I love a Hammock.  I remember the first time Michael hung a hammock on our deck when we lived in the mountains above Evergreen, Colorado.  I simply fell in love with it.  On weekends, we would climb into the hammock and sway back and forth in the breeze.  We would lie quietly, each of us lost in thought as we lay side by side.  When we went camping, it was the first to be packed.  The Hammock meant a lazy hazy day to look forward to.  It meant rest and relaxation.  It meant quiet time...quality time...it meant a day of sweet leisure and a promise of peace.

 

 I would lie quietly in the Hammock, watching the clouds in the sky as I rocked gently to and fro.  The sun would dapple through the leaves of the tree warm upon my skin, and I would smile as the Hammock would swing gently back and forth.  As dusk approached and the sky darkened, we would lie for hours watching the stars.  The Hammock was the last to be placed in the car as we folded camp and headed home. 

 

The Hammock came with me to Florida and is hung between the trees outside.  When I am not sitting on the Lanai, I am nestled peacefully within the Hammock.  I watch the trees sheltering me as I lie alone in the Hammock.  My soul is at peace, my heart full ...my memories gentle upon my mind as I sway to the rhythm of a Lazy Hazy Day. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Slowski's

 

Do you remember the Comcast tv commercial with the turtle couple the Slowski's?  Bill and Marge Slowski have to be my favorite commercial of all time.  I simply enjoy watching them on TV.   Turtles are abundant in Tranquility Lake and I have named a particular cute turtle couple...The Slowski's.  They stay side by side in the Lake, swimming about, as I watch each day from my Lanai.    These turtles are Florida Cooter Turtles.  Very beautiful in their coloring as you notice in this picture.  Bill and Marge Slowski are a constant joy to watch as they swim together in the water.  They are becoming used to my music from my stereo and generally when Bocelli's beautiful tenor voice is sweetly singing, Marge and Bill swim close to the bank entertaining me with their antics as they poke their heads above the water, and then suddenly disappearing below the surface emerging several feet away, surprising me with their obvious ability to move about quickly in the water. 

 

Today I walked along the bank, and noticed that Bill and Marge were following me in the water.  When I would stand still, they would stop swimming, their little heads poking above the water watching me with interest.  When I began to walk, they would swim along the bank.  These little creatures swam alongside as I walked from one side of the bank to the other side.  It was close to 80 degrees today, the wind soft and gentle as the sun warmed my skin.  I returned home and poured myself a glass of ice tea as  The Slowski's swam  to the middle of Tranquility Lake.  I sipped my ice tea as Cleo curled up on my lap.  The afternoon passed quietly.  The Slowski's had taught me a valuable lesson today:  "Life is sweet when you share it with another"...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Each morning upon awakening, I take my cup of coffee laced with cream and sit in my chair on the Lanai watching Tranquility Lake through the eyes of a blessed woman.  You see,  one year ago, a few days after being released from the hospital in Colorado, I never dreamed that one year later, I would be sitting peacefully in my new home in Florida. 

 

At that time one year ago,  I had brushed close to death, it's icy grip strong upon my heart as I began my healing process.  At the same time as I had been in the hospital, my two Ancient Men...Max and Buddy, my little schnauzers, weakened in their old age, were put to sleep by my Vet, as it was their time.  As they departed climbing the stairway to heaven, they left me behind, feeling lonely, and sad  in mind and body, my soul scarred forever from the loss of my loved ones ...my beloved Michael, Gretchen, Heidi, and now Max and Buddy.   I could not contemplate a future at that time, but rather, I retreated within, withdrawing for awhile from Life, as I struggled to make it through each day.  My children were not oblivious to my struggle, and Don (my youngest son) and his wife Lisa talked to me often about moving to Florida.  It was difficult for me to think about another move, after all, I had moved just three years earlier to a condo that I had bought in Denver, and I was attempting to recover from the death of my husband Michael.   My heart felt numb, even when I finally made the decision to take retirement early, to move to Florida...and yes, to begin again. 

 

I arrived in Florida in deep exhaustion in November.  My body felt sluggish, my spirit attempting to rally to the enthusiasm that Don and Lisa exuded at my arrival to Florida.  My new condo had been renovated by Don and LIsa...lovingly painted and carefully decorated to soothe my tired soul.  I was thrilled and grateful to them, beyond any words that I could convey then, or now for that matter.  My physical tiredness seemed overpowering, limiting my enthusiasm of the move.  I felt sluggish, as tho I could not awaken quite to the Life that seemed static with energy all around me.  But time has a way of healing all things, and just three months later, I find myself alive...happy....excited...rested...and full of joy as I greet each morning...each new day.

 

I truly believe, that Angels come in human form from time to time to save us as we drown in despair.  My Angels, were Don and Lisa.  Retirement has been a blessing.  My condo is a blessing.  My life here in Florida is blessed with new friends, my family...my grandchildren.

