Upon moving to State College years ago, two things surprised me. I couldn’t believe how long it took for a sweater washed in Woollite took to dry – three days – and if you baked a cake, it seemed to never dry out. All that humidity meant that we had to invest in a dehumidifier i.e. a machine that sucked water out of the air rather than put it into the air. I emptied that sucker every day, and it was a huge machine. Wow! Coming from Colorado we weren’t used to that.

“I will not carry an umbrella,” Gary announced upon seeing everyone toting one as they walked around town. But we quickly purchased several so that one was always close by because if it wasn’t raining when you left one place to go to another, it soon would be. It was an Eastern necessity to which we soon were accustomed to having at hand.

Rain fell against our large basement bedroom window, skies overhead were the gray color that we saw most days of the year. It was something we got used to seeing, and, in fact, it became a kind of comfort – so much so than when we visited Colorado, the wide open spaces and blue skies hurt our eyes and created a kind of apprehensive feeling. We were used to feeling closed in, encompassed by all that dreariness.

The upside to all of it was the lushness of the lawns and the surrounding countryside. The many shades of green are astounding, and the blanket of folage that one sees upon landing in Pittsburgh brings a feeling of knowing that you have returned.

You adjust to the situation and the place in which you find yourself. What was at first unfamiliar eventually becomes familiar and you one day realize that where you live is where you now belong.

Moments with kids provide a range of emotions as they tell about things that happened that are really very funny but they don’t realize it.

We were discussing plurals in my first grade class. This was when I first taught in Boulder, CO at Crestview Elementary. So the lesson went like this -

“If we have more than one book, we add an ‘s’ and it becomes more than one. That’s what we call ‘plural’, I told the class.

I then wrote four words on the board – boat, apple, cat and wagon – and we discussed them as a class. Kids would raise their hands to give the answer…boats, apples, etc.

Apparently Mark wasn’t paying attention because when I asked him what we should do if we want to have more than one cat, he responded “Call the SPCA”!

When snowflakes fall and softly land on decks and lawns, I love staying home and watching the land change from autumn colors to pure white. Chloe runs and wiggles in the whiteness, seemingly knowing that something unfamiliar has arrived.

Winter is my least favorite – it’s cold, blowing and icy – and it seems that I tolerate it less each year. As I grow older, icy roads and sidewalks must be carefully navigated. This season seems endless…stripped of leaves, tree branches are bare; but then one day green buds appear and shades of green appear within the brown of winter’s grass.

Giving of yourself to others is, I believe, essential to happiness. Those who only think of themselves are often quite discontented – complaining and negative. You don’t have to volunteer per Se. You can write a note to those who are ill, celebrating a happy event or just to someone who may be lonely. Or you can offer to pick up groceries for someone or take a neighbor to the doctor.

I carpool one grandchild to theater class on Tuesdays, another on Thursdays. Yes, it helps my daughter because she has two at home and her husband, a pilot, is often on a trip. But I also do it for myself because it provides the opportunity for one on one time with each. I played ping pong with nine year old Ben this afternoon. He is back in the groove having beaten me all but one time. He mentioned that I had only one win – a game from him, he told me; but I quickly reminded him that it was a match not a game.

So give of yourself to others. Remember the less fortunate at Christmas – drop wrapped gifts by Starbucks or other places where gifts for kids are collected. This will ensure that their Christmas is happier; but, more importantly, it will ensure that yours will also be.

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It is always with the arrival of autumn that I most remember. It was then that the first symptoms of what was to later be diagnosed as major depression began to ease into my life. I considered the initial feelings musings, and I wrote in what was to become the first of many journals about what I saw and felt. Introspective rather than sad, I read and reread what I had written and felt a deeper closeness to the world than I ever had before.

  Autumn brings change with the slow emergence of colors that are at first brilliant only to fade to shades of brown and, finally, lie on the cold ground. But I do love this season because it takes me deep within myself and causes me to think more than does any other season of the year.

I used to refer to this time of year as ‘fall’. When I was young, my sister Susan and I raked leaves into imaginary houses the borders of which were individual rooms. We would play in the front yard, then pile all the leaves atop on another and jump into them.

A move to Pennsylvania made this season unlike I had ever before experienced and it was then that I began to use the word autumn because ‘fall’ seemed far too bland. Brilliant shades of colors covered the immense number of trees. Golds mixed with greens, orange, purples and reds sparkled in the sunlight during the days. It is magical back east, truly magical. Sunshine is most prevalent at this time of year, skies are often brilliant blue; and each time I would remark that we had days such as those almost every day back in Colorado, few believed me.

