Rural Women ... Rural Stories

Jennifer GobleI’m writing this on 9-8-20, COVID-19 is still alive, drought and winds fuel fires, temps are 60 degrees lower than yesterday, late-night lighting and thunder precede snow warnings, and worry about family, friends, and country occupy my heart. I watch people rebelling for freedom with offensive language and risky behaviors, and I’m tired of it. I want to throw a … [Read more...]

Jennifer GobleI recently had a first in my life. I crashed a wedding party. Even though I felt slightly awkward, I believe things happen for a reason, so I relaxed and enjoyed it. I thought about the changes in weddings over the decades. At the seemingly adult age of 19, I married in the 60s and made my own Jackie Kennedy influenced wedding dress and all five orange and yellow … [Read more...]

Jennifer GobleI recently noticed a book title, “How To Be An Adult in Relationships” by David Richo, Ph.D. Even though being an adult isn’t always my goal, I was curious to read on. The author listed the Five A’s of Love as Attention, Acceptance, Appreciation, Affection, and Allowing. I thought they were reasonable and catchy. At about the same time, I had two back to back long … [Read more...]

Jennifer GobleI’ve been thinking about fear in our world. A few examples could be getting the virus, sending kids to school, not getting to vote, the wrong guy getting elected, depleted savings, unpaid bills, losing jobs, being evicted, losing someone to death, or lack of healthcare. Fears are real, and the lists are long. Fear is reasonable and often keeps us from walking into … [Read more...]

Jennifer GobleWhen it comes to families, how do we live with them? How do we live without them? It’s been said we can choose our friends, but not our families. George Burns said, “Happiness is having a large, loving, caring, close-knit family in another city.” Maya Angelou said, “I sustain myself with the love of family.” I agree with all of the above. Families are diverse, and … [Read more...]

Jennifer GobleYou might be tired of hearing about the legacy of Congressman John Lewis, but I’m writing this four days after his death, inspired by his life, and can’t think of another topic. If you are tired of hearing it, just don’t read me this week.  Good mental health is complicated yet simple and basic. John Lewis’ tributes portrayed a man to model. What people said about … [Read more...]

Jennifer GobleMy second oldest sister turns 80 this week. She lives in Arizona, and when I saw her two weeks ago, I asked, “What are your top-five highlights of 80 years?” She looked at me as if I had asked for an impossible answer, and immediately said, “My four sisters.” After much thought and laughter, she proceeded: 2) “As a kid, going to the lake with my family” 3) “Moving … [Read more...]

Jennifer GobleI try to make my life motto, Live while you live, and it closes my weekly articles because I believe wanting plus doing is positive behavior for mental wellness. Not to be morbid, but it is a fact we will die, you and I, and we don’t know when. Therefore, it makes sense we could, would, should give a little more thought to our bucket list. Too often, we put off … [Read more...]

Jennifer GobleFor your mental health and mine, I’m focusing on the Fourth of July joy instead of current craziness. I woke up this morning with what some people consider the unofficial National Anthem, “God Bless America” running through my mind. With the help of 1998 American founded Google, I learned the beautiful song was written in 1918 by Israel born composer, Irving … [Read more...]

Jennifer GobleIn the poem, We and They, by Rudyard Kipling, an English author, and winner of the 1907 Nobel Prize in Literature, wrote, “…All the people like us are We, And everyone else is They.” Much of life seems to be divided by We and They. “We go to NJC; They go to CSU.” “We are Presbyterians; They are Catholics.” “We live in Colorado; They live in Texas.” “We’re Denver … [Read more...]

Jennifer GobleI stood in line (wearing my mask) to check out at a megastore. A chatty woman six feet ahead of me (with no face covering) told me she only social distanced with her bedbugs, not people. She proceeded to show me what she found to fight the nasty pest. I learned double-sided tape on the bed legs captured them before they discovered her mattress. Because the line … [Read more...]

Jennifer GobleI have referenced Nike’s ad, “Just Do It,” while counseling individuals to make a change, to say the words, and to dream big. It was the title of last week’s article on the topic of washing hands, social distancing, and wearing masks. This past week Nike released a new ad, “For Once, Don’t Do It,” calling on Americans to confront racism in our country. I’m not … [Read more...]

Jennifer GobleColorado is now Coronavirus open with suggestions and restrictions. It reminds me of my Catholic faith when I first joined the church in 1966. It was a mortal sin to eat meat on Friday. Then, after the Second Vatican Council phased in, it was not a sin at all. One day I went to hell if I ate pot-roast for lunch on Friday, and then, voilà, I could fry bacon for … [Read more...]

Jennifer GobleTwo thousand twenty graduates have been on my mind a lot during these COVID-19 weeks. I feel sad for them because they didn’t get a senior year, as the rest of us experienced. They didn’t even have the opportunity to get senioritis or senior-sneak. They didn’t get a prom or spring sports, and most aspects of college in the fall are unknown and likely riddled with … [Read more...]

Jennifer GobleGoing onto my doctor’s portal to request a prescription renewal, I found the access had changed. To get onto the site, I had to choose a security question. Sounds simple—sort of like a password, but easier to remember because you have a personal association with the answer. Most security questions can be answered quickly and precisely, such as your mother’s maiden … [Read more...]