The Only Child Diaries Podcast

The end of the year!  Time for reflection and review. And gratitude. First of all, thank you to all our listeners so far. You’ve helped to make this podcast what it is, and your support means so much. And WHERE you all are is so fascinating!  Hear about the details of those demographics.

And remember Walter?  The 20 year old barn cat who broke his foot?  Well I’ll give everyone an update on his progress...

Vegas stories, Part 2!  This week, you'll hear the details about our wedding.  After 17 1/2 years together, Bill and I finally decided to get hitched 12 years ago, in VEGAS!  And we got married at the Excalibur Hotel.  Just go up to the food court, past the Pizza Hut Express!  That's funny by itself, but the wedding chapel was quiet and peaceful, believe it or not...

As an only child, I yearned for new experiences, for ANY experiences.  Las Vegas seemed like the perfect getaway.  Something completely different and a bit crazy.  I first went in 1991 by myself, with a very lean $40 gambling budget and had a great time.  It was the start of something big!  I've been going back for over 30 years, and have had so many great times there.  It's not just about gambling, it's about the experiences of meeting people from all over...

As our parents age, we have more and more responsibility to look after them and care for them.  This is an issue for EVERYONE, not just only children.  But of course, being an only child meant I had to navigate all the parts by myself.  My parents held onto their independence as long as they could, and then it all came crashing down.  Quickly.  My life changed too.  

There's a lot to navigate...

Growing up with a mother that was emotionally distant was tough.  Meeting my future mother-in-law changed my life.  I know that sometimes the relationship between a person and their mother-in-law isn't always positive or even fun, but the relationship I had with mine was one of the warmest and most loving relationships I've ever had.  

Thanksgiving is usually a time to celebrate not only what you're truly thankful for, but also food and family.  Well, food in MY family growing up was NOT something I looked forward to with great anticipation...

This week, hear about my journey to becoming a fundraiser, and how I found a career after closing my retail store.  Without any guidance or input from anyone, it was a struggle to find a pathway that made sense.  Having worked in retail for 11 years, I decided to dedicate the next 10 years to giving back to the community, the greater good...

Here's the story of how when I was in my early 20s and I created and opened a mens clothing store, in one of the up and coming neighborhoods in Southern California.  Hear about the decisions that led me to do this, along with the journey to open the doors, and then some of the challenges that I encountered throughout the six years L'Attitude was open for business.  One of the best times of my life, and one of the best learning experiences too...

One of my favorite movies of all time!  Harold and Maude!  Have you seen it?  This week, I share some of my memories of watching the film with my mom, and even visiting a few of the film's locations in Northern California.  Oh, and let's not forget the music!  A memorable soundtrack that continues to be a soundtrack of my life!  

In this episode, I delve into ideas presented in Anderson Cooper's newest podcast, "All There Is," about loss and grief, and also the concept of getting to know someone BETTER after they've passed.  I was intrigued by this concept and have given it a lot of thought.  Is this really possible?  Yes, I think it is.  At least it is for me.  I hope this episode gives you something to think about...