Welcome to Issue #266
by Rachel Brandes
Quote of the Week
“Forgiving someone is an act of self-care — because you deserve to move on.”
– Unknown
Feline Tomfoolery
with Brady & Belichick
Dear Humans,
Sometimes a simple silhouette photo of two guys just taking a break from terrorizing their human will do.
Much Love, Brady & Belichick
Brady & Belichick are Rachel’s adorable felines. These two cute boys turned two on May 4, 2025.
Random Photo of the Week
You can’t tell by the photo, but this little guy’s shell is the size of a dime. Photo by Rachel.
Mental Health Minute
Inexpensive In-Home Therapy
With life throwing Rachel one curveball after another for the better part of the last eight months, her stress level seems to be ever-climbing. Her usual go to for stress relief is physical activity. With an injury plaguing her for the past several weeks, she has turned to the cold, creamy sweetness of ice cream.
Ice cream, and sweets in general, give her that dopamine and serotonin release that she is no longer able to get with her usual physical activity routine. This has become her in-home therapy. A quiet room, a pint of Ben & Jerry’s (preferably Coffee Toffee Bar Crunch), a baby spoon, Brady and Belichick standing by just in case she drops some of that milky treat… perfection. Yes, a baby spoon. Small bites make the journey last longer.
The ice cream binges may not do her physical health much good, but it sure gives her mental health a boost. We won’t talk about how she feels afterwards. She is trying to remember to give herself grace.
Sunday FunDay RunDay
with Tacoma Run Club
The Tacoma Run Club had visitors two Sundays ago when the Orca Run Club took a field trip to Tacoma to join in the Sunday fun. Rachel remains on walking duty with a right lower extremity issue but always enjoys the Sunday group.
On this particular Sunday, she was only able to walk a slow two miles. Hey, you do what you can, right? That is one thing that makes this run club so great. You have walkers, joggers, runners, bikers and strollers and everyone goes at their own pace for their own chosen distance.
If you are a local, check it out and consider joining in for the fun.
Happy Birthday, Janice
Last week, the highlight of Rachel’s week was a birthday celebration lunch with the 80 ladies. This lunch would be to celebrate Janice, who turned 84 on June 15th.
Pictured above LT to RT: Rachel, Carole, Kyungja, Janice and Jackie.
Lunch was enjoyed at Boathouse 19 in Tacoma, Washington where the tomato soup never disappoints. Janice and Rachel had leftovers and their server, Shawna, left them each a little note on their boxes (down below). Shawna also gave Janice a scratch off ticket for being the birthday girl. It wasn’t a winner but sure was fun as they each got to scratch off one box at a time hoping for a big win.
Missing from the lunch group is Jill, who resides in a memory care unit and hasn’t been able to join in the last several celebrations. Jill’s birthday is next, in July, and while they won’t be able to go out to celebrate with her, they will each be able to send her a card full of love. August will bring Rachel’s birthday. Which yummy restaurant will she choose? Hmmm… time will tell.
Celebrating 5 Years
The Journey of My Monday Memo
A Humble Beginning
The story of My Monday Memo began on June 1, 2020, when the very first issue was sent out via email in PDF format to just a small circle of loved ones. Inspired by a tiny print newsletter she found in a carton of eggs, Rachel decided to replace her personal adventure emails to a loved one with something more creative and sharable. Thus, the idea of My Monday Memo was born. It didn’t take long to come up with the name, as Rachel is a big fan of alliteration.
From Newsletter to Blog
Creating the newsletter brought a great deal of joy for Rachel, as it allowed her to indulge in her love for writing, something she had been missing in her life. Over time, her passion outgrew the confines of the newsletter format, leading her to transition My Monday Memo into a blog. She found it tough to learn something new but after a few months of toying around on WordPress, and feedback from her cousin, Jimmy, who served as a second set of eyes, she had figured it out enough to go live. Many changes and updates have been made over the course of the blogs existence.
A Growing Archive
All past issues of My Monday Memo have been uploaded and are accessible directly from the homepage. Today marks a significant milestone, as Rachel celebrates 266 Mondays of consistently publishing her beloved blog. Reflecting on its journey, she is shocked at how much it has evolved since Issue 1.
A Global Connection
Though My Monday Memo still maintains a modest following, it is open to anyone who wishes to read it. Rachel is always excited to see readers from different corners of the world checking out her blog. Knowing that her words are being read by others, even in far-off places, fills her heart with happiness.
The Heart of My Monday Memo
Week after week, for more than five years now, Rachel continues to look forward to creating the blog, and it never fails to bring a smile to her face. Her hope is that it does the same for her readers because, at its core, that is what My Monday Memo is all about… spreading smiles and positivity. Until next time, be well.
