Author: trailriderincentraloregon

In Style

Saturday, March 15, 2025

Thanks to my readers who responded yesterday with the author’s name and book title I had struggled to recall. Shortly after my blog post went live, I stumbled on a clue and solved the mystery; if you’re curious, the book title and author I sought were Days of Blue and Flame, by Sarah Yerkes.

That’s her sole volume of poetry—excellent, in my opinion. Remarkably, Yerkes wrote her poems and published the book while celebrating her 100th birthday. Her story directly relates to my growing interest in the intersection of aging and personal style.

While tracking down Yerkes’ book, I discovered another poetry collection, and also, by a 100-year-old; this time, a gentleman—Yerkes’ friend from their shared poetry class in a nursing home. I have ordered his book.

I will share more about these and other inspiring individuals.

I am attracted to the “aging and style” themes and am exploring the intersection of self-expression, personal dignity, and creativity. Identity continuously evolves while growing older, and today it challenges societal stereotypes. Aging does not diminish individuality or one’s zest for life but may enhance individuals with lifetimes of resilience and wisdom.

Aging with style embraces maturity with flair and is an authentic presence. It demonstrates that personal style—whether expressed through fashion, interests, or behaviors—can defy cultural expectations and empower individuals in any life stage.

Aging today is inspirational–encouraging richness beyond decline and loss. An individual’s style can highlight profound potential by suggesting self-confidence, a sense of renewal, and feelings of authenticity.

Dear Friends, While working part-time, I enjoy observing people. Diana

Mental Mysteries

Friday, March 14, 2025

Yesterday, while clerking at my part-time job, I met a woman who had published a book of poetry. She was confident, articulate, and proud of having created something meaningful. Our conversation made me think about the persistence of creativity; it finds us wherever in life we may be.

That event stirred my memory of another recent poet—a woman who was nearly 100 years old and living in a nursing home, who took a poetry class on a whim. A year later, she published a remarkable book of poetry. I read it more than once; her words distilled wisdom and reflected an elegant mastery of structure. I was impressed by her book and even sent copies to friends. And yet, today, I can’t locate a copy of her book, can’t recall its title, and am coming up empty on remembering her name.

It’s frustrating that my mind sometimes works well and sometimes barely. I remember much about her: she had once been a landscape designer, later a sculptor, and after her husband’s death, she retired to a Florida nursing home, where she discovered poetry. The details of her life are vivid and intact in my head, but her name eludes me.

This morning, I’ve been combing through online articles, literary sites, and book lists, trying different combinations of words in search engines, looking for the correct phrase to trigger a good clue. So far, nothing.

However, searching emphasises how greatly we rely on memory to anchor our experiences. Still, we sometimes “lose things”—not just names and details but moments, ideas, and sometimes even parts of ourselves.

I am feeling a sort of loss–a “misplaced connection” to something important I once held with certainty. My active searching, however, is reaffirming its importance, and I will keep looking.

Although I have not rediscovered her name, I remember clearly what she stood for. Her personal story and her book were triple-striking. They emphasize the resilience of creativity, the refusal to fade quietly, and the courage to begin something new at an age when society often stops paying attention.

Dear Friends: Some names and stories deserve to be remembered. Diana

A Freebie

Thursday, March 13, 2025

I’m restarting my daily stretching routine after unintentionally drifting away from it a few months ago. Lately, my mind has been tangled in politics and the stock market, leaving me staring at a blank page, waiting for inspiration to strike. Some mornings, the harder I try to think, the more stuck I feel.

This mental gridlock often hits when searching for blog topics—I’m frustrated, restless, and creatively cramped. But I’ve discovered a simple fix: stretching. And just like that—bingo!—something shifts. Not just in my body, but in my thinking.

It’s a reminder of the deep link between movement and creativity. I’ve always assumed that naturally athletic people might be more creative, and there’s logic to it—physical activity boosts circulation, delivers oxygen to the brain, and enhances cognitive function.

Just a few minutes of stretching cuts through the mental fog. It sharpens my focus, sparks problem-solving, and melts away tension.

Another key lesson from months without stretching is that my body naturally compensates for weaker areas while I’m moving. Over time, those muscles become underused and less engaged. Stretching helps reawaken and strengthen them, assisting with balance and mobility.

Dear Friends: We don’t need cash or special equipment for this “feel good.” Diana

Stepping Foward

Tuesday, March 11, 2025

Today, I’m off from my part-time job. I will start working on my short story, “Little Miss Merry,” and consider using AI to illustrate it.

