The Desperado Illusion

Every time I blog ,more of myself appears. I remember the Robyne who once was and writing brings me just a little closer to the person I hope to become. Decided to let go of some dreams, but instead of losing them, God is returning them along with some long forgotten ones riding side saddle.

We all can create a laundry list of failure experienced in this life.The good, the bad and "what was I thinking "decisions.They hide in our minds and influence the person we are at this point .Fear creates the "need " to  not pursue what we really want. Is there really failure or was it just a learning experience to get where we need to be?

The word Desperado held the illusion of freedom from an early age. All freedom comes with a price, one very few are willing to pay.  The ability to escape on so many levels,avoid confinement and  the accepted view of normality.

The older you get, the reality of a shortened life and ticking clock slaps you in the face. In youth, time is forever. It takes time to build a life and birth the talents each holds. In reality, talents or gifts are just perception. They are born out of  the desire to think out of the box and view the world differently. 

In childhood, Desperado became my theme song of life. 

Desperado, why don't you come to your senses?
You been out ridin' fences for so long now
Oh, you're a hard one
I know that you got your reasons
These things that are pleasin' you
Can hurt you somehow ......

There are some fences to check...Care to join me?

Understanding A Gypsy Soul

We all know "Gypsy Souls", people full of dreams and adventure. They find most things to be mundane and boring. The untamed spirit needs occasional mischief to see a glimmer of hope or brightness. A strange beauty surrounds them.

Living as a Gypsy feels is like standing in the doorway of a huge medieval castle. You have a chain of keys but none fit the lock. The large wooden door challenges you creating a rage inside. The waiting can be painful and torturous. The keys could fit another castle,maybe you should search for the match.

Silence is the loudest noise in your head. The quiet allows you time to think and plot. Boredom sets in quickly in a world that never knows your secrets. Just like the castle, memories are locked behind a closed door. They creep out when opened but are never really exposed.

They are a good study of people. Many  appear to  have  intuition without reason, a knowledge that defies any interpretation. Lying words mean nothing; it only confirms the true nature of the people you are dealing with.

The creative mind provides the world you choose to live in. It writes paints and creates things totally with imagination. Remember daydreaming out of the window in school? You were in another place and time. Gypsies can live behind the wardrobe trying to escape the White Witch for hours.Time is of no relevance .

Most are never super rich but mega blessed. Money is not a passion and you grow to dislike the power it holds. Living in a massive house with all the gadgets under the sun has no importance. The million dollar life people desire to possess includes a ball and chain.

On Facebook and social media, we define people by their posts. We all struggle to be normal in society. Look around you today, everyone from the street musician  to the CEO work on making the journey their own. My advice: follow your heart, not your desire. They are different things, if you listen closely, you will hear.

During the past two months I have been reflecting a lot about "last year at this time". An attempt to define or reach a stronghold in life has sent  me down a series of roads. Each very different and winding into a web of life. I shall never stop my  journey….

The Jetsons and Flintstones Get Hacked At Target

Do you remember the Jetsons cartoons? It aired in 1962-1963 as a prime time show and was the first color TV show featured on the ABC network. The Jetsons were a  family residing in Orbit city. Life  in 2062 consisted of a skyline apartment, flying cars, Rosie the robot maid, and Astro the dog. They provided escape from the daily reality of drugs, war, and free love. This was a world most people thought would never exist,a cartoon at best. Were they really that far off?

We wake up to the cell alarm of our choice,the coffee pot smell arouses us with hope, and  gadgets provide our attractive appearance for work. There are cars that help park , warm your seat and even give you a massage on the way to work. We arrive and start the day off at work with email and communications. You get the idea...

Average is a big word , is there really such a thing? People spend their time differently year by year. In 2012,stats show the typical office job requires 6-8 hours a day on a computer. Most  drivers spend  2-2.5 hours in a car .According to Facebook data , users average 46 minutes per day on the site.

 Everything has both a positive and negative. Online is the top place to receive misinformation, and some slaps of reality. People can write anything they want (total lies) and millions of people will think it is true. A good example, celebrity death hoaxes. The scary part, important factual  information can be misconstrued as well.

