Nana Renanalogies

My husband and I jokingly refer to ourselves as 'dinosaurs'. Not sure how it started, but something about them implies 'antiquity' and 'longevity' at the same time. We are, of course, referring to the fact that we're both still on our FIRST marriage and are coming up on THIRTY years! (Okay, 29 next June, but still....you get my point.) I don't want to launch a debate on the 'right' or 'wrong' of divorce. There are TOO many variables to even BEGIN to sort that out.....he said/she said....external influences....internal issues....spiritual walks or the lack thereof....children or the lack thereof....allergies, algorithms, and other accoutrements! Just too much. But, just because I haven't experienced it first hand, doesn't mean I've never felt the ripple effect. In fact, depending on where you are in relationship-proximity to the primary parties, it can be a tsunami...mowing down and hurting everyone in the path. Friendships are...

I love hats. I mean LOVE hats. REALLY love hats. In fact, hats are right up there (down there?) with SHOES and PURSES as my favorite accessories. "The ability to accessorize is what separates us from the animals" -- Miss Claree Belcher in 'Steel Magnolias' (Don't you just know she would LOVE an aubergine cloche??) But I digress. I love hats to the point that I envy Kentucky Derby attendees, every female in the British royal family and my precious black sisters in the Lord who love hats as much as I do. I've even threatened to move to England or join a black church just to be in the company of great hat-wearers! In fact, being completely melanin-challenged, I even thought .... NAY! HOPED that as skin cancer awareness grew, that hats would come back in vogue. I guess it could still happen, but all I see proliferating are tanning salons on every corner. Whereas, unlike melanoma, which you can purchase for $24.99 a month by bank draft, the retail safari f...