Yesterday, I re-read the story after years of not seeing it. I liked it well enough, but my writing style has changed over the years, and now, the story’s flow could use improvements.

I’ve played around with AI’s editing capabilities. On a lengthy document, it’s not helpful enough. I’ll practice more with AI, maybe achieving better results by feeding the story in small sections for editing instead of the entire document at once.

If I can’t get AI to edit adequately, I’ll have to roll up my sleeves and work harder. I trust that my ongoing writing experience has given me gains in self-editing skills over those of my past.

Stepping ahead, completing the story, filling in the blanks, editing, and illustrating will be one thing. Following all that, another biggie will be to learn the ins and outs of self-publishing.

I feel motivated and energized this time to do the necessary work on a good story draft.

Dear Friends: I won’t let “Miss Merry” fade away again. Diana

Merrily Onward

The “Real Deal”

Monday, March 10, 2025

I have found how to keep my thoughts busy and away from continuing assaults on and insults to our nation’s democracy.

Yesterday, I found a complete draft of my short story, “Little Miss Merry,” after not having seen it for years and eventually not thinking much about it. I first wrote “Merry” in 2012, after my adorable young Welsh Pony, Merry Leggs, suffered a severe colic attack and died. The story was a tribute to her, and writing it was essential to me as a way of working through my deep sadness of intertwining loss, grief, and guilt.

For weeks, while writing that story, I discovered it was impossible to self-edit effectively. “Merry” needed an outside editor and also an illustrator. I knew no capable editors and artists and couldn’t afford to hire those talents. Eventually, I set “Merry” aside; she finally wound up “lost” among my long-stored papers.

Recently, I began playing with AI’s editing and illustrating capabilities and suddenly remembered “Little Miss Merry” and that story’s needs. I also didn’t know where to find the story draft or even if one was still around—until yesterday, when I discovered a hard copy.

After quickly scanning the story onto my computer, I purchased a Word Platform subscription (which transformed the draft into an editable document). This morning, I re-read my original draft for the first time in years and enjoyed it. I discovered a gap in the story’s flow and will write a “bridging section.”

Afterward, I’ll test AI editing and illustration capabilities. Hopefully, the editing will strengthen my story’s flow and understandability, and maybe AI can accommodate my sense of Merry in its image creations.

Dear Friends: Pure creativity is all-embracing, a condition of rush. Diana

Zooming In

Sunday, March 09, 2025

I’ve begun to explore zombie companies—businesses that generate just enough revenue to keep operating and can service their debt but lack enough profitability to invest in growth or fully pay off their obligations. I’m learning that these companies may survive because of favorable economic conditions, like low interest rates.

I see some publicly traded companies labeled as potential zombies because they have persistent financial struggles (many of which trace back to economic disruptions in the COVID-19 era). Some “zombies” are Peloton, Beyond Meat, Carvana, and AMC Entertainment. Their futures are uncertain, however, as restructuring efforts or shifts in market conditions could turn things around.

I work part-time in a retail department store and see firsthand the mounting pressures on the retail sector, from shifting consumer behavior to evolving business needs. Many zombie retail companies might be teetering even more on the edge in today’s volatile political and economic climate.

I often think of this as a chainsaw environment—a ruthless, high-stakes reality shaped by national leadership. It threatens the broader retail industry and deepens consumers’ personal financial anxieties.

This chainsaw environment—defined by high interest rates, tightened credit conditions, and changing consumer habits—poses a grave risk to zombie companies, particularly in retail. While some large retailers survive in times of cheap debt, rising borrowing costs erode their ability to remain afloat.

Tight economic conditions affect everything. They may force a zombie business into bankruptcy, like Bed Bath & Beyond, or force one simply to disappear. Economics certainly influences our personal comfort as consumers.

My retail experience teaches about a brutal industry. A retail company’s survival depends on its adaptability, capital availability, and market confidence. Unless economic conditions shift favorably—or they secure an external bailout—today’s struggling retail businesses may run out of time.

Dear Friends: Witnessing chaos reduces spending, and we worry about our jobs. Diana

Pimmy’s Check-Up

Saturday, March 08, 2025

Yesterday, to my surprise, Pimmy loaded herself into the horse trailer. She’s teaching me more about donkeys now than when she was constantly among the horses. These days, separated from the horses (for dietary needs), Pimmy seems more like my big dog than an equine.

This time, while encouraging her to load into the trailer, I allowed her to resist loading. I gave her plenty of time to think things over, and suddenly, she voluntarily popped into the trailer.

