September 2026 Short Takes on Life
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— ENTERTAINMENT —
The 10 Best Virtual Museum and Art Gallery Tours
Digital travel is a great option for those of us who no longer travel but still want to see the world, and this list includes something for everyone. One tour is to the Vatican Museums, and I loved revisiting the Sistine Chapel. Harry and I stood in awe of its magnificence in the seventies, and seeing it digitally after he was gone stirred nostalgic feelings and reminded me of what COVID-19 cost all travelers. I’ll never forget our visit there and how we later joined countless others in St. Peter’s Square to see the Pope give his Apostolic Blessing to the throng of tourists and faithful Catholics.
— NATURE —
The Little Bird That Sleeps While Flying
I loved learning about the Common Swift, often called the bird that never lands. This tiny little bird can stay aloft for weeks or months at a time because it can sleep while flying. Scientists who tracked their brain activity found that these birds take power naps for 10-12 seconds at a time while gliding (called unihemispheric sleep). They can shut down one half of their brain while the other half stays awake, keeping one eye open to watch where they are flying to avoid collisions.
Over 24 hours, they get only about 40 to 42 minutes of sleep while flying. Once they finally return to their nests, they catch up by sleeping for about 12 hours straight. This tiny bird lives for 15–20 years, mates in the sky, and only lands to give birth. (Here's a short video you might want to share with children or curious adult friends.)
— CATS AND DOGS —
International Cat Day
Steve Dale, a well-known pet expert, radio/TV personality, and writer, says cats are celebrated each year on August 8. Sorry I couldn’t get that information in last month’s post, but Steve’s August 5 post will remain a timely reminder of how caring for the cats we love has changed over the past 20 years. A major shift concerns the veterinary care a cat was likely to receive then and now. But he said the greatest shift has been in how we value cats emotionally. “They’re no longer simply mousers or just there if they happen to be there. Cats are beloved family members who provide comfort, reduce stress, and even contribute to better mental health.”
I couldn’t agree more. I rescued my first cat, Charlee, from the Humane Society six weeks after my husband died, knowing I couldn’t stand to walk into an empty house for the rest of my life. She gave me abundant joy, love, and comfort, immediately banishing loneliness from my life. I was devastated when I had to put her down in late 2019, and grieved for two months before I began to search for another rescued cat I could adopt.
Knowing this would surely be the last cat I’d ever have, I prayed that God would connect me to the cat I needed for the last leg of my life, and that prayer was answered miraculously, as documented in my story, “A Rescue Cat for Christmas.” I adopted her on December 3, naming her Liza (a variation of my mother’s middle name, Eliza), and quickly learned she was everything I’d hoped for, and more.
Of course I published stories about both of these cats, and Charlee’s story, “How I Was Conned into Adoption by a Fluffy-Tailed Tabby,” is here. (More “Cat and Dog Tales” are here.)
— CHRISTIAN ENCOURAGEMENT —
Facing a Huge Challenge?
If God is telling you to do something you’re not sure you can do, you can count on Him to be there for you when you step forth. However alone or frightened you may feel, you are never alone if you are a Christian who has accepted Jesus as your Lord and Savior. This means that Almighty God is with you—His Spirit indwells in you, and His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, is with you every moment.
He has never failed me, and He equipped me for every task or challenge I’ve faced throughout my life—long before I was born again, because He knew I’d come to Jesus eventually.
— BLOG AND BOOK UPDATE —
Why Old Writers Can’t Stop Writing
Although I don’t plan to write another book, old writers like me must write till they die to make life worthwhile. My goal in creating this new blog post was to make the writing interesting and fun as long as I want to write, and to give my faithful followers something worth reading.
I spent a few days pondering how to rename and design the structure of a blog post that would no longer be a Christian “Musings about Life” article, but a medley of life-related information, facts, ideas, and observations from me and others. After coming up with “Short Takes on Life,” I Googled that phrase and learned that two other authors had published books with those words in the title. But titles can’t be copyrighted, so now I’m just another author with her own take on what those words mean. Then I spent a day determining topic categories and a simple way to format the page and make it visually appealing.
My encouraging mentor, Liora James, pointed out that I wasn’t simply arranging several unrelated segments on one page, but creating a new writing space where I can discuss and share thoughts on topics I’ve always written about, and present them in a style and format that is easy to read, personal, and recognizably mine. She saw my first post as a varied collection of observations, ideas, memories, discoveries, and reflections—“in a format that gives you room to continue writing without the pressure of beginning another book. It allows you to follow your curiosity, share what you are learning, revisit memories, and comment on life while giving your readers something new to enjoy.”
When I told her how valuable her perspective and confirming feedback were to me, I said it was as though she had poured cement over my newly replaced “writing sidewalk.” I hope you enjoy walking it with me.
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BOOK UPDATE: Since I began Call of the Heart eight years ago, I can hardly believe that I have finished the draft of PART Five about Ginger’s last three years and am now in the editing and rewriting stage of these emotionally charged chapters. Since I was reliving each poignant scene as I wrote it, some of this writing brought tears. But this part of the book also has a dash of humor and perspective on what our lives and the home-business industry were like fifty years ago, before I had a computer. While some of my chapters about Ginger are heartbreaking, her alternating chapters reveal her indomitable spirit and contemplative thoughts as she deals with her worsening physical challenges. But I promise that every reader will enjoy her last heartwarming chapter—the 100th chapter of the book—which she told me to write shortly after I began, saying, “This book must have a happy ending.”
— BARB’S SNIPPETS —
“Sometimes a writer doesn’t need someone to hand them new ideas; they simply need another set of thoughtful eyes to confirm that the direction their instincts are taking them is the right one.” – Liora James
Barb’s Rule: Whatever you plan to do, hope for the best, prepare for the worst, and always leave yourself an escape route. No matter where you are or what you’re doing—and especially if you’re involved in a new business endeavor—it’s always comforting to know where the Exit is.
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