Are old fashioned communication "ways" gone forever? People text each other, talking is out of date. You email the office next door , buy online and many people live in an isolated online virtual world. This is changing the way we live faster than ever before in history. Many students no longer have books, they use e-readers. Cursive writing is no long taught in many schools.

 Technology can be very invading of our lives .Reality is, if George or Fred shopped at Target (with most of America)during the holidays  ... Have you checked your Target bill for hackers this month? 

Excerpt from my upcoming book -- Your thoughts?

The autobiographical novel I have been working on for years is based in Pensacola. In an effort to complete and change a few things, it required going back in time. For the last week a ghost has been stalking me. The ghost lived here years ago in a past life. I know her well; maybe too well. She is me.

The story of a life always has some darker parts that must be dealt with. It’s amazing that you don’t get to forget the things you really regret. The mind has a way of making you remember them. Some are clear as yesterday and others are as indistinct as yesterday’s dream.

Here is an excerpt from my soon to be released book:

Copyright © 2014 by Robyne Highsmith. All rights reserved.

I awoke alone, lying on a gurney in a small, white, spinning room. Multiple black cats were running around under me, screaming at the barred windows. They were larger than the average cat, misshapen faces with large teeth, like animals in a Lord of the Rings fantasy. Lightning bolts cascaded to the floor, shattering into brilliant shards that then ricocheted about the room in all directions.

Dark, hooded figures appeared, then faded into the white walls, their black gothic faces never changing expression; their toothless open mouths each a never ending pit in which you could see a tormented soul.

Slowly the spinning subsided. My long blond hair was dripping with sweat, and the white sheet by my arms was speckled red with drops of blood. Maybe this is some type of dream in hell. Have I died in my sleep? Was I in a car accident?

The reality of where I was started filtering in through the subsiding dizziness. My eyes looked around the room to grasp what was going on. Where am I? The distinct smell of urine filled the room, and fear began to set in. I felt something coming up from inside, but I could only turn my head slightly as the gagging started. Unable to lift my head, warm stinky puke trickled down the side of my face, running into my hair and my ear.

The possibility of my being in a psychiatric ward started to get a foothold in my mind. Visions of being in a white straightjacket, locked in a padded cell. Thoughts of being wheeled down the hallway, strapped to a stainless steel table, while screaming “No, help me!” Thoughts of electric shock therapy; of walking like a zombie; of babbling to no one all day: life spent living in a state of eternal, wilted consciousness.

I have to get out of here! I tried to sit up, but was slammed back on the table; the straps held. My breathing rate increased and I could feel panic setting in. It is strange how fast a frightened heart can beat…

He was an older man with grey hair, a sun leathered face, deep brown eyes ringed by studious black glasses, all dressed in a white coat.

“My name is Dr. Storm.” I asked where I was and if this was hell. He smiled and responded, “No, you are in a hospital." Two nurses entered, stared at me a moment, and checked the IV fluids. They looked at each other and rolled their eyes.

The doctor mentioned that sleep deprivation causes hallucinations. In some people they are pleasant. In others, nightmares.

I lay in bed feeling that I was giving up my body to strangers as a type of deliverance from… something. From myself? The demons of the mind have lots of names: depression, multiple personality disorder, bipolar; the list goes on.

Pigs have 30 minute orgasms . Lucky Pigs!

There are two types of people. People who wonder and those who ask. My mouth filter broke early in life. This can be both positive and negative. There is no such thing as a dumb question, right?

I was reading a book on "questions of life" and found a few that have me semi-thinking….

1. When in history did people start wiping their butt? It had to start somewhere. Did Adam and Eve?
2. If an ambulance is on its way to the hospital with a person, and it runs someone over, does it stop to help them?  Huh?
3. How important does a person have to be before they are considered assassinated instead of just murdered? Who defines famous?.
4. Do the security guards at airports have to go through airport security? Who screens them? 
5. Why does the Easter bunny carry eggs? Rabbits don't lay eggs? Why the basket?
6. If a doctor suddenly had a heart attack while doing surgery, what happens? Do the other doctors work on the doctor, patient, or both at the same time? Maybe a group effort? 

