Category Archives: Family

infinity pool

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“Change is the only constant in life” except perhaps in Florida where such loveliness as sunshine and orchids are permanent. After my recent trip I returned with so many of the same emotions as two years ago, although there are a few less lights shinning there now, Florida still holds many dear ones. I could say more but rebloging just works best this week… xxoo

Nine Cent Girl

Florida. The 3rd most populated state in our country, with close to 100 million annual visitors, 50+ million headed to Disney World alone. This trend has been on the upswing ever since central air conditioning turned humidity into a tame house guest. With a climate that is gentle on the joints and boasts endless miles of open beaches, those with grand means and those with meager resources, fly like snowbirds to the Sunshine State. “In 2011, the first of the baby boomers reached what used to be known as retirement age. And for the next 18 years, boomers will be turning 65 at a rate of about 8,000 a day”(AARP). And you guessed it, most of these folks are headed right into this condo-complex playground. Many of my retired relatives and friends have sold off their northern homes, or at least shut the water off and lowered the…

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2,484 miles

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Soaring atop state after state

from east to west coast chasing the Sunset the whole way just makes me Smile

from my dark space

chase chase Chase like birds on the Warm current lifted off the gravitational pull

mundane Daily grind to diamond

Shine

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Tis the Season

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Ideas from years ago, still worth consideration today. Hohoho!!

Nine Cent Girl

Tis the Season for gift-giving, so naturally I have some advice ! Although I have no intention of contradicting last year’s post The Art of Giving this year’s suggestions are a bit different. You see, these gifts can’t be bought in a store or wrapped in shiny paper, instead they are all experiential. It is my belief that experience is the best gift of all, and perhaps the most important…

Also, this year I grouped my gift-giving ideas in age groups, so you can read with your particular family and friends’ needs in mind.

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memories make the memoir

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Church was like my foot. It was always there and my mother made sure we were properly scrubbed up for the event. Nothing prevented our going. Even when my father announced that until the Catholics returned to Latin he would not attend mass, we did. Even when the entire hour became an uncomfortable ritual of handshakes and peace kisses, we went.

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Wait, what?

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Why yes, it is true. Tonight, I’ve boarded a westward plane, headed to celebrate a monumental birthday with this good-looking guy. Over the weekend, there will be ocean swims, a few cocktails, several sensational sunsets, and plenty of dancing.

kyrie

Take time out to be with those you love.

That’s pretty much all we need to remember in life.

If we do, the sweet memories will carry us through all the rest.

XXOO

 

another farewell

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This photo was captured on my last afternoon with both my mother and my godmother, and it will be a precious memento for years to come. We stood on a balcony in the Palm Beach sunshine and did nothing but smile in that embrace. Now, they are both gone, but I count myself the luckiest of girls to have been with them for six decades, for their love is an epic tale.

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An Angelic Light

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3kidsWe gathered in Austin, coming from one coast or the other, to raise a glass and give our cheer, for a moment all so dear. Parents and brothers and sisters, children too, now extended across the two families: this is what a marriage brings together.

During the morning we watched the Annual Pet Parade, and discovered what gems we could in the afternoon. At night, we donned our best to gather in Justine’s secret garden and celebrate with the newlyweds. There were, of course, tears here and there, knowing just how much our mother would have loved this fabulous party. She would have crafted a poem to recite for the occasion, as she did for so many birthdays and anniversaries and weddings. Filled with clever and not so clever rhymes, and we would have listened and laughed and so enjoyed her theatrics. Instead, auspiciously, my brother recited Wordsworth, from memory, to his new bride, and by doing so he made us laugh, he caused us to remember, and he helped us all to look forward.

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