That’s the thing about a donkey. It doesn’t just follow orders and isn’t just stubborn; it needs to evaluate the possibilities before deciding on an action. It’s taken me over a dozen years with Pimmy to learn this, and yesterday, I felt proud of myself for finally being a bit smarter.

The header photo shows Pimmy getting a physical yesterday. The doc says Pimmy’s vital signs are fine, and her weight is lower. Those are good. The most quickly assessable bloodwork was excellent. We must wait for more bloodwork results to learn if her Cushing’s Disease remains under control and if her glucose level is corrected.

Yesterday, too, she received routine inoculations, and the veterinarian floated Pimmy’s teeth. Then, the slightly drunk donkey needed time to recover from the floating anesthetic, so I left to fill my rig’s tank at a gas station. By the time I returned, Pimmy was awake enough to hear me calling and came to me. She loaded into the trailer relatively quickly, and we left for home.

If her glucose has reached a normal range, I will reduce her meds from twice daily to once daily–a welcome relief. Pimmy’s doctor has ordered an additional ingredient, Vitamin E, for the regimen.

Pimmy is a sweet, smart, and delightful being. Through these months, I’ve not enjoyed treating her illness or separating her from her beloved horses. By now, however, knowing this donkey more personally, I much better appreciate her.

Dear Friends: The horses will get floats and inoculations in two weeks. Diana

Hauling Along

Friday, March 07, 2025

Despite the apparent recklessness of America’s newly installed leadership, the volatile stock market swings that unsettle me, the widespread neglect of climate action, concerns over healthcare, and the moral uncertainties within the judiciary—despite all of it—I must remain grounded in the activities of my daily life, carrying on as usual, unless (or until) those sorts of conditions force me to adapt.

In reality, I’m already adapting by prioritizing savings. My grocery choices are more deliberate and budget-conscious, my online shopping has dropped significantly, and instead of cycling back into the department store where I work part-time, my paychecks are making it home.

Much like during the “Days of Covid,” I can stay grounded and engaged on my small property, tending to the land and my animals. There’s always plenty to keep me active, allowing most of those bigger worries to fade into the background.

Today, I face the challenge of working with my donkey, Pimmy, as she heads to the equine vet for a blood draw to check her insulin levels and overall health. The first hurdle will be getting her into the horse trailer—she tends to resist loading unless one of her horses is already inside. To make the process smoother, I’ll keep her breakfast light, ensuring she’s hungry enough to be tempted by a bag of hay waiting in the trailer. The next hurdle will be to reload her after our vet visit, but on that end, someone will be available to help.

Otherwise, this day off from my part-time job will be routine tasks—feeding the animals, tidying up around the barn, and tackling some organizing (or reorganizing) inside the house. To prevent a tendency to dwell on political and economic concerns, I’ll stick to my to-do list and focus on getting things done.

Dear Friends: Confusion clashes with our sense of order, inviting a “bumpy ride.” Diana




Jittery Edge

Thursday, March 06, 2025

I’m feeling pretty down this morning—the stock market is crashing again.

Those who pushed for a “strong” right-wing leader are now facing the fallout. Under this new administration, layoffs are rising, prices are climbing (or about to), climate progress has been abandoned, and personal freedoms are teetering on the edge.

Businesses are uneasy, investors are on edge, and uncertainty is dragging the market down.

In an attempt to counterbalance personal stress, I am evaluating a couple of recently-ordered mood enhancers: KSM-66 Ashwagandha and L-Theanine. Given this morning’s chaos, maybe this is a good time to put them to the test. I gather that both are known for their ability to support stress relief and mood balance. They are supposed to work in different ways.

Ashwagandha is supposed to help regulate cortisol, the body’s primary stress hormone. It’s said to build resilience against anxiety and sharpen focus—exactly what I need while dealing with market swings.

L-theanine is an amino acid found in green tea. It’s supposed to promote relaxation without causing drowsiness and increase the alpha brain waves associated with a calm yet alert state. People often use it to ease caffeine jitters or stay sharp under pressure.

I don’t recall exactly what led me to order them, but here they are. Given the emotional rollercoaster of this current market, I’m going for it.

And now, a lighter moment from yesterday: As I placed a bottle of wine in my shopping cart, a fellow shopper pointed to it and said, “My grandma used to say, ‘With that in the cupboard, it’s going to be a wonderful evening.’”

We laughed, knowing Grandma was absolutely right!

Dear Friends: I’ll be experimenting with mood enhancers for the next four years. Diana