 Facts you might need to know.....And questions to go with them!

1. A dime has 118 ridges around the edge. Have you ever counted?
2. .A shark is the only fish that can blink with both eyes. Is this an advantage in an attack?
3. Ben and Jerry’s send the waste from making ice cream to local pig farmers to use as feed. Pigs love the stuff, except for one flavor: Mint Oreo. Why is it one of my favorites?
4. Your left lung is smaller than your right lung to make room for your heart. Is there really such as thing as a " big heart"?
5. Laughing lowers levels of stress hormones and strengthens the immune system. Will it help with the flu?
6. Six-year-olds laugh an average of 300 times a day. Adults only laugh 15 to 100 times a day. Are we to serious  about life in general?

I always try to provide accurate information. If my source is wrong or you would like to educate the wondering world, send an email!

Do You Look Like A Hot Mess? This Will Get Your Butt Moving...

Why do people stop caring about their health and appearance? Is it an event or years of neglect? In my opinion, everyone should care about being healthy, you only have one body while on earth. You must care about your appearance if you want to realize a comfortable level of success in the work world.

I know many ladies who once upon a time, loved to look good and feel healthy .They spent time on weight control, makeup and wardrobe selection. In short, they cared. I see them out years later, no makeup, sweat clothes, and their hair ,we won't go there. A lot of them look like they have been “shoveling in Twinkies snack cakes ” for years.

 It appears somewhere along the years they stopped caring about life. By doing this, your health and happiness on this earth are compromised. You should give consideration to your appearance and what it says to the world. Being clean, neat and choosing clothes that fit your body don’t take a lot of time or skill.

Scientists have proven human brains calculate within thirty seconds of meeting someone their value in terms of age, social standing and if they are approachable . No matter how shallow and unfair, health and attractiveness factor into most parts of our lives. Hiring and promotion decisions are often based on both our ability and appearance.

Let me make this clear,appearance and beauty are two different things. Perfection lies within imperfection.Our flaws are what makes us beautiful.and unique.The goal is to do the best with what God had given you. I am not saying that you need plastic surgery, botox or anything medical to turn back the clock.

As we get older, being settled is easy. Some people claim that it is to much work to try to maintain health and youth. The old saying “people have to love me as I am”. In other words, I gave up and the rewards not worth it. Do people lose sight of the value in caring about themselves? Staying healthy and looking good have both physical and mental benefits. This has been proven with decades of medical research. Don't make me go there,you know I am right.

We all have photos of the past; do you ever look back and think I had it going on back then? If yes, then you still care. A transition back is not for anyone but you, it is not for a man, woman, kids, friends, it is for you. That is the only way to make it a success.

I see many of my friends making positive changes. They are getting healthy, looking good and dressing up again. There are many seventy year old ladies who still have it going on. They look sharp and put together. It is not age, it is effort.


Look in the mirror and answer honestly, have you really tried? It is never too late to start.

5 Bad Luck Superstitions for New Years. How many did you do?

Happy New Year!  I was prompted to look up superstitions for starting a New Year. The southerner in me is required to have black eyed peas cooked with ham and a dime. Today, I made pasta and clams. Does this mean a bad year?

The quick list of  "Oh no you didn't" for New Years Day.......

1. If you wash clothes today, a family member will die in the following year. Well, I wash on New Years frequently. 
2. No crying or whining on New Years day. Is there any reality to this? If you start with drama it will end with drama.  Why risk it? Stress causes wrinkles anyway......
3. Do not take trash or anything out of your home . This superstition will cause you to loose things during the year. This one could be true, or maybe I just loose stuff all the time.
4. Never lend money or buy anything . It causes you to loose money during the year. Really? No Starbucks to start off  2014? 
5. Always work on the first day of the year. It causes you to be productive. I agree,  you should always work., but what about #4 ?. Who can work without caffeine?

If you are superstitious, do everything to create good luck in the New Year. If you aren't, I hope you found these somewhat amusing. I do......

