I received a phone call from my daughter in Colorado this morning.  Debby announced that they are adding a second dog into their family.  My mouth fell open a bit, as I remember my daughter stating that she is a "one-husband, one-child, one-dog Woman!"  Interesting how changes seem to come about when one least expects it.  In Debby's case, Troy (her one-husband) and Jordan (her one-daughter) decided that the little Puggle who resided in the local pet store, was theirs if they all agreed to it.  Debby spent a restless night worrying about the Puggle...and this morning, she called on her way to pick up Puggle and bring him home.

 

Apparently Puggle is to be named "Clyde"...and Cowboy, (their one-dog) who happens to be an Australian Shepherd can have "something to do" as Debby put it, by "herding" little Clyde who is 10 weeks old. 

 

I laughed after I hung up the phone.  You see, Debby was appalled that I had the two Ancient Men (Max and Buddy) when they were alive...she thought two dogs were simply "over the top!"  She also threw a 45 minute fit when I brought Cleo the Cat home to live with me after the Ancient Men had climbed the stairway to Heaven.    This is just another example how Life is always in a perpetual change.  Who would have thought that Debby would be adopting a puggle?  But ...  She is!

 

My Life has slowed down considerably since retirement and I must admit, I love it.  I never thought I would be content to simply retire, until after my heart attack in 2006.  I found that it was a struggle to go to work on a daily basis, even though I loved Ridge View facility and simply loved the 475 teenage boys that resided there.  Nevertheless, my spirit was willing, but my body was not.  I miss the boys and I miss my coworkers, but I do not miss the extreme tiredness that I had experienced while working.  So Retirement becomes me...pure and simple.

 

My move to Florida has been a wonderful decision and I love it here.  Today, it is cool and rainy, a haze hangs sleepily over the lake outside my condo.  I sat for a bit in my favorite Wicker Chair out on the Lanai this morning watching the birds feed at the lake.  Andre Bocelli sang sweetly on my stereo as I sat sipping my coffee, thoughts gently blending together in a serene swirl.  This evening I am invited to Don and Lisa's house for Dinner.  I love going there.  My three grandchildren gather around me when I walk in the door, their warmth overflowing as I hug them against me.  It will be an evening that I look forward to.  I always leave their home, with a sense of "family" held close within me...Family...the love that endures....love, always permanent...even though Life is not.

 

My daughter just called...Clyde is in the car and on the way to her home.  I laugh...isn't Life grand?

 

 

 

 

Tranquility

 

From my window

Overlooking the Lake

My soul has found...

Tranquility

 

Copywrite 2007 Sandra McEwen

 

 

 

 

                           

 

 

 

The Gecko

 

  Florida seems to have its fair share of Geckos...and I find the little creatures rather fascinating.  A few days after I moved into my condo I found a little Gecko wandering about in my living room.  I quickly swept him up in soft tissue and carried him outside and placed him down on the grass.  He was such a cute little guy and it made me happy to hold him for that short moment in my hand.

 

Well, last week Lisa came to help me decorate my condo.  We were in the guest bathroom and a little Gecko was trapped inside my tub.  He simply didn't seem able to get up the sides of the tub.  Lisa said, "Oh look, you have a Gecko!"  Before I could say anything she had reached down and whisked the little Gecko into the tub drain.  She closed the tub drain and said, "Bye little Gecko, go away, never to be seen again!"  I felt such sadness in my heart as we walked away from the bathroom.  I waited a few minutes, made a hasty retreat to the bathroom, opened the tub drain so that he could possibly climb out.  Several days passed and the little Gecko had not made an appearance.  Each day I checked the tub, but no Gecko.  That is not until this morning.  I walked into the guest bathroom and saw the little creature's tail sticking out of the overflow drain on the tub.  I realized that the overflow drain was not large enough for the little thing to get out of it.  I ran to the kitchen and got out the screwdriver from my toolbox and went back and unscrewed the overflow plate and took the plate off.  Of course the little guy or (girl?) had scuttled down the drain out of sight.  I left the overflow plate off and turned on the bathroom light and waited.  Two hours later, I walked in and to my great happiness, there was the little Gecko in my tub.  I grabbed soft tissue so as not to hurt the little Gecko and held it for a moment in my hand.  Poor little creature must have thought, "what next?"   I walked outside and gently placed the little Gecko on the grass, just as I had done with the first one.  He took a few seconds to realize that I had set him free and then he too disappeared in the grass just as the other one had done.  I felt wonderful...as tho I had done something really good today.  I felt a smile on my face and a sense of peace that filled my soul. 

 

I haven't any idea what the little Gecko's do in the balance of this universe, but I am certain they have a purpose, just as all creatures do...great and small.  I also know that setting free that little Gecko gave me a sense of sweet freedom within me.  My day went by today with the air smelling a bit sweeter, and the sunshine a bit warmer upon my soul.

