InDepthNH.org (https://indepthnh.org/series/joyful-musings/page/27)
Susan Dromey Heeter is a writer from Dover who recently let her hair go au natural white. Writing has been her passion since her English majoring days at the University of Massachusetts in Amherst. Dromey Heeter has lived in The Netherlands, Alaska and currently basks in all things New England, including the frigid winters. An avid swimmer, Dromey Heeter’s great passion is to bring back body surfing as most children have no idea how to ride waves without ridiculous boogie boards.
JOYFUL MUSINGS: Julia, myself and a British colleague once drove to Austria to go skiing. We imagined ourselves on a talk show entitled, “Not Beyond the Car” and stories were told, secrets shared – and at one point we all sung our own National Anthems as an intro to the program.
The Whittemore Center is filled with couches, dorm fridges, notebooks, books, white boards, staplers, cleaning supplies, book bags and even the bumper to a Jeep. Essentially, it’s filled with the things students simply tossed out last May.
JOYFUL MUSINGS: As I type, I glance to several bags I have propped by the door – one holds a myriad of goods – including Portsmouth’s Music Hall’s magazine, a phone charger, a map of New York City, a package of Bumble Bee Tuna, a whistle, two lipsticks and a microphone.
NYC on the cheap: I prefer the “Live Lottery.” That is where you simply go to the theatre where a show is due to be presented and write your name on a piece of paper and see if your name gets called.
Editor’s note: We love to celebrate Susan Dromey Heeter’s thoughts on a Saturday night.
By Susan Dromey Heeter
Joyful Musings
There is something so wonderful about growing older – confidence, wisdom, stories of old boyfriends. Yesterday I sat with some old – and beautifully seasoned friends and then one mentioned her daughter was going off to get her MBA at the same institution as my 1985 boyfriend. Suddenly, I returned to 1985, returned to that institution – and just as suddenly, the doors opened for stories and lore of boyfriends from the past. Susan Dromey Heeter
And laugh? In a ten minute conversation, I howled. It’s joyful to go back as a silver haired mother, a woman with a mortgage and husband. And this week’s Joyful Musings is about celebrating those pasts, changing those heartbreaks to laughter, transforming memories to moments of joy by which to giggle hysterically over our younger, more innocent selves…
When my friends and I talked of boyfriends, one mentioned the one who called the night before his wedding to declare his deep love for her. This, of course, prompted questions, curiosity.
JOYFUL MUSINGS: I like more. I like a lot. I see that bumper sticker, “Simplify” and I want twenty. I have more coats than there are winter days. I hoard pens. I covet shoes. I like stuff.
JOYFUL MUSINGS: I practically leapt out of my seat, dropped my popcorn and announced, “I KNOW that cereal!”
JOYFUL MUSINGS: ‘I got a call to my UMass dorm room that my dad had died. He was 55 and my world changed in an instant.’
Dover’s own Susan Dromey Heeter is being celebrated by re-rerunning our favorite Joyful Musings every day this week. Which is your favorite? I know, it’s hard to pick, but please don’t miss getting to know Mrs. Pren Boss.
Dear Susan Dromey Heeter, Time to celebrate big-time! Today is your one-year anniversary of writing for InDepthNH.org and I couldn’t be happier. We are today officially designating Aug. 5 to Aug. 12 as Susan Dromey Heeter Joyful Musing Week at InDepthNH.org.