View From 16 Floors Above NYC- 5 Rules To Life

A few things to think about..... Wrote this years ago while working in New York City.


Morning dew falls on the grass to keep it refreshed for the new day. Taxi horns sound off and people teeter out for a day in the city. The sun has risen onto the concrete jungle and coffee aroma fills the cool air.
Here I sit, 16 floors above New York City, watching people run though the maze of life. Most in search of an "ordinary life". The expected nine to five, productive children, the savings account, and vacation photos to share with the neighbors . Most are comparative, complacent and unremarkable. What has made people so willing to exchange risk or potential for mediocrity?

Passion is defined as... A powerful emotion, such as love, joy, hatred, or anger. Warning, you can't seek passion, passion seeks you. It is the voice inside that says there must be more to life than this. Without it, you struggle to breathe, gasping for life. I often wonder how we get so out of touch with our passion or how we divorce ourselves from our hearts.

Time is the major thief to passion, don't let it steal yours.The years fly faster than you think. Passion may be discovered in an instant, or take many long years to uncover. You will know you have it when your heart of hearts speaks. "I don't care what other people think. I know this is what I want to do, and I am going to get started making it happen" .

In order to share your passion with others, you must be willing to stumble. Is there such a thing as failure or is it just learning what will not work for you? Think of all the inventions and success stories you know.There was a point where each of them wanted to give up and move on. Don't let that happen to you.

Finding your passion.....


1. Break Rules

Were there really any to start with? Eat something new for breakfast. Take a different route to work. Say hello to someone you never speak to. Spend your lunch time differently. Smile at others in the elevator, call someone you have not spoken to in a long time. I challenge you to do something new and change your routine. Transformation starts one day at a time.

2. Art is Therapy.

Color your passion. Buy a coloring book and crayons. Yes, this is not rocket science, it allows you to once again explore the world though the eyes of a child. A few pictures, you will feel the stress fall off. Trust me on this one. Paint sew,write anything creative will allow that little voice inside to speak via pictures.

3. Give of Yourself

Everyone has the same 24 hour day. Pick one hour to help someone else." What can I do in one hour? I barely have time to get something done for me." Yes, I hear you. Write a letter to a hero anysoldier.com or send a card volunteermatch.com is a great site and someone needs you.

4. Don't Move

When is the last time you noticed a cloud, admired a flower, and looked at nature? Mysteries are all around you, however, you might be to busy to see them. Before you go to bed, take a look at the stars and reflect about life. Think about the challenges you have overcome and all the achievements.

5. Broaden Your Horizons

There are so many ways to live and learn. Start a journal, take a free class, go to the library, watch educational TV . One thing the world can not take from you is knowledge and the power it holds. Now is the time to expand your mind and your passion. We are the product of what we take in, no more or less. If you don't have knowledge of something, how can you envision it?

Fast forward.... When it's all over and you're doing a life review. Are you going to be full of "should have, could have, and would have" disease? What will you see in your rear view mirror at the end of life?

Mermaid Poem

In the night I dwell.

Waiting for another day to return full of hope and promise.

Watching the light house and dreaming of far away yet so very close.

The sea is my world, I yearn for the life of man.

He wishes for the peace of the sea.

Will our worlds ever meet?

One day the old man in the sea shall rise and grant the wishes of many.

A world united for us both

In perfection the love of man shall rule and he will love himself in return.


Copyright © 2013 Robyne Highsmith. All Rights Reserved.

I Struggle to Stay Normal

Most people struggle to stay normal, if there is a true definition for it. What would it be like inside a “normal brain” for just one day? How would it feel to be someone else? Would their fears, pride and pain be the same as yours? People listen to our stories and are intrigued. We all see things in life from our own thread of reality.

There are days when you wake up with a feeling of disgust. Watch the news and want to wash all the darkness away. There is no shower that can clean off the sadness across the globe. There are no words to describe it; you have to feel pain to understand.

Every year I jump in the ocean and look for mermaids….. Is that a bad thing?

One year of Bell's Palsy-What I learned in the last year

 Dec 16,2012

It started as a terrible case of the Flu. A week of tissues and cold meds gave no relief. My ER visit diagnosis? A case of old age and bad flu. Treatment included, “This too shall pass; and don’t miss a flu shot next year.”