 

As I write this, I did a bit of search on the internet about Gecko's...apparently my little Gecko could have easily gotten up the slippery surface of my tub ...little did I know.  At any rate, this is what I found about Gecko's...and apparently my little house guests do have a purpose...they eat insects (sigh...so much to learn!)

 

Geckos are small to moderately large lizards belonging to the family Gekkonidae which are found in warm climates throughout the world. Geckos are unique among lizards in their vocalizations, making chirping sounds in social interactions with other geckos. Geckos are unusual in other respects as well. Most geckos have no eyelids and instead have a transparent membrane which they lick to clean. A few species have the ability to shoot an irritating liquid out of the end of their tails. Many species have specialized toe pads that enable them to climb smooth vertical surfaces and even cross indoor ceilings with ease. These antics are well-known to people who live in warm regions of the world where several species of geckos make their home inside human habitations. These species (for example the house gecko) become part of the indoor menagerie and are seldom really discouraged because they feed on insect pests.

Most geckos are tan to dark grey, subtly patterned, and somewhat rubbery looking, while others can be brightly colored. Some species can change color to blend in with their surroundings or with temperature differences.

Some species are parthenogenic- the females capable of reproducing without copulating with a male. This improves the geckos' ability to spread to new islands.

The toes of the gecko have attracted a lot of attention, as they adhere to a wide variety of surfaces, without the use of liquids or surface tension. Recent studies of the spatula tipped  setae on gecko footpads demonstrates that the attractive forces that hold geckos to surfaces are  Van Der Waals interaction between the finely divided setae (almost 500,000 Setae on each foot, and each of these tipped with between 100 and 1,000 spatulae) and the surfaces themselves.^[These kinds of interactions involve no fluids; in theory, a boot made of   synthetic setae would adhere as easily to the surface of the  International Space Station as it would to a living room wall. Geckos' toes are extremely double jointed, allowing them to overcome the van der Waals force by peeling their toes off surfaces from the tips inward. In essence, this peeling action alters the angle of incidence between millions of individual setae and the surface, reducing the van der Waals force. Amazingly, Geckos' toes operate well below their full attractive capabilities for most of the time. This is because there is a huge margin for error depending upon the   roughness of the surface, and therefore the number of spatulae in contact with that surface. If a gecko had every one of its   spatulae in contact with a surface, it would be capable of holding aloft a 120  kg man.

The  family Gekkonidae is divided into five subfamilies, containing numerous  genus of gecko  species. Many geckos are kept as pets and will eat various kinds of insects and sometimes  fruit.

Well there you have it....a whole new way to look at these little Geckos.  Ahhhh life can be so full of surprises!

 

 

 

I have been observing a couple of ducks altho much larger than the brown mottled ducks that frequent the lake outside of my lanai.  I found Mike's favorite binoculars that I had packed and brought to Florida and I began to watch this little couple as they quietly sunned themselves along the lake's bank.  Occasionally they would swim smoothly across the lake. 

 

I had to simply know what type of duck this little couple happened to be.  I  went on the internet and searched and to my surprise, the Muscovy Ducks are indeed found in Florida as well as Central and South America.    I was delighted when I could at last know what type of duck my little couple were.   Muscovy Ducks...  I poured myself a cup of coffee and retired to the lanai.

 

As I sipped on my coffee on the Lanai, they arrived as they usually do every morning around 8 AM.   They mingled with the mottled duck couple that had already arrived upon the lake.  For hours I watched quietly observing how the term "hen picked" might actually apply to this couple.  The female, altho smaller than the male, definitely takes the lead as she swims ahead of the male, who quietly follows her here and

 there upon the water.  At last they sunned for a bit and then headed for the trees to the rear of the lake out of my visual sight.

 

I sighed, my view of nature is so rewarding to me.  Just one of the joys that I have found here in Florida.

 

 

I am settling in now.  Yesterday Lisa arrived early in the morning.  I shook the sleep from my eyes and watched this little ball of energy bustle here and there in my home with her tape measure.  "We are going shopping!" she announced with enthusiasm.  I swallowed the last drop of coffee in my cup and followed her to her car.  Off we went on our shopping adventure.  We were shopping for curtains, curtain rods, sofa pillows, ...the odds and ends that make you feel "settled" in a home.  It was fun.  I breathed in her enthusiasm, the energy catching fire within me.  We found the curtains for the bathroom at Linens and Things.  A trip to The Home Store broadened my horizons, as I looked over the assortment of candles and candlesticks.  Lisa led the way into the aisles, as I followed, marveling at her "style" sense of direction.  It was a treat and I was enjoying every second of it.  At last, we headed home, after stopping for a quick bite of lunch at a little hide-away that Lisa knew about that had great food.  We hung pictures and arranged my home with our new treasures.  Lisa's eyes sparkled as she left to arrive home before Alec and Katie would arrive from school.

