Tuesday, December 31, 2002


According to the calendar another year is ending and a New Year is on the horizon. I am sitting here at the Seaside Grille at Pass-A-Grill Beach. It is not yet eight in the morning. I am waiting for my good friend and former boss and colleague, David Hallal and his lady Jan to arrive. We are going to walk along the beach together. I thought they would have been here and by this time we would have walked. It is nice to know that instead of the normal rushing around that is typical of David’s mornings; they are taking it easy and moving at a more relaxed pace.

I don’t mind waiting because I enjoy sitting here watching the waves splash against the shore and it is fun to watch the people beginning their day enjoying breakfast here.

One table has 6 ladies – probably in their late seventies or eighties – all wearing Happy New Year Hats. They have even decorated their table with streamers. I am sure it must be nearing midnight someplace in the world (smile).

It is 64 degrees here this morning. Some people are shivering with their coffee cups held tightly in their hands to keep them warm. Some are bundled up as though it were a winter day in Chicago (these are the Florida natives, for them it is a winter chill). Some are dressed like me, shorts and a wind breaker. Whatever their clothing most everyone is wearing a smile or happy look. It is hard to be at the beach first thing in the morning and not feel good about the possibilities life offers.

My little cell phone just rang. David and Jan are on their way. I hope they have a fantastic day and enjoy the rest of their vacation here in paradise. I am the luckiest of all….this beautiful scenery, the beach and Gulf, 64 degree mornings the end of December – this is my backyard.

Trees - The Happy Feeling I Get, I Can't Explain


As long as I can remember I have always taken notice of trees. I climbed them, even now I climb them (smile). I love the way they change colors, leaves fall and come back new. The beach wouldn't seem tropical without the swaying palm trees. A lake, creek or river's edge becomes more beautiful when a Weeping Willow is nearby. Large sturdy trees, like the Mighty Oak make me feel secure. Unusual looking trees or unexpected locations where you see a tree growing spark my imagination.

During the holidays I remember all the fantastic Christmas Trees we have enjoyed.

Decorating the tree on Christmas Eve was the tradition.

One year we waited so long to shop for our tree that we needed to tie two trees together to create one magnificent tree. All Chrismas we hoped it wouldn't spring apart (smile).

One year there was no money...our red and white Mustang had turned into a lemon and all our funds had gone to keep it running. To make matters worse our decorations seem to have disappeared or been destroyed. Our friends, the Roses, (Larry, Denise and their kids) came to our rescue. They gave us a Cypress tree. We ended up tying our bills to it with ribbons and decorating it with red silk roses we got from the Dollar Store.

There is a side effect to my love of trees. I can't judge the size of the space available to display it. One year we selected a HUGE, beautiful tree. My sons locked me in my room while they cut it down so it wouldn't poke a hole in the ceiling. Unfortunately, the power went off and we were unable to decorate it, instead we slept in the living room. It was like camping. In the morning the lady from across the hall stopped by to visit. When we opened the door she was flabbergasted to see such a large tree overflowing the room. She said she thought she was in the Red Wood Forest. It was fun.

My favorite vision of a tree is that of my fabulous sons, Tom and Jim carrying a fully decorated Christmas Tree down the street to our house. It was the year I was first separated from my husband. It was doubtful we were going to be able to have any tree that year. The boys surprised me. They had gotten us a tree from one of their teachers, Mrs. Fowler. In true Tennessee tradition she had decorated and put up her tree right after Thanksgiving. Since she was going away for Christmas she was kind enough to share her tree with us. It was a big surprise and is now and forever a happy, cherished memory.

Trees...they are wonderful. They give me a feeling of great pleasure and security. I can't explain why. Thank you God.

I WISH FOR YOU A YEAR FULL OF DAILY ORDINARY MIRACLES


A fresh pot of coffee you didn't have to make yourself. An unexpected phone call from an old friend. Good parking spots. Green stoplights on your way to work or shop.

