I recently visited my parents in Phoenix to celebrate my dad’s birthday. He just turned 95. My mom is 88. So, as you can imagine, things are moving at a slightly different pace. We spent a few days having nice meals, visiting with their friends, and helping them get a little more organized. My sister and I were only there for four days, but we decided this would also double as a light decluttering initiative. That part did not go as planned. My parents moved into a retirement community about six years ago. They have a one-bedroom, one and a half bath apartment. It is actually perfect. Just enough space, easy to manage, everything they need. Except. As the years go on, the stuff continues to grow. More holiday décor. More books. More things. And now, a surprising amount of front door décor. Every resident takes their front door very seriously. It is how they show their personality. How they welcome friends. How they say, “This is me.” Without it, the hall would feel like a hall. With it...
There was a time when I took April Fools’ Day very seriously. Not in a “call in sick and pretend you’re on a beach in Cabo” kind of way—but in a very strategic, well-timed, just-believable-enough kind of way. Elli and Don were, for years, the primary recipients of this effort. They never saw it coming. Which, in my opinion, is exactly the point. So… Who Started This? Like many traditions we all just go along with, April Fools’ Day has slightly unclear origins—but one of the most widely accepted stories goes back to 16th century France. When the calendar shifted and New Year’s Day moved to January 1, not everyone got the message right away. Those who kept celebrating in late March or early April became the subject of jokes and small pranks—earning the title “April fools.” And somehow, that energy carried forward for a few hundred years. Which feels right. The Art of the Perfect Prank There’s a difference between a good prank and an annoying one. A good prank: Is quick Is harmless Create...