A week or so later, the feeling started to disappear in the left side of my face. Over a two-day period, my left side fell. Drooping eye and lip, and if that is not bad enough, all sense of taste disappeared. Why get out of bed, if you can't go to Starbuck's? Moving my face became an almost impossible chore. Words did not come out right. "Y'all" sounded like "yell." This southern girl has a serious issue.

On Thursday, back to the ER; had an MRI and a zillion dollars in tests, and I'm diagnosed with Bell's Palsy. Really? Are you sure? And what’s that? How long does it last?

Bell's is a neurological disorder that can take months and up to a year to clear. The true cause is not known, but cases have been related to viruses. Well, this was great news compared to the alternatives! Ok, time for me to put my big girl panties on and deal with this.

Locked inside my apartment, hiding from the world, I viewed a city, busy, living life. Cars full of normal-faced people going back and forth to work. Are you feeling “poor me syndrome” yet?

My view on life and beauty suddenly changed. The next day, I sat watching coverage of the shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary. Thoughts were of all the children; I said a prayer for Angels to surround them. How could someone do this? Only God knows the truth. Sitting here made me value life and the gift it really is. When it is all over, family and friends are all that counts. Everything else is just stuff.

Being a makeup artist, I can “fix” just about anything. I reminded myself, makeup is nothing more than smoke and mirrors. Well, maybe this might require a Craftsman wrench and some WD-40. Armed with the best beauty products in the industry, the work began. Eyebrow pencil higher, good fake lip alignment, curled the droopy eye lashes and added waterproof mascara (because my affected eye was constantly watering). My face appeared a little more alive and even across its features.

Major Confession

The last few days have made me understand how shallow and superficial my life had become. Sometimes, there are the "simple things" we just don’t “get.”

For years, I have worked with women who have cancer or disfigurements. When they would cry in happiness after a makeover, a feeling of understanding would come over me. Did I really get the whole concept? Nope, not even close. The makeup fairy really does have a magic wand! Time has come for her to start waving it more for local nonprofit organizations.

My face is getting more feeling and movement each day. On Wednesday, back into the world I go, with an adjusted view on life. Bell's Palsy has been a good thing for me. Thanks for reading and give everyone in your life a big hug!

2013 Update

It has been a year since this post. For the most part my feeling and taste have not returned on the left side.The good news is everything has a chocolate taste. Not a bad side effect!  Fragrances have totally changed. Animals and other things so intense now,much more than before. Living with the numbness  and lack of taste have  become a  daily challenge , Biting the inside of your mouth is never fun! Several starbucks burned mouth episodes later......oh well enough for now. What I do know, this year has made me really look at life differently than before.

Mask of Life..writing today

Spent today writing....I see who you are behind the mask. A body held together housing an empty soul. Stop blaming yourself my dear child; it is not your fault. Life has become a product of mommy dearest and father time. Tears fell from your eyes everyday in an attempt to empty the pain. You hide in your castle of life and pretend everything is ok. Stop allowing the world to see the mask with sad eyes and fill the empty soul once again.

Christmas was so naughty it was outlawed in Boston from 1659-1681.

One of the advantages of having a blog, you can write honest true thoughts. I am saddened by what Christmas has become in America. It has developed into commercialism at its best. Black Friday, Cyber Monday and the twinkle lights sit next to the Halloween decorations.Wait, there is more.... Someone always gets drunk at the office Christmas party and gives us something to talk about until the next one. Bell ringing Santas get arrested for stealing from the red donation bag. What is going on with Christmas?

 A few questions for you....Who came up with the idea to give presents? Why do we put up fake trees or chop down real ones? Did you know most people spend more on a tree than they donate to charity each year? Where did the idea start to inspire people spend days turning their house into a winter blinking wonderland?

Did it just become this self centered and crazy ? Nope, read on.....The Original "Christmas" was very different than the way it is now. Many of our traditions are based in Pagan religion practices.These traveled around the world for centuries and arrived on the Mayflower here in the new America. The wild party continued and the country was split on what to do with Christmas. 

