The Hale Family Weekly Update (7/12/26)

The Hale Family Weekly Update July 6–12, 2026

The week opened under partly cloudy skies and closed the way life usually does—busy, meaningful, and dotted with small victories (plus a few uncooperative gadgets). I’ve attached my latest attempt at a short story — Storms of Life, my fifth so far- and I’m hoping I am getting better. I began it back in February, wasn’t satisfied with the ending, and let it rest until about two weeks ago, when I finally figured out what it needed. I hope it’s one that you will enjoy. It runs about fifteen minutes, so settle in—it’s a bit on the long side. Let me know what you think if you have the time.

Monday opened at 79° and climbed to a determined 94°, reminding us that July in Virginia does not believe in moderation. We took an early walk on the Matteson Trail, which remains one of the best ways to convince yourself you’re being productive before 10 a.m.

The highlight of the day was finishing my fifth short story, The Storms of Life. It has now been launched into the capable hands of Jane, who quickly confirmed what all writers eventually learn: “We write to rewrite.”

I attempted to practice guitar, but my Bose speaker had other plans. At 25% battery charge, it staged a quiet rebellion. As one wise quip says, “I don’t have a stubborn streak—just a strong commitment to being right.” The speaker and I are still negotiating.

Tuesday brought sunshine, rain predictions, and a full agenda. We made an early trip to Kroger to get moving boxes for Joann England, who is preparing for her move to Florida. Only two boxes were secured in the first round, proving once again that box hunting is a competitive sport.

Joann shared the sad news about her cat, Bandit, which made for a heavy moment in an otherwise busy day. Life has a way of mixing errands with emotion.

Jerilyn checked out a 50%-off sale (a price point that tends to improve decision-making), while I finally coaxed the Bose speaker back into cooperation. Guitar practice resumed, though my story edits loomed large in the wake of Jane’s feedback.

Yoga at 1:30 helped restore balance—physically if not editorially. We wrapped up the day with dinner among friends, which remains one of life’s most reliable comforts.

Wednesday was rainy and cooler. Another Matteson Trail walk was followed by a trip to the Parrish Thrift Store, where Jerilyn’s vacuum attachment was politely declined. Not everything finds its second act.

We made another successful box run—five this time—for Joann. At this rate, she’ll be the most well-packed Floridian in the state.

Dinner with Stephanie capped the evening nicely. As one Pinterest gem puts it, “Happiness is not having everything perfect, but finding joy in what you have.” That felt especially true today.

Thursday was a full and productive day. I helped Debby sort through medical coverage and set up her shipyard reimbursement system—never a simple task, but we got it done.

Back home, Outlook refused to cooperate until Office 365 was repaired. Technology keeps us humble.

That evening, we ventured to Harbor Park for the Tides game. At 94°, we lasted five innings, which felt like a respectable endurance record. Baseball is timeless; heat exhaustion is not.

“Common sense is like deodorant—the people who need it most never use it.” That thought crossed my mind somewhere around the third inning.

Friday brought more sunshine and even higher temperatures. After a KCT (Kiln Creek Trail)  walk, we tackled errands: Kroger, Costco, and a return trip to Kroger to fix a $10 billing error—because no good grocery run goes unchallenged.

I continued listening to Regime Change (now on Chapter 29 of 39), proving that even in a busy week, a good audiobook keeps things moving.

Guitar practice turned into a technical puzzle again as I tried to rearrange playlists. The software remains unconvinced. I’ve reached out to the developer, though I suspect the reply may arrive shortly after I’ve solved it myself.

Dinner with Mary Jane and Mary Stuart was followed by tomato picking and a visit with Betty to discuss future community projects. I’ll also be helping her resolve an iPad email issue—because retirement apparently includes a minor in tech support.

That evening, we began watching the new Little House on the Prairie series. Strong start—this one may keep us occupied for a while.
“Sometimes you win, sometimes you learn.” I’m choosing to call my tech struggles “learning.”

Saturday included birthdays for Joy Hooper and Judy Remsen (cousin). Jerilyn had a haircut appointment and came out looking gorgeous, and I made another attempt at reorganizing my guitar playlist. Eventually, wisdom prevailed: I adjusted my sheet music instead of the software. Progress comes in many forms. I practiced for an hour and sent out a letter encouraging leg strength and mobility—because independence is worth protecting.

Debby stopped by for a brief visit, and the evening closed again with good company and dinner.
“Do what you can, with what you have, where you are.” That about sums up the day.

Sunday brought church at Orcutt Baptist, with Danny Owen preaching and Betty joining us to enjoy the message delivered by our neighbor. . There is something grounding about starting the day in fellowship. We followed with brunch and then wrapped up the week by completing and publishing this very newsletter.

And finally, one last thought to carry forward: “Life doesn’t have to be perfect to be wonderful.”

I would like to close by bringing a smile to your face:

1.. I tried to have a lazy day, but my to‑do list filed a formal complaint. 

2.  My fitness tracker keeps asking if I’m okay. Apparently “walking to the fridge” doesn’t count.

3.  I thought I wanted a quiet life, then my calendar reminded me I’m overbooked until retirement… and I’m already retired.

4.  My guitar and my technology have an agreement: they only cooperate when no one is watching.

5.  I don’t need a mood ring; my face already sends out hourly status updates.

6.  I was going to organize my life, but my life said, “Let’s just call this ‘limited edition.’”

Closing Message

Another week in the books—full of stories written and rewritten, errands that turned into adventures, and small moments that mattered more than they first appeared. If there’s a theme this week, it’s persistence: whether with writing, technology, or simply keeping up with the pace of summer, we keep showing up.

Until next week, stay steady, stay curious, and don’t forget to enjoy the little things along the way….Tommy