On 6/21/10, the Sun takes beach umbrella and flip flops into the Moon ruled sign of Cancer. Along with the Cancer Sun comes the longest day of the year – Summer Solstice (in the Northern Hemisphere).

This Water sign is emotional, sensitive, concerned with family, moody, restless, a powerful nurturer – they will take care.  And especially, if they love you, they will feed you.

Cancers may overeat when unhappy. Be hard to get to know – they will hide in their shells. Need to be needed – even if those tended to are not the best for them.

(I think Cancers make good actors – all that deep, vibrating emotion, sensitivity, reacting. Can be released by acting out their secret selves on stage.)

For all other signs, while this Moon and Cancer energy reigns, take advantage of all the ‘home” energy, pay attention to your instincts, enjoy the love.

*Cancer: Gem – Emerald / Power colors: silver, pale gray

On Friday June11, the Moon will be in Gemini – it becomes “New” on Saturday the 12th.  The Moon is considered new when the Sun and Moon are in the same Zodiac sign and this time is great for new ideas and implementing new projects.

Air sign Gemini, ruled by Mercury, is considered the communication sign, and that is the area of life that will be enhanced – lots a talk, lots a writing (tweeting?), etc. BTW: Mercury will also be in Gemini at this time until 6/25/10 –  the themes of this “twinner” Sun sign are reinforced!  What can you create out of this?

On Saturday night, the Moon glides into nurturing, family oriented Cancer – remember that even though the Sun sign has changed, the effects of the “new” energy will still show up for approximately 10 days until the end of the 1^st quarter.  Perhaps Cancer things, like home/family, will get a boost. (Pick something from your old DIY list to start? New cupcake recipe? Set up new behavior protocol for the kids?)

Regardless of the sign – this weekend is a good time to make plans concrete. All “new” things are highlighted and begging for action to be taken. Start something!

A few weeks ago I discussed Saturn’s Retrograde movement into the Earth sign Virgo. On May 30^th this planet of discipline and boundaries went direct and remains in Virgo until July 22, 2010.

Just to make sure we don’t get bored, Mars, our fiery red planet, has joined Saturn and will keep company for awhile. (It moves into Libra on July 30, 2010).

Saturn is about responsibility, practicality – Mars is all about action, impulsiveness and heat. While Saturn can be comfortable in Virgo and reinforce that sign’s natural tendency toward detail, analysis, and helping others –  “I “oriented Mars is constricted and might act up, get aggressive,  and overly critical, speak too harshly.

However, our feisty planet will pick up the pace and things will be accomplished. Just try to use the energy and not paralyze yourself by getting caught in any push/pull between resistant Saturn and combustible Mars.

How much you notice this planet activity depends upon where Virgo appears in your chart – Virgo Sun, Virgo Rising, etc.

During a Full Moon, the luminaries are exactly opposite each other. The Moon is fully lit by the Sun. Dramatic, but nothing to fear (however, there is a new “Wolfman” film with Benicio Del Toro as the blood thirsty werewolf- but it’s just a movie 🙂

The Moon is in upbeat, bigger is better,” let’s have an adventure” Sagittarius. This is a good thing – we can have fun as we prepare for the holiday weekend.

A “Full” phase, 3^rd quarter Moon, is a time to look for results– we start to see the end product of what ideas/efforts were begun at the time of the New Moon.  With Sag, we have energy, a sense that “of course good things can happen” and a willingness to go for miracles – which can come in handy when edging a project toward fruition. (The Moon will continue to wane, decrease in size, until we see the Moon in its “crescent” view.)

On Saturday 5/29, the Moon will march into the next sign, Capricorn, and remain there until Monday.  You might notice a definite attitude/ atmosphere change. The 10^th sign of the Zodiac has a duty, responsibility, authoritarian focus.  Maybe not many laughs, but things will get done!  (BTW: Earth sign Capricorn Moon is a good time to plant.)

Enjoy your Holiday!

We’re almost there, Mercury will stop going backward on Tuesday May 11 (it’s been Retrograde since April 18). Our communication planet will go Direct in earthy Taurus, and like those allergy medicine commercials – the fog will lift! You will notice that your thinking will become snappy again! You will know exactly when that bus is scheduled, no confusion about the restaurant location where you planned to meet your friends, your PC/iPhone/iPad/Mobile will love you again.

But, while Mercury continues to slide backward, keep alert, be careful of what you write, say, sign – check it again. We are almost there!

“A HeLa cell is a cell type in an immortal cell line used in scientific research. It is one of the oldest and most commonly used human cell lines. The line was derived from cervical cancer cells taken from a patient named Henrietta Lacks, who eventually died of her cancer on October 4, 1951.” (WikiPedia)

Several books have been written about the HeLa phenomenon and a few about its donor Henrietta Lacks. The most recent was highlighted on “CBS Sunday Morning” a few weeks ago – “The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks”, by Rebecca Skloot.  I have not been able to get this story out of my mind.