 

I realize that Life has a way of bringing the sad times, the hard times, the times of defeat, in order for us to not only learn and become stronger, but to appreciate the happy times, the good times, the times of winning when they do arrive, like bright rays of sun through the canopy of clouds.

 

The sunshine never seemed brighter as it does this morning.  My coffee never tasted sweeter than it does this morning.  My body never felt as rested as it does this morning.  My Soul never felt as joyful as it does this morning. 

 

From my Lanai, I thank God above for blessing me so richly.  May each of you, my children, my grandchildren, my family, my friends...may each of you be blessed as sweetly, as richly, and as joyfully as I have been.   May it be.

 

 

 

Love is not a matter of counting the years...
But making the years count.
~ by Michelle St. Amand ~

 

Tranquility Lake

 

 

 

 

Love is that condition in which
The happiness of another person
Is essential to your own.
~ by Robert A. Heinlein, Stranger in a Strange Land ~

 

 

 

 To love a person is to learn the song
That is in their heart,
And to sing it to them
When they have forgotten.

 

 

 

 

The greatest thing you'll ever learn
Is to love and be loved in return.
~ From "Unforgettable with Love" by Natalie Cole

 

 

 

And My Heart Takes Wing

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Living Life to the Fullest... 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

White Ibis

 

Scarlet face beak and legs, this beauty comes to my lake each morning to feed.

 

 

 

Ibis

 

 

 

 

Anhinga "Snake Bird"

 

The Anhinga's body is immersed in water with only the long neck and face showing above the surface as this bird moves quickly through the water appearing as tho it is a "Snake".  I am totally in awe of this beautiful bird.

 

 

 

Anhinga drying his wings in the sun

 

 

 

Blue Heron

 

The Blue Heron moves gracefully along the bank of Tranquility. 

 

  Magnificent and beautiful they grace my life with their presence.

 

 

 

 

Tranquility Lake

 

 I love my lake  outside of my condo.  Of course I had to name it (although it is already named for the condominium property).  I feel that Tranquility Lake seems a perfect name for it and so I choose to refer to it as such.   I watched the birds today although it was a bit chilly outside on the Lanai.   Intermittent rain showers made the air damp with humidity.  Cleo Cat and I relaxed and watched  as the water birds swam to and fro. 

 

My daughter called from Colorado and told me that I had definitely made the right choice in moving to Florida when I did as the winter in Colorado has been very cold.  The past weekend it was -17 degrees.  This is cold by anyone's standards and although I love to watch the snow  in Colorado when it falls softly blanketing the world outside, I do not miss the cold.  We talked, the conversation turning to her new little Puggle Clyde.  He is so much a baby pup yet and he wants to be fed every two to three hours.  Debby of course is the one to get up in the night and take him outside to potty and she is also the one that is left to potty train him, feed him, and be his "Mommy."  I listened to her and we laughed together as she told me how Cowboy, (the Australian Shepherd) herds Clyde throughout the day.  Fortunately Cowboy loves Clyde so it is a good thing all in all.  After the conversation ended, and I had hung up the phone, my attention was once again drawn to Tranquility Lake.  Life has so many blessings, and Tranquility Lake is just one of mine.

 

 

 

   

 

 

 

I had watched the lightning with fascination the night the tornadoes came to central Florida.  I went to bed and watched the sky light up from the rage within the heavens.  I never once thought of a tornado.  I heard the rain beating hard against the bedroom window and through the raindrops  that spashed against the window pane, I watched Heaven's Light Show until my eyes became heavy with sleep.  I fell asleep peacefully, never fearing the storm that approached steathily into the night.  I dreamed sweet dreams and slept through the night.

 

The next morning I awoke, as thunder rolled softly outside.  I was totally  oblivious to the fact that the tornadoes had torn through the night, leaving destruction and death in its path.  I never knew until later in the afternoon.  I had gone to the physical therapist that morning for my second appointment for my left shoulder.  I had driven to and from the therapist's office without the car radio on.  I was completely immersed only in my small world.  My left shoulder dully ached as I drove.   The clouds covered the sky, as raindrops fell again through the day.  I drove to Don and Lisa's and sat quietly visiting with Lisa.  Their Digital television was being worked on by a technician.  She had not heard the news.  It was not until later when Don came home from work.  The technician had left and Don told us of the devastation from the storm.  We turned the television on and watched in shock and sadness as the media showed the pictures of destruction.  My heart ached for those who had lost their loved ones, for those who had lost their homes.  I watched the courage and perseverence of the human heart as people reached out to one another, helping one another to face the hardship of the days to come.