As I walked up the grassy hill behind my house on my way to yoga, I noticed that leaves had fallen and that a few crunched under my feet. And Pennsylvania came to the forefront of my mind – I smiled… and I remembered…

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Award winning author of her memoir Out Of Focus Again, Ann Kochenberger and her husband advocate for mental health by speaking about their lives with bipolar disorder. Visit Ann’s website at www.OutOfFocusAgain.com where e-books written by both her and Gary are available for downloading.

It’s often true that quality costs more. Furniture, shoes and many other goods that we purchase are usually of better quality and last longer if we pay a higher price. There are, however, some exceptions. I’ve learned a good lesson over the past year – try the less expensive, simpler options first, then work your way up.

Case in point…my feet. I have had these very ugly bunions for years, but have never minded having others see me in bare feet. This changed when I developed a hammer toe which is both unsightly and bothersome. It is quite an ‘attention-drawer’ when the second toe sits right on top of the big toe. Quite unattractive, so I looked into options for both the bunions and hammertoe. http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/001235.htm

Surgery is out for me – 15-35% failure rate as well as the shoe salesman at Norstrom’s who told me that of probably 300 women who come in for comfortable shoes and have had surgery regret it. I needed no more convincing.

“What else do you suggest”? I asked the send opinion podiatrist. He said that orthotics would be good, so I was fitted for them. Close to $300 later they had been inserted into my tennis shoes and I do think that was a good idea. Not so true for the second expense.

‘”Latex molds,” he suggested, “made by a crabby old lady in New York City who does the best job ever”. His words, not mine.

“How much”? was my first question. I was told probably around another $300 (ca-ching!) $$$ went off in my head.

They arrived several weeks later and, although they did keep the second toe in its proper place, the expense turned out to be money lost because I then found a $6.99 solution that is awesome. I kid you not! I can now walk with comfort. Ahhh…..

http://www.Footsmart.com is the best ever. Shoes for all kinds of foot conditions and this little padded thing onto which is sewn an elastic loop into which you insert your second toe. No more overlapping means that shoes fit more comfortably.

You never know….Moral of this story: Sometimes cheaper and simpler means money saved. We live and learn.

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Author Ann Kochenberger often walks gingerly. She does not write about feet, other than in her blog; but does pass along lessons learned to readers. Her award winning memoir, Out Of Focus…Again, about her life with bi-polar disorder and is well worth reading. Check out her website at http://www.OutOfFocusAgain.com and, in the meantime, buy shoes that are both comfortable and fashionable at either Footsmart or Norstroms.

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  My grandmother’s piano sat in a living room alcove under the staircase that led to the second floor. The space was small, but the piano looked beautiful there. Its mahogany, neatly polished, was a rich brown and in the piano bench was sheet music that belonged to both my grandmother and my Uncle Tim.

As I would sit at the piano, I was reminded that my mother, too, had once played. By the time i was born she only played one song, but she played it well. She told me that she would sit on the piano bench, not only when she was practicing, but also times when she was upset about something. The alcove, after all, was rather hidden away in the far part of the living room.

I never heard my grandmother sing, but she was said to have had a beautiful soprano voice. She was asked to sing at weddings and funerals, at church services and meetings of organizations to which women back then belonged. Her talent spilled over to the way she played her piano; playing provided both comfort and solace.

Ben, fourth born of our six grandchildren, is beginning his fifth year of piano at age nine. After a three-year program offered by the Littlleton Music Academy, he went on for a year of their ‘graduate program’ and now takes private lessons.

“Do you think Grammy would give the piano to me”? he recently asked his mother. I had been hoping that either of my children would soon be ready to take it because I wasn’t playing too often, so I was more than happy to have it moved.

Last Sunday afternoon piano movers took my grandmother’s piano from our house to Ben’s. I handed him a letter in which I told him I was honored that it would now belong to him. There are two reasons I know it will be in a good place the letter went on – because you are serious about playing and because I know you will take good care of it. At the end of my note I told him that the one thing I asked of him was that he ‘keep the piano in the family’.

“What does that mean?” he asked. I explained that when he was ready to give it up it should be given to someone in our family…a child, a siblings, etc.