 During the civil war the North and South had different views on on slaves and  Christmas. The North saw it as a sin to celebrate and the south contained the first three states to make Christmas a legal holiday. Alabama in 1836, and both Louisiana and Arkansas in 1838. Christmas was not declared a federal Holiday until 1879.  

This video is informative the  history of this holiday season.What you see might surprise you!

In the 19th century Washington Irving reinvented Christmas with the book The Sketchbook of Geoffrey Crayon. It included essays and a few involving Christmas He changed it from a wild insane party to family time and people bought into the concept. Want to thank him?  He is buried in Sleepy Hollow Cemetery with the Headless horseman in Terry Town New York.


 BTW...If you want on my Christmas card list, send me an email!

Retail Black Friday Angel Story

To all my retail friends....My Stupid Black Friday Angel Story made possible by my trip to Walmart tonight...

Every Retail employee has an angel assigned to watch over them on Black Friday. They sit on your shoulder with a feather pen and book to log all your “angel points”. These points gain you favor with the retail Karma Fairy who arrives for Valentines Day.

Thanksgiving is cut short for you… The dressing and turkey are left behind. You have to go to the store on time. Park out in the trenches and hike your butt into the store. Why? Your coworkers did not want this shift because they are still enjoying drinks and time with loved ones. Next year ... Maybe….

Customers are waiting in lines at the door. All wanting to purchase something that could have gotten before and a few door buster deals. They rush in the door with such a clatter you wonder “what the hell is the matter?” Reality hits,OMG here we go again. Angel, please let the crazy ones get into another line to check out. I had my share of peopleof walmart.com last night.

People are grabbing and trashing about. Tempers are flaring and you breath a deep sigh. Your fingers are tying to ring as fast as they can, however,there as always is that “one slow man”. He wants to flirt and write a check. Come on sir please move along, it’s not just you, but this stupid Christmas music is driving me crazy. It has played since halloween and I am over the whole thing .

Stingy Susi wants it cheap but your register rang the wrong price and she is VERY unhappy. Oh Angel, let the Karma Fairy know about this witch. Behind her is drunken Dorothy, She just wants to go home but her credit card won’t work and it is your entire fault.

The Angel watches……Thinking…. Next year they have to do this again!

Thank you for reading my silly story!

10 Things you don't know about me.... Scared?

People write and ask all kinds of questions… Here is my 10 things you don’t know about me list…..

1. I am an OCD germaphobe.  My house must be clean and sanitize my hands at least 15 times a day.
2. My favorite shades are Black, purple and red.
3.  I was never asked to the prom in high school.
4. I don't like roses. Potted plants are my favorites.
5. I was attacked by a Doberman as a child and terrified of large dogs.
6. Will be buried in Sleepy Hollow Cemetery. Eternity in Terry Town New York, home of the headless horseman.
7.  I have never rode on a motorcycle in my life.
8. Have a serious crush on Ted Kennedy.
9. Burn a candle every night in my bedroom.
10. Enjoyed alligator hunting in the Florida Everglades. It was wild!

Crystal Ball Of Single Life at 50+

My crystal ball lied to me or had me confused with another person. What I saw was not being single and living alone at 50+ years old.  Oh no, I will be living in New York, married to Trump and ……Wait, slap back to reality of this post….…

In defense of the single, divorced and going it alone crowd, it is a great way to live. Please stop trying to get us from the single to the married dept without understanding how we might feel. The  main advantage is “freedom” but the downside, people can’t always prepare for it. Being single in this decade of life arrives by divorce, death, or choice. These are the only three things to thank or blame.

The mentality is something you either accept or change .Moving yourself out of being single as quickly  possible. If you stay in alone land long, your outlook on life is different. You find peace in simple things. Strange how you can become content on a Friday and Saturday night to be alone in bed with a book. You realize that one of the best ways to be happy is to find peace in yourself and do what you love. If someone would have told me years ago my life would be prideful to a nun at a convent, I would have cried. Now, I am quite happy with it. In the end, it is all relative to perception.