 

I walked about my condo marveling at how cozy the treasures that we had added had made my living space.  I headed for the Lanai to sit and watch the water ripple lazily against the bank.  Ducks had flown in and were swimming across the lake.  I sipped on ice tea and relaxed, as two otters played in the water.  "The Ancient Men must have directed the two otters to come to the lake," I thought, as I watched their antics in the water.  Serenity filled my soul. 

 

I feel so at peace here in Florida in my new home.  Eveything seems to be an adventure to me.  I have begun exploring the neighborhood, starting with my daily walks every morning.  I have also ventured out in the car driving the main streets in my neighborhood ...finding the nearest Starbucks ...the Publix grocers... as well as discovering wonderful little shops of interest along the way.  My life has changed since moving to Florida.  Each day is an adventure.  Each moment savored with anticipation.  2007 has had a wonderful start for me.

 

Lisa is coming tomorrow for another day of "finishing shopping" as she explains it.  We are going to Steinmart.  I have a Christmas gift card and it is burning a hole in my pocket.  We are going to finish up with the dining table accessories and hang a few more pictures and complete the "settling in" process in my home...I look forward to spending it with Lisa.  I love to watch her point out things she knows will be just "perfect" for my home...and guess what?  She is right!

 

It is chilly outside today.  The cool front has arrived in Orlando.  I took my morning walk, dressed in sweats welcoming the cool breeze.  I love the lush trees, the foliage, the beauty of Florida.  Who would have dreamed, that my move would bring such unexpected joy, ...such pleasure in living?  It is a dream come true.

 

I am settling in.

 

There is simply no place like home!  Son Don, Lisa and grandkids and I flew back to Colorado for the Christmas holiday in time to get snowed in fortunately for us at Lisa's parents home rather than the airport.  We awoke Thursday before Christmas with the snow falling steadily blanketing the Metro with three feet of snow.   I "felt" the Christmas spirit.  I was with my family after all, what more is needed?  Friday, my daughter Debby and little granddaughter Jordan arrived to take me to her home to stay for a few days.  It was wonderful!  Christmas Eve was spent with Don, Lisa, grandchildren and Lisa's parents at their home.  Christmas morning was spent with Debby, Troy and Jordan at their home, and the afternoon and evening was spent at Sterling and Nancy's home...what great fun! 

The next few days flew by, and by Thursday it was snowing again..this time it dropped an extra foot of snow by Friday.  Debby dropped me off at Lisa's parents home at noon on Friday and Saturday we flew out of Denver to arrive home in Florida.  I felt the warm, humid air caress my face as I stepped off the airplane...I sighed....it was the beginning of a New Year 2007..it was my new beginning!

 

Cleo cat was happy to be home from being boarded at the vet's...she welcomed me happily with a lick to my face as I held her in my arms.  I spent New Year's eve on my lanai watching the fireworks light up the sky in the neighborhood.  It was wonderful.  I sipped on a glass of red Marlot wine and welcomed in the New Year.  I felt the Ancient Men's spirit all around me as I sat quietly listening to the music of the night.  The lake outside of my condo glistened in the moonlight reflecting the fireworks in the sky.  Peace enveloped me cleansing my soul.  I thought back to moments in my life....my life with Michael...my life with the Ancient Men....my life in Colorado.  And then I thought forward....forward to my days now in Florida...my new life as it unfolds before me like an opening rose bud...full of wonder...full of anticipation.  

 

"It's not where you've been that counts...It's where you're going"...no truer words ever spoken....

 

And so I begin retirement...  Life is soooo good.

 

I love you all.

 

 

Attitude There once was a woman who woke up one morning, looked in the mirror, and noticed she had only three hairs on her head. Well," she said, "I think I'll braid my hair today?" So she did and she had a wonderful day. The next day she woke up, looked in the mirror and saw that she had only two hairs on her head. "H-M-M," she said, "I think I'll part my hair down the middle today?" So she did and she had a grand day. The next day she woke up, looked in the mirror and noticed that she had only one hair on her head. "Well," she said, "today I'm going to wear my hair in a pony tail." So she did and she had a fun, fun day. The next day she woke up, looked in the mirror and noticed that there wasn't a single hair on her head. "YEA!" she exclaimed, "I don't have to fix my hair today!" Attitude is everything. Be kinder than necessary, for everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle. Live simply, Love generously, Care deeply, Speak kindly....... Leave the rest to God With love    Happy 2007