, given my recurring misfortune with l...

Podcast Friday! Listen to the Children

I’m not sure it’s a good idea to play favorites…but this week’s podcast takes the cake…and that’s saying a lot around here, given that it’s the Friday after the feast-o-rama known as Thanksgiving. 

I’m so full of pie. 

I AM pie.

But there’s a nice detour ahead.  I can’t think of anything better that receiving wisdom from a third grader. A wise and insightful writer wrapped up in the uncanny body of an 8-year-old. 

Which brings me to this.  Yes…I’m still grateful for my family, ...

Girlfriend Gratitude

One of the absolute best things about growing older is the comfort of friends who’ve been around the globe with you a time or two…or more.

I’m lucky in that way with my dearest Linda whose been at my side for decades. We both know that holiday time can summon a flood – a rush of memories both bittersweet and buoyant as we remember scenes from the past. Often of those we’ve loved and lost.

But there’s more. The rush at the end of the calendar year invariably prompts us to think bigger...

Thanksgiving Delights

I grew up enjoying David Letterman’s special brand of irreverent humor.  Considering how provocative and outrageous comedy has become, Dave’s mild-mannered grumblings and observations seem ultra tame in the looking back.

Odd, though…my dad disliked Dave, sharing often that he was no competition for his beloved Johnny Carson. Loyal to a fault, dad thought Letterman was an imposter, but I don’t think his disdain impacted the late-night talk show ratings.

In the 80’s, Letterman’s brand...