The Magnificent Modern Mature Woman

When do you feel most productive?

The well known saying above is when I am most productive and, in most cases, is truthful.

Most of my working life, I was the first to arrive which I got many tasks done before those who arrived that will slow me down with questions and comments that could be saved for later. My work ethic was never questioned.

In addition, I book all of my flights early to fly with those who are on a business trip rather than pleasure. The vibe is peaceful and quiet since most are going over their upcoming day after we land. Plus, rental cars are returned early so, most of the time, I get a car that I love. One time, I had a red Mazda 3 which was awesome. And, another, a black Toyota Corolla SE similar to my red LE.

Finally, meeting friends for social like dinner and drinks, I believe that it’s important to be on time or a few minutes early. Being perpetually late can be viewed as disrespectful and uncaring.

“The Early Bird Gets the Worm” implies a reward for showing up early that translates that one cares which should be respected and even celebrated.

Leslie Elizabeth David.

What are your favorite emojis?

❤️🙏😻🔥🙄😳

My favorite emojis are above. They are truthful to who I am. Although, I believe in the written word, sometimes, graphics explain better in some circles.

My ❤️ stands for love on all levels from food to people and my cats.

🙏 is for my thankfulness and gratitude for all that I have and had in my life.

😻 is for my feline babies past and present. I love them beyond words and infinity.

🔥the flame is being born and identify under the fire sign of Sagittarius. Not afraid of the truth of thinking or saying it.

🙄 a look of hearing or reading something that is odd to my way of thinking.

😳 the look of shock of learning something that I didn’t expect. Learning curve and humbleness are common here.

Truthfully, emojis weren’t part of my life until I got on Twitter now X. They’re fun but overused when speaking or actually sentences are more precise.

Leslie Elizabeth David.

What topics do you like to discuss?

The most favorite topics that I love to discuss are cats, food and travel. They each have a special place in my heart.

Cats. Growing up, I had a seal point Siamese smaller than normal size named Sukiyaki or SueSue. Later on when I was married, I had Adrian a Burmese mix. After, I was proud Mom to Seville part Siamese black cat and his brother Madrid who was Maine Coon. Now, I have two girls, Bella and Luna, who are Maine Coon Tabbies that were physically and emotionally abused. My babies.

Food. Everyone loves to eat. Living in west Michigan, Meijer made a promise to locally source on everything including food. They kept prices down and helping local suppliers at the same time. Did lots of cooking back then and, in Texas, I tried different foods at local restaurants known for locally sourcing.

Travel. Love adventure either by car, airplane, foot or watercraft. In Texas, I’ve experienced more of the State than most locals such as Palo Duro Canyon, the Hill Country, Austin, Houston and many other places. Plus, I’ve traveled to most of every State, most every Province in Canada and Mexico. Been to Hawaii as well. Travel is education that comes to life where it breaks down walls to learn our differences and reinforces our common things.

Cats, food and travel are the topics that I love to discuss because feline care is changing plus food is always exciting as much as travel.

Leslie Elizabeth David.

When is the last time you took a risk? How did it work out?

My latest and greatest risk is standing up to my family specifically my older brother.

Bless his heart for having the crazy idea that three of out of five of us siblings should all live in a tourist town in northern Michigan. The population of the city goes up towards 20k May-October yet drops down around 5k residents in the coldest months of the year. He’s a caretaker for a friend’s home that was built by Earl Young. He’s worked in hospitality most of his life so he wouldn’t be there unless it was his friend.

Housing is uber expensive due to condos, hotels and summer homes that all drive up demand. A recent property came up of a mobile home that I would mortgage but on land that I would have to pay rent. I would lose square footage and an enclosed garage compared to my current home. My quality of my life would decrease. Then, I experienced a nightmare of someone who has lived in the town all her life and who I graduated with. Immediately afterwards, I put the move on hold. From reading, the experience may have been triggered by stress.

Myself, I’d prefer living north of NYC near Milford CT off of US 95 and US Hwy 1. Both places take money that I don’t have.

Standing up to my brother is ongoing but he has learned that I have teeth.

Leslie Elizabeth David.

Describe a risk you took that you do not regret.