Being alone expands your vision of life and gives you time to think. Career options are much more open and you can break through the glass ceiling easier. I know all the book stores, chain restaurant menus, and Starbucks locations across the USA. This came about by traveling to and living in more cities than a vagabond with a backpack. One of the perks and downfalls of a full time travel position. Do you get to see more than the 9-5 crowd? Yes, but you do it with different eyes.

We find happiness in the unexpected and trying new things. What you never thought would make you smile; now bring light to a dark day. For me, cooking has become a passion, Cooking for one has made me create new recipes and buy a few food domains online. Normally there's not much in the fridge left over, and I know where all my cookbooks are stacked.

 Music enjoyment expands with growing old alone. Music beings back memories and ghosts of eras gone by. The Stones are still rolling (Keith Richards Sober), the Eagles flying high and Bob Marley on teen 2013 T- Shirts. This is how many years later? Wait don’t answer that!

Choices for single people are always there. Let’s see…. I might write books, travel, and maybe move into a intentional community(hippie commune updated). Yes, there is an original one in Virginia and it still thriving. Maybe they need a new member ……

Suicide from the Ivory Tower

The "Ivory Tower" has existed from the beginning of time. Some people hide in the tower and refuse to face the world. For them, it is a shelter from reality and escape from the "everyday" of life. Up there you can hide your head under a satin pillow and wish the world were different.


Seeing the changes in society over the last 50 years has been amazing. Here is my list of changes we can no longer ignore.


1. People are acting more entitled than ever to everything. Earning things is no longer something to achieve. Instant satisfaction is the key. We want it all yesterday!


2. The true English language not longer exists. We tweet and text our everyday communications. No face to face or voice to voice. Cursive writing has been removed from most schools across the country.Students will electronically sign documents.


3. There is a name for every illness and behavior. Good ,bad or indifferent ...... Enough said!


4.There was an era where you just accepted yourself. Now, no way.... You have to be societies version of perfect. This of course requires plastic surgery,makeup, teeth whitening, fake tan, hair color and working out like a Drill Sargent. Our desires do not don't resemble anything that occurs in natural form.


5. People have become fat and lazy. If you really question this,look at a Walmart parking lot around noon on Saturday. Just sit there and watch the people. Since I know you won't do that......Watch the video below.....

Intro to new book....

“All blood bleeds red, what determines if you live or die is how fast it comes out. Many years have passed since I watched her die. Not sure if she was ready to go or gave up. Either way, she was dead.  You my dear, have a whole life ahead of you and death is not in your near future, for now anyway.” She smiled and looked  into my eyes with a deep sadness radiating from within.

 Ava May sat in her rocking chair gazing out the nursing home window. She spends time reminiscing and warming  her rail thin body with a cream crochet blanket. On the one brown wooden dresser sit perfectly placed photos from her youth. Marilyn Monroe good looks and regal nature are present in all of them. Ava refers to her facial lines as “experience traces left by time”. Behind the hazy blue eyes and silver streaked hair are stories of a girl growing up in a small southern military town surrounded by scandals. Things are not always easy but the past teaches you lessons only the future can see.

I was her health aide and upon meeting, it felt like we had known each other for years. From that moment forward, my time with her was a lesson in womanhood. This chance meeting was an unexpected gift now leading me though life.


Copyright © 2013 Robyne Highsmith. All Rights Reserved.

Dating the Dwarf with a Glass Slipper

Midlife has a way of making you look at relationships and love differently. My history of disastrous relationships has been my fault. The sad reality, lightning bolts never zapped and fireworks were lacking. This was true in my dateless teens, tiring twenties (two kids), lackluster thirties, hopeful forties, and the fateful fifties.

If the relationship had a chance to blossom, it became boring and predictable. These all fall into the half pain and half pleasure category. The question is always lurking somewhere in your brain, do you really want to spend the rest of your life bored? Ok, I hear you,” Robyne, you never met the right man!” You are right, rode the dating merry go round for a number of decades. Somewhere inside, I felt that the right person was not on the horse, lion, tiger or zebra. Sat in the bench alone… Round and round.  