 

I have thought about this the last few days.  It is so easy to become entrenched in one's own world...feeling safe...secure....oblivious of Nature's wrath until a storm touches close or destroys your own home or takes away those you love.  I suddenly feel very selfish.  Selfish that I have been so happy in my little Paradise...so content not to recognize  the world's plight...the war, our soldiers, the poor, the hungry, the homeless, the ill, the elderly, the lonely.   It humbles me to recognize how rich in blessings I have been so blessed with...and the experience has brought me to my knees to thank God above for my friends, my family, and to ask of Him to bless all of you greatly.  I also ask God to show His mercy to those in such need of His love and protection.

 

 

My thorns no longer seem significant.  Life has a way of humbling those of us who forget the pain that is all around us. 

 

May it Be.

 

I love all of you.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dearest Family and Friends...you have all heard about my joy at living in my paradise here in Florida.  And I definitely do consider my home in Florida as "Paradise".   What I haven't related to you are  the few Thorns I have encountered here.

 

The Flood:

 

The Flood was my first thorn.  I had just moved into my new condo, and it was on day two that I encountered the Flood.  It was 9 PM...I had walked into the bathroom, readying for bed, and as I walked out, I heard the sound of water running.  I turned around and checked the shower, but it was dry.  I walked out of the bathroom and into the great room, and discovered water pouring from the ceiling from the track light in the kitchen...I was shocked.  I grabbed towels and tossed them down into the water that was accumulating quickly on my kitchen floor.  I ran outside and upstairs and ran into the neighbor who lives above me.  They were in the process of moving in and had loaded the washing machine with dirty clothes.  They had left to go bring another truck full of their furniture and when they arrived home, their utility room and kitchen was full of water.  As we all know, water runs downhill for the most part, and in my case, it was definitely running downhill.  I put an emergency phone call to my son as I stood with water pouring down upon my head.  Fifteen minutes later they arrived.  I had gotten out my carpet cleaner and was sucking water up as quickly as I could, but the water was several inches deep by now and I had used every towel and article of clothing to dam up the water from going into my living room and saturating the carpet.  I called the emergency number for the condominium maintenance, and Don had gone upstairs and shut off the water to the washing machine.  Two hours later...eleven PM...the water had been removed...and a dehumidifier and two large fans were drying my condo out.  I managed to live in the wind tunnel day and night until three days later, when the condo had completely dried out.    We had to have the paint redone on two walls and across the ceiling by the painter, and the insurance companies duked it out, and of course we were reimbursed.  Thus ended Thorn One.

 

The Telephones:

 

Thorn two arrived when I called the phone company to turn on my phone lines.  This was when I discovered that the phone lines weren't working after the phone company had activated the line.  I called and wound up purchasing the encompassing repair service ($50.00) and the repair man arrived two days later.  I was dubious about his ability at first, as he reminded me of the Cave Man commercial on TV.  However, he knew his stuff.  My wires had been cut inside the wall to the phone outlets in every room.  Why, I have not an idea.  However, the repair man who now resembled my Savior, rewired and connected the phone outlets...and Thorn Two ended.

 

 

The Cable Company:

 

Thorn three arrived when I decided to have cable tv hooked up.  This should be a simple process I reasoned, and actually the first visit to install the cable went smoothly.  Two weeks later, my sound suddenly stopped on a Sunday night.  I checked my television, plugged in a DVD which had sound, so I reasoned that it could not be my television set.  I notified the Cable company who sent a repairman (George Carlin Jr.) the very next afternoon.  I was happy to see him.  The new 24 series was to begin that night and I had to see it.  The Cable man changed the cable receiver, and lo, no sound.  I was totally baffled.  George Carlin explained that one of the sound boards on my television set had gone kaput, but he could unplug my DVD and plug in the cable receiver.  Sure enuf...we had sound.  I watched 24 that night, totally enthralled with Keifer Sutherland and his voice that emitted from my television set.  Thus ended Thorn number three.

 

 

The Alarm Company:

 

Thorn number four arrived this week.  I called the Alarm company to activate my alarm system, as I am living on ground level, and feel that an Alarm system gives me a modicum of security, if nothing else it will alert me as I am getting robbed and mugged in my own home.  I called the Alarm company and they needed the money upfront.  The pleasant lady on the phone talked me into the monitoring service for a nine month fee which gives me an extra three months free.  I paid for it by credit card.  She said that I would need to give her 45 minutes to activate the system, and then I should call back to test my system.  I abided by her wishes and did exactly that.  I called the number that she had given me and spoke with a young man named Josh.  He said to put my key pad number in.  I asked him what was my key pad number and he said "we don't have it."  I said, "Who does?"  He said.."Go to your leasing office and they will give you the key pad number then call me back."  I responded, "I do not lease."  He said, "You need to go to your leasing office."  His voice had taken on an edge.  I hung up and walked over to the residential condominium office and asked for the key pad number for my condominium.  Two women were in the office and both frowned as I explained to them what the Alarm company had requested.  They spoke in unison, "We do not know what they are talking about!"  I left the twins and went back home and redialed the Alarm company.  Josh answered.  He immediately recognized my voice as he asked me, "what is your key pad number?"  I explained that the Bobsie Twins at the residential office did not know what I was talking about.  I then asked, "Could I please schedule an appointment for a technician to come out?"  Josh said, "You will need to contact your Leasing office and have them call in a work order."  I said, "I own this condo.  I do not lease."   Josh's voice took on a nervous edge as he responded, "It is in the contract."  I said "What F'n contract?"  Josh replied meekly, "It is with your condominium property contract." 

