Toward better understanding of accented speech

Some time ago I wrote about my problem with accents in a stage play, but a more frequent issue is not understanding people with whom I’m speaking routinely.

Returning to “bland” white walls

When I moved into my present condo 10½ years ago, I had read a number of articles encouraging homeowners not to be afraid of using deep colors on their walls. They persuaded me to pass up safe and “bland” white. Since I had a gray sofa and thought orange complemented gray, I had the kitchen, bathroom, and one wall of the living room painted coral and everything else gray.

What I did not consider is that with only two banks of windows, there’s not a lot of natural light coming in. Gray and coral did not lighten and brighten the space. Gray also felt depressing on overcast days. After a decade of living with the colors, I wanted a change. 

Being alone needn’t keep me at home

The sister of someone I know stopped traveling after losing her husband a few years ago. She misses travel, I heard, so I asked why she does not take tours with groups that cater to single women. "She wouldn't do that" was the answer. 

A Houston couple shared a table with me at a Yellowstone café. "You're traveling alone?," asked the woman, a retired teacher. "That's brave."

I've traveled alone so much that I hardly give it a second thought. In retrospect some of the trips look gutsy – like car camping through New England for six weeks and going behind the Iron Curtain – but I didn't think so at the time. Plenty of things scare me. We're probably all brave about some things and not others.