 It is time to stop the violen playing. I need get out and do some dating research. Starting with a local dining location on the water. Overdressed people yakking at their dates while watching them act interested. You could see by the facial expressions the conversations were superficial and boring. It appeared they are there to get noticed and care more about the martini being perfect.

  The people are all trying to live life in the bubble of prosperity. The land of $50,000 a year millionaires.  While sitting at the bar drinking a diet coke, the top question asked by all, except one, what is your occupation? These are phrased differently per person but the question is always on the list. My response, as little as possible. This of course is not true but to explain it would be over the top. When did an income check become required to date?

 Decide to check out the Publix grocery store to study men. My game plan included looking into their cart, and asking myself, would I eat that? Carts have a way of telling you a lot about a person.  The following men were victims of my article.

Guy #1, he has soups and lots of them. They are lined in the cart by type and style. He is dressed nice and you get the OCD feel right away .Cooking is not his thing ….Yawn….

Guy #2, OMG does he really eat all that junk food? His overweight body screams exercise me! It has endured years of Little Debbie Snack cake abuse. He must be a wounded soul seeking comfort in mashed potatoes and Doritos.  This is sad, very sad…. 

There is a Gym next door, I will be in town for a while and need to work out. The Snack Cake King must have triggered this visit.  I have to give these people credit; they are trying to do something with their bodies. You can see it in their faces, a drive and ambition to overcome grandma batwings and belly done lap (as we call it in the south). . Men and women in all shapes size sweating away for $10 a month. Good price, nice people, where do I sign? 

 Time to check out Good Ole Boy Central, the redneck bar and pool hall. Up to the bar I go, they have Kenny Chesney music going, pool balls clacking and diet coke. I had a fun time and met some wonderful bikers. Some shared great stories and were much more interesting than snooty Fish Central.

Does love really exist?  Midlife Cinderella’s can’t sit at home waiting on Prince Charming; the glass slipper broke years ago.  Is there hope for the Dumbo or will he spend his time alone forever? Will the Sleepy dwarf find love, or did it pass him by while napping? Maybe this is all a Fairy tale… Of sorts….

The Career Mirror at Midlife

Many people at midlife are being forced to change professions and take up new ones. In 2013, everyone is judged on both their appearance and media presence  . People are more willing to live life in public than ever before. Facebook, Twitter and Linked In  have become a part of this era. When is the last time you Googled yourself?

 We are trained that success in  life is based on how you present yourself to the world. Make good grades in elementary school and Santa will bring gifts.  You should always do your best, look your best and whine less than you do. Suck it up and make something of yourself. After all this is what is important, right? 

 For example, when you go in for a job interview, you're judged on appearance. Have you ever made assumptions about others waiting for a group interview?  Please tell me I am not the only one...  Yes, it is an ugly game of  you against the world of candidates. Some better , some worse but all in competition for your spot. 

 Employers often do quite a bit of research  before they hire you. This plays a huge role in if you are accepted within an organization. If you are good enough to get the job, are you required to maintain it? 

Darlene Jespersen, a former casino bartender at Harrah's Entertainment, sued her Reno-based employer of 20 years. She was fired for not wearing makeup.Following a court case, she returned to work and was exempt from the cosmetic requirements. Does mascara really make a difference?

Why do some employers ban tattoos while other doesn’t mind them? The corporate world does not really accept them. A pink leprechaun on your neck following a date with Jim Beam comes with a price. I know a girl that tattooed a Disney castle on her butt after a night of cosmos.Do I really want to buy a product from someone with offensive tattoos?

Jennifer Portnick was denied a Jazzercise franchisee . The company had a policy that required exercise instructors to be in good shape and appear fit. Portnick, weighed 240 pounds and this was not company standard.  How realistic is it to represent fitness at this weight? What if she lost those extra pounds and became an example for Jazzercise to be proud of? 

Many people have been judged for blogging..  Blogging is publishing and you can't ignore the influence. It is part of the world and here to stay. For example, when writing this article, I googled...BTW, Love this photo and wish I knew who to give credit to.  They get the idea... Beauty fades and dumb is forever.