I wish you days of little things to rejoice in... The fastest line at the grocery store. A good sing along song on the radio. Your keys right where you look.

I wish you days of happiness and perfection. Little bite-size pieces of perfection that give you the funny feeling that the Lord is smiling on you, holding you so gently because you are someone special and rare.

I wish you a year full of days of Peace, Happiness and Joy.

A friend sent this to me and I wanted to share.

A Special Day....Is It A New Beginning?


The winter solstice was yesterday, the daylight hours are the year's shortest, the winter solstice is also the time of the longest night. Now the days start to get longer. I like (smile). I think maybe I am solar powered because I always seem to have lots of energy in the light of the sunshine. When the days are shorter, I get a little droopy. The Winter Solstice is in the rearview mirror. Things are destined to seem better, I feel more energized already.

This morning I found a very special e-mail tucked away in my mailbox. In it a gentleman, someone whom I have barely spent any time making his aquaintance, wrote that I was the one good thing to happen in what had been a most unfortunate year. It was a surprise and a heart touching way to begin the day.

Today I seem especially blessed to be aware, to take notice of sound bites, positive thought provoking messages and reminders.

Watching Ed Harris on the actor's studio he said ..."When you are listening, really engrossed in listening to someone, you can't pay attention to your own voices. You aren't listening to yourself." Exactly, that is why I love listening to other people talk about their lives and enjoy their stories. I hadn't really realized it before.

When I got in the car to run some errands, Diana Ross was singing on the radio. The lyrics said, "It's my turn with no more room for lies. For years I've seen my life through someone else's eyes. And now it's my turn to try and find my way. And if I should get lost at least I'll own today.
It's my turn. Yes, it's my turn and there ain't no use in holding on when nothing stays the same."

I went to the movies and saw "Two Weeks Notice." It is a fun movie. I liked it very much. During the previews someone in one of the upcoming movies turned and said, "Why do you try so hard to fit in when you were obviously born to stand out?"

The Titans won again. Nine games out of the last ten. AFC Southern Conference Champs. After a rocky start they seem to be the team to beat.

A very interesting day indeed.

It's Christmas Time


It is not the season to post the rest of the story begun last month, so we will detour and get back to it after the holidays.

Tonight I met Mary Poppins or more accurately, Julie Andrews. She was performing in Tampa with Christopher Plummer in a special Royal Christmas Concert. It was an extraordinary experience for me, a special early Christmas present of sorts. In my past I had been compared to Mary Poppins, not as a compliment, even so...she has become a symbol to me of someone who might not be conventional but who definitely made a happy difference in life. Now with that in mind, a comparison to Mary Poppins is a defintie compliment (smile).

The show also included a singer who sang Bridge Over Toubled Waters, funny but I think it doubtful that when Simon and Garfunkle wrote it they envisioned it as a Holiday Song.

One of my favorite moments was a ballet performance of the Dance Of The Sugarplum Fairies from the Nutcracker Suite. The dancers were wonderful. When I was a little girl I attended ballet classes. Unfortunately, during rehersals for our recital I had trouble identifying my left from my right foot and kept turning the wrong way. The dance was...yes, you guessed it the Dance Of The Sugarplum Fairies. I was so bad that the instructor took my mom aside and told her I had all the grace of an elephant. My teacher suggested I stop taking lessons. Sadly, I never performed in the recital.

It is doubtful that a great future in dance was squelched, however it would have been wonderful to have danced.

Tonight was magical. It wasn't a night that left me sad with thoughts of what might have been. It left me feeling very happy and lucky that I got to experience such a wonderful show. Life is full of possibilities and all the twists and turns in my life are creating a most interesting tapestry.

May all that are reading this have the opportunity to enjoy the beautiful sights and sounds of this holiday season.

A Story - Untitled - Part V


Thank you to all who have asked what is happening with this story. The next chapter and rest of the story will be printed this weekend. Thank you for your interest and patience.

Enjoy your day.