Rainbow Sends a Message

On my way to the grocery store last night, a rainbow stretched across the sky. Without thinking, I started humming, “I can see clearly now, the rain is gone.” It felt like the universe had cued the rainbow just for me. Rainbows are like that—quiet little reminders that storms do pass, and something beautiful can follow. Life at any age hands us cloudy days, but there’s always a rainbow hiding somewhere.

It had been a bad day. I just resigned from an organization I had poured my heart into for four years. The cause still mattered—scholarships for employees and programs for residents—but the climate had shifted, and many of my colleagues had moved on. I no longer fit the new mold.

Not only was the mission meaningful, but it was also a wonderful creative outlet. I wrote announcements and newsletters, designed flyers and websites, and more. Honestly, it was almost like a full-time job.

I especially loved working the events. I’d create the announcements, photograph and video the programs, and then write the news after. It tapped right into my lifelong photography hobby—I felt like an Annie Leibovitz in training. As an extrovert, I loved chatting with the musicians. I still smile remembering that the banjo player with the Naples Jazzmasters Dixieland Band was on the board of the Banjo Museum in Oklahoma City—a museum hubby and I once visited and adored. Those moments made the work feel more like play, and I’m especially proud of the videos I created of the concerts (see a few of my favorites below).

A budding Annie Leibovitz?

But now I’m left not only with an empty schedule, but with a small existential crisis. Who am I without my job?

When I said “almost a full-time job,” I wasn’t exaggerating. Every month except May–July, many weeks ran 40+ hours—producing media, attending meetings, taking pictures, updating the website. Now, aside from a little follow-up, all those hours are suddenly free.

The next two weeks I’ll be knee-deep in moving prep. I’m still gathering things for donations: Do I really need a second stainless flatware set? Six divided serving dishes? And does the cat truly need every toy in her overflowing basket? (She’d say yes.) But once we’ve moved, my days will be mostly empty.

Patsy, our new cat, grabbing a toy from her basket (LINK to video)

My writing desk, currently buried under volunteer materials, will move from the living room to the bedroom. I might even see the wood surface again. ChatGPT created a weekly writing plan for me, with 30 hours of exercises and projects, down to practicing hooks and metaphors. I’ve never had time to follow it. Now, I’ve run out of excuses.

They say when one door closes, another opens. Right now, though, Bob Barker hasn’t come down from heaven to show me any doors. It looks like I’ll have to find my own—or sign up for The Price is Right.

In truth, my busy-ness kept me from facing harder challenges, like getting a book published and risking rejection. It was easier to do the familiar than to forge new paths.

This year, several good friends (and my beloved cat) passed away. It reminds me that time is short, and I need to spend more of it with those I love. Too often, my attention was on my “job,” while friends and family lost out.

I’ll also miss the satisfaction of producing something meaningful and eye-catching. And yes—the praise. I feed on that appreciation. It makes me feel valuable. But lately, it felt more like Nurse Ratched was peering over my shoulder, waiting to pounce on the slightest misstep. Even the most routine decisions were second-guessed.

Do I rely too much on praise? At my age, I should probably care less about acceptance. The truth is, I know when I’ve done a good job—it’s just a bonus when other people know it, too.

Like Blanche in A Streetcar Named Desire, who says, “I live on the kindness of strangers,” Writers depend on the approval of their audience. Without it, there are no readers. Gee, I hope I don’t end up like Blanche and get carted off to an asylum.

ChatGPT''s summary of my writing schedule

I texted the rainbow picture and the song to two good friends who’ve supported me through this thoughtful time. Their responses were encouraging. One said, “You deserve rainbows.” Another added, “The rainbow was so beautiful. A good omen indeed!” Encouraging words from friends boost the spirits even more than rainbows.

So, after doing one thing for so many years, I have to walk on less familiar ground. But maybe this is what the rainbow was nudging me toward—not just the reminder that storms pass, but that empty skies leave room for new colors. I have the rainbow message from the universe, the song I can hum when I feel lost, and the support of my friends as I forge a new path. Now it’s time to see what new rainbows I can make appear.

For Your Enjoyment - videos created with a handheld cell phone while sitting in the audience

1. Naples Jazzmasters Dixieland Band - Basin Street Blues - Mardi Gras - March 4, 2025, pardon the thumb. The Jazzmasters asked me if they could use my videos for their promotions and website!

2. Bentley Village Belles and Beaus Choral Group - Hallelujah - May 1, 2025

3. Hwy 41 Bluegrass - Foggy Mountain Breakdown - June 26, 2025

4. If you like bagpipe music - Amazing Grace - Jason Wright - Kicking off the Bentley Village Foundation Dollars for Scholars Golf Tournament 2022