Ms Skloot not only gives us the scenario – Ms Lacks died at 31 of cervical cancer at Johns Hopkins in Baltimore, MD.   Her tumor cells were taken and grown and split/ grown and split over and over again to be used for research in hospitals and clinics in this country and around the world – she is able to  humanize the situation by giving a face, rather just a culture slide to the situation.

“HeLa”, from the first 2 letters of Henrietta Lacks first and last names, was sold in test tubes and since it was considered “discarded tissue”, the patient’s family was never notified or advised of the profits derived from their relatives’  regenerated cells.  The book introduces us to the Lacks family, there were 5 children, and their story about how they only recently came to learn of their mother’s cells and their subsequent contribution to research for cancer, AIDS, polio, the effects of radiation on human tissue, etc. 

I find it ironic that the Lacks family, still living in Baltimore, is struggling to pay medical bills in the same city where 60 years ago their mother died.  If not sharing in profits, the surviving family should at least have all their doctor bills waived – as a belated thank you from all of us who might have benefited in some way, no matter how far removed.

“The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks”, by Rebecca Skloot

(Photo: Henrietta and husband David Lacks, 1945)

I’ve been retired 6 months and I’m holding fine.  As mentioned in my 3 month update, I’m enjoying my new status, but,  I ‘m now beginning to get strange mail. How did they get my name? How did they know I’m going to be 65?

I will be 65 soon and Social Security of course is aware of my Medicare eligibility and they send enrollment information a few months in advance, but what other list am I on??  – How do these companies know how old I am?

My mail box is stuffed with brochures that say in bold print – “Important”, “Urgent”:

“It’s Medicare Time- Part A, Part B and Part C. “

“It’s Insurance Time – Long Term, Term Life, supplemental.  “

“It’s time to reassess your savings/non savings”

“It’s time to sell the house and go urban”

Baby Boomerism is an industry all its own. How to buy/how to save. Where to move/where not to move.  The best cities for those on limited income. The best companies to work for if you’re over 50. Job tips for older workers, etc.

There are also tons of emails – When did I request an “Orbit Power Wheel chair”?

Someone is getting rich off these “retirement issues“and it probably isn’t a retiree. (I have no doubt that it is a 20 or 30 something taking advantage of the middle age explosion – books/websites/money planners, etc.)

However, this old geezerette has kept her faculties and will wade thru it all and make the best choices possible and delete/tear up the useless stuff.

Life is good. Medicare rocks!

Flowers and Chocolates for everyone!

I love the winter games. Although, frankly, I still don’t get the fascination with the sport of “Curling”, but, Ice Skating,  Ski Jumping, the single Luge are really fun to watch and I am supremely hooked on “Short Track Speed Skating” it is so thrilling. (Go Apolo Ohno!)

So, I will “couch potato” myself for the next 2 weeks and totally enjoy. Can’t wait!

XXI Olympic Winter Games, February 12 – 28, 2010

Like most of the kids I knew, I started working when I was in High School and continued thru colleges and relocations. After my latest job, 10 years with an internet company, I decided to give away the alarm clock. It was time for me to retire. Like Ediaf Piaf, “Non, je ne regrette rien“ – I have no regrets.

As it was, I was older than my parents when they were able to stop working, I didn’t want to “hang in there” any longer. I wanted to stop reading those newspaper columns devoted to “How to Retire Comfortably”, “Where to Retire Comfortably” (Although, all the seniors I know are not relocating, they continue to “rock” in place – no pun intended), “How to Keep Life Interesting” (comfortably), etc. It was time for a change. I knew it in my bones.

The word “Retirement” covers a varied set of situations. Today it means lots of things to different people – the traditional “thank you/gold watch” scenario doesn’t apply now. I was not sure how I’d handle not having someplace to go every morning after 40 + years. Would it take time to adjust – like the 7 stages of grief or would there be relief/ euphoria? (I think it really depends on the relationship that you had with the work you were doing.)

It has been 3 months. Am I bored yet? No. I’ve kept busy and I do not miss a “job”. I’ve been a little like the ground hog Punxsutawney Phil – sticking my head up to test the smell of spring – in my case, the smell of what’s next?

I am grateful for the opportunity to have some time to pay attention to what is important to me. And, whether we are working or not, I truly feel we are here to contribute to life in any way possible. My intention is to continue doing just that.

There will be adjustments and challenges, of course (I am supremely thankful for rent control), but I will manage. I am a proud senior citizen.

Now, if I could just stop waking up at 5:30 in the morning…