“Oh,” he said. “Or until it falls apart”!

I assured him that if were loved as a piano should be loved it won’t fall apart.

Now the piano sits in the far corner of the living room in Ben’s house. It looks wonderful there, but I know that each time I see it I will think of the small alcove where I remember it being so many years ago.

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Ann Kochenberger is the author of the award-winning memoir, Out Of Focus…Again, in which she relates her life story of living with bipolar disorder. She and her husband, Gary, speak at conferences and to groups and organizations about their journey together. Her website is www.OutOffocusAgain.com.

Think about it. When speaking with someone on the phone who is looking up your information on a computer and the computer is slow, the person on the other end is apt to become frustrated. And, while I admit it is a bit of an inconvenience, most of the frustration stems from the current belief that we have to get things accomplished pronto. Another reason is that most customers will become far more frustrated than the person on the other end of the phone. Because rapid results are the expectation, those who provide services believe the service they provide is sub-par if it is not handled in a way that is quick.

We hurry to our jobs, race to pickup and drive carpool then find ourselves running to the store en route home. Dinner quickly prepared, help with homework once everyone returns from practice, sports, dance, etc., hurry everyone to bed, then start all over the next day. This is what our lives have become.

I’m more patient than many; but this, I would imagine, is due to my age. After all, years ago purchases were often written on pieces of paper and totaled on either an adding machine (what’s that? you might say) or in someone’s head. Please note that I said ‘adding machine’ rather than ‘abacus’! Years ago we were wise to double check those totals. Human error was bound to occur now and again. Yes,it took time; but people were patient and the pace was much slower. In fact, it was actually quite pleasant.

Then things were entered into a register and prices appeared. Even later came scanning and that process, you guessed it, made transactions even faster. Ah, the faster the better was what was routinely expected as well as routinely provided.

I’ve never been one to long for the good old days. They’re gone,after all. I’ll admit that there are things that we miss – low prices, slower pace and watching picture clouds – who watches picture clouds nowadays? But modern conveniences ‘ain’t’ too bad. Guess not, given the way that we run to purchase as each arrives on the market.

 Taking another look at the graphic on the left, think about your priorities. Family is first for most of us; and, sadly, health is often last. But if you consider this more carefully, health should be right along with family. If we don’t take care of our health, (by working out, eating right, alleviating stress, etc.), everything else suffers.

If you don’t want to be hurried, don’t let those who do intimidate. Stay in that lane when going the maximum speed even though you are being tailgated, linger at the table in restaurants where there are others waiting and walk leisurely in the park now and then. Oh, and continue to check your purchase receipts – sale prices are not always entered in and you may be double charged for some items. It happens more often that you might suppose.

The east is much more wooded than where we now make our home. It’s lush and green, and watering lawns is unnecessary since there is enough moisture to sustain them. Snow in wintertime is frequently interrupted with days of rain, and humid summer days are often warm and wet. It is this time of year that we experienced heavy downpours that destroyed pottery and art that sat on shelves of booth during The Arts Festival.

http://www.arts-festival.com

Dave and his friends played football in the street. With his gray and red Ohio State hooded sweatshirt, he caught and threw for long periods of time before coming home in soaking clothes. Susan walked with neighborhood friends to and from school in the rain, and car wipers went back and forth, back and forth, as we drove the streets running errands accomplishing things that had to be done. It was a way of life, one to which all of us were accustomed. We thought nothing of the sound and smell of rains.

 And now, as I look out my office window, drops slide down needles on the pine trees and the small leaves of the three aspen trees by our front steps. Soon they will sparkle a brilliant gold and will be enjoyed in front of the backdrop of our bright blue sky. You will see them the best if you lie on the grass, something I still do despite the many decades I have lived.

We live in a different time and place, one in which rain infrequently falls; but it is days such as this that we remember…

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It was in Pennsylvania that ANN KOCHENBERGER first experienced symptoms of what was later diagnosed as bipolar disorder. But days filled with deep darkness were often replaced with sunny ones as well as numerous ones filled with rain. Visit Ann’s website at www.OutOfFocusAgain.com.

• Exercise and diet help rid depression according to an article by Matt McMillan that appeared in Web MD 7/27/12. But how much exercise is sufficient? Harvard medical psychiatrist John J. Ratery, M.D.’s research findings indicates that that 30 minutes 5 days a week for 12 weeks reduced depression by 50%.