My biggest risk that I will never regret is moving to Texas after losing my job of 21 years and unable to gain fulfilling employment in Michigan.

After 21 years of employment with a financial employment in west Michigan, I began looking at north Texas for work and for adventure. My parents even contacted a lawyer to prevent me from moving that failed cause I am mentally sound. The first few years, I traveled to the Hill Country, Austin, Houston, Palo Duro Canyon, Louisiana and Oklahoma where most natives haven’t been.

My thirteen years here, I have felt freedom and safety yet my family is calling me back to northern Michigan where I felt out of place being a strong willed free spirit. Financially with housing, I am out of my league. My brother moved out of Houston over a year ago to be caretaker of a multi million dollar property near Lake Michigan with living arrangements on it. He was a bartender/caterer in Texas and had never owned a home.

A few days ago, I had a weird dream that experts declare it’s from stress but it involved someone who I never got along with in northern Michigan and I don’t know her limits or values. It put the move on hold for a while to regroup. The friends who I keep in touch with from the town are all who moved out. Meanwhile, my former employer keeps driving by in a vehicle uncommon in my area.

Before I moved here, I did my homework of areas to move to keep my felines and myself safe. It paid off in relation to quality of life and to have peace. Have no regrets in Texas.

Leslie Elizabeth David.

Write about a time when you didn’t take action but wish you had. What would you do differently?

For most of my working lifetime, I have had second thoughts of where I transferred to prematurely during my college career.

My high school in northern Michigan had lost its educational rating with the two major universities in the State my junior year. It interprets that students in my school district would almost have to receive a 3.5 accumulative than average to attend although schools with proper documentation can get accepted with a 3.2 average. Funding is the biggest problem then where to spend it.

So, I attended a junior college that is affiliated with a university in the Big Ten conference and had planned to earn my associates with them. During government class, I met someone who I connected with as a friend who talked me out of my original plan. After about ten years in banking and seeing my brothers and my sister’s careers take off, my bad decision caught up in a big way. My friend who talked me into it went into sales and was successful. We rarely communicate now.

Well, I decided a very long time ago to accept my decision and to guard myself with her and others like her. My life has been full and complete without the job.

In addition, I have chosen to trust my intuition and act upon it instead of words from others and live a full life of adventure.

Leslie Elizabeth David.

What makes you nervous?

The thing that makes me nervous is being idle like a car is running with the engine on and burning precious fuel but not moving. Us like vehicles aren’t meant to live our lives in Park or idle modes.

Lately, I’ve been in the idle mode that is quite uncomfortable so I’m using the time to plan a move back up north because Texas is not benefiting me nor I it. Moving into an area with marginal inventory for my price point is creating nervousness as well. If it works, my cost of living expenses will decrease substantially although not far from the shores of northern Lake Michigan.

In the past, I have used the time to rest up and clean up myself and my home. Was planning on closing my online closet today but someone wants me to wait for her to buy an item from my inventory. Will try again when things move closer.

Been approved by Uber background checks that were more involved than I thought, I can transport politicians to celebrities but I don’t think that they want to ride in a Toyota Corolla so I can deliver food from restaurants to customers. I will rely on this income if the above fails.

Life is meant to be lived when my time comes, I’ll be thanking our Creator for the ride. Deliberate idleness is wasting precious time. Being idle makes me nervous.

Leslie Elizabeth David.

How do you unwind after a demanding day?

After a crazy day of working or figuring out logistics and finances on moving back home, the thought of chillaxing comes to mind in a big way.

When I was working full time after a demanding and crazy day, I would normally go home immediately afterwards. “The Big Chill” for me is to eat comfort food for dinner then take a long hot shower then go to bed early with my cats.

Today with the stress of viewing a possible future home, I made the mistake of sharing with someone who feels that this person feels to be the only qualified around. He gave me reasons why he couldn’t do it then when I got a family member who’s lived in rentals in Houston who knows clean homes, he retracted.

As we grow older, we learn how to handle the stress of family, friends, finances and work. How we cope determines our health and well being so make it good. Practice your “big chill” that only benefits not just the present situation but to be ready for tomorrow.

Leslie Elizabeth David.