My voice took on a definite edge...I sounded cold and succinct.  I spoke slowly as if I was explaining this to a toddler of two.  "Josh.  I am upset." I said.  "I have paid for a year's monitoring for my alarm, and I cannot even schedule a damn appointment for the technician to come to my own home?"   Josh's voice was flat.  "No." he said.

I said, "Josh, get me someone right now...not a second later...but NOW to help me with this entire mess!"  Josh answered softly, "Ummmm ok.  Yes...alright." 

The lady who I had first spoken to in the very first place came on the line.  "This is Lisa.  I am sorry for the confusion.  I looked in the records and found a key pad number from six years ago for your condominium.  I am faxing it to your leasing office." 

"I do not lease!"  I said simply.  She said, "I know.  Go over to your leasing office in ten minutes and get the keypad number and input it in the keypad and your alarm system will be activated. " 

Ten minutes later, I arrived at the Office and received my key pad number.  It was sacred I realized.  I carried it close to my heart as I hurried home to activate my alarm system.  I placed the number carefully into the key pad and hit enter.  Nothing...no green light..nothing.

I called the Alarm company.  Josh answered and I explained that I had put the key pad number in and my alarm system seemed dead. 

Josh said, "It is...dead I mean."  I said, "OK Josh, lets get a technician to come fix this."  He said ...slowly...succinctly...as if he was explaining it to a brain-dead woman.  "Have your leasing office call in a work call."  I hung up.  Called the Office and fifteen minutes later one of the Bobsie twins called back.  She informed me that the technician would come out possibly this week and possibly next week.  No she did not know the exact day, but no problem, they would let him in if I was not home.  This was when I realized that they had a copy of my condo key.  I decided that was fine...whatever......I am waiting......Thorn number Four is not over yet.

 

The Shoulder:

 

Thorn number five actually began in September of 2006.  My left shoulder began hurting me after I had started packing for the move, and then of course..there was the painting ordeal of my condo in Colorado....well, long story short, my left shoulder is in pain...worsening by each day and now I cannot put my left arm behind my back, or above my head.  Don, and Lisa had watched me for the past few months since moving here with my shoulder.  Lisa called me and explained that she had a physical therapist who would "fix me right up!"  Yesterday I went to the therapist with Lisa.  I filled out the required paper work, and listened to the soft music from a hidden speaker in the waiting room.  The therapist came out....and showed me into the exam room.  After my exam, he said, "Wow, you must have a lot of pain!"  I said, "I do indeed."  He said, "You should."  "Your left shoulder, your back, your right hip, your neck are all out of allignment."  I said, "wow."  He said, "I am going to first work on your shoulder."  He did...and one hour later, I left the office.  Two hours later, my left shoulder began to throb.  Three hours later, I took two tylenol extra strength capsules.  Four hours later, the heating pad was on my shoulder.  Five hours later, I had taken two hot showers allowing the water to pour down on my now aching neck, back and left shoulder.  I drank lots of water, as the therapist explained this would help with removing the lactic acid build up.  I went to bed.  I awoke often...everytime I rolled over onto my left shoulder.  I awoke this morning with everything hurting except my eyebrows.  I took two more tylenol extra strength capules and drank a twelve cup pot of coffee.  I do not recommend this for human consumption, but coffee is my comfort.  Especially coffee laced with cream.  The caffeine did its magic...I began to clean house...then I  washed dishes...did two loads of laundry...rearranged my closet, attempted to leash train the cat (also not recommended)...and slowly the kinks began to work their way out of my neck and back to some degree.  I dusted...vacuumed...took three hot showers....tried to coax the cat into the shower...she wouldn't have anything to do with it.  About one hour ago, the twelve cups of coffee had worn off.  I sat out on the lanai, weaning myself from the caffeine with sips of ice tea.  I watched the rain clouds roll in.  The lake was quiet.  The wind had died down.  It was beautiful outside.  I sat quietly allowing my frazzled nerves to stop firing.  Tomorrow at noon I return to the therapist.  I think I can move my left arm one degree more than I did yesterday, but I am uncertain.....Thorn number five continues.

 

I love you all.