When our world begins to get too serious, we need momentary interruptions of just plain fun. Enjoy a surprising day off, a long walk, a movie, an evening relaxing over a bowl of popcorn or ice cream, a game of racquetball, flying a kite, building a sandcastle, going for a swim, walking through a museum or mall, or getting lost in a book - these diversions can make all the difference in our ability to cope with life's crushing demands. We need to give ourselves permission to enjoy various moments in life even though all of life is not in good order.

I love that my sons and their families go out and play. Playing like a child is one of the best ways to stimulate creativity and relieve stress. My sister Wendy and her family sent me a box of wonderful "no age limit" toys, crayons and treasures to enjoy. It is terrific.

Take a chance, risk not being "age appropriate," and do something just for the fun of it this weekend. Anyone that knows me, knows I have very little patience when it comes to not feeling well and being couch bound. Despite being frustrated that I am still sick and weary - today will find me doing something for the pure joy of it. Maybe I will get out my bubbles and sit on the balcony and blow them at passing boats, or enjoy a tootsie pop or watch a funny video.

I hope you smile and interrupt your crazy, hectic day with some just plain fun.

I don't know who originally coined the word "bug" as a description for feeling sick but it applies.

Most people aren't fond of bugs. I definitely don't find the insect world high on my list of what makes me smile and gives me pleasure. Sometimes bugs can be scary and being sick can sometimes be scary. There are bugs that seem able to outlast everything. It has been said that even after a nuclear disaster roaches will survive. Unfortunately, my "bug," the one that has me a bit weary and voiceless, seems to be a cousin of that durable bug.

BUT I am even more resilient and expect to be healthy by the weekend. I can't wait.

Before I leave the subject of bugs, I should mention that the classification includes some amazing, wonderful "bugs": Lady bugs are said to be lucky for the people they land on. Unfortunately, the poem that goes along with this pretty polka dot bug isn't so lucky for them. "Lady bug, lady bug fly away home. Your house I on fire and your children will burn." How horrible can you get?!?

Caterpillars are thought of in a negative way crawling around the garden. You don't hear about people planting "caterpillar gardens." After their cacoon is spun and they transform into a beautiful butterfly flying among the flowers people love them. Butterflies have become a symbol for the growth and metamorphous that happens when people go through a positive change.

Finally, there are bees. I am not sure when it started but it was a long, long time ago when my sons Tom and Jim were young. They started to sing, "Bringing Home A Baby Bumble Bee." It is a song that has always made me cringe and hold my ears. It has now turned into a tradition that has been passed down to my grandchildren to sing for me. In fact my grandson, Jake, sang it to me on my birthday instead of Happy Birthday. My grandchildren understand that I love they have an ornery streak and it makes me smile while I am cringing. That is probably why I am blessed that I get calls from Hope, Noah and Jake when they are doing something they know I wish I was there too. I loved it when Noah teased my loss of voice and asked me if I swallowed a squeaky toy, ornery and teasing is good. At one time or another each of them has sung that crazy song for me.

So much for the subject of bugs (smile)it is time for me to take some medicine and do my best to eradicate this stubborn bug from my system. Hopefully, these drugs will cause the bug to yell "Raid!" like they do on the commercial and leave.

Unfortunately, or fortunately depending on who you might ask, I have no voice today. I knew it was going when my grandson thought I had swallowed a squeaky toy when he called yesterday to wish me a Happy Birthday (smile).

I wanted to take a moment between coughs to ask for prayers for Mary Logan. She is an awesome lady who is currently battling brain and lung cancer (I understand that she never was a smoker). She will be having surgery on Wednesday and I would very much appreciate your prayers on her behalf. Her husband Mickey says she is peaceful and has put her faith in God. There is no better place.

Thank you very much. I believe in miracles and the power of prayer. Wishing you good health and lots of happiness.

Yesterday I had lunch with Rob. He represents the St. Petersburg Convention and Visitors Bureau and used to travel around the country together doing product seminars and participating in Trade Shows spotlighting our area and the fantastic TradeWind Island Resorts. It was fun to catch up. He taught me alot about the role of Resort Sales Manager as did other members of the CVB Team, Nancy, Cham, Linda, Gail and Cindy. I also had the priviledge and pleasure to learn from other Resort Sales Managers, Darren, Tim, Marianne and Michelle to name a few. In addition, I learned from Paul and Erick from Southwest Vacations as well as other wholesale, dotcom and destination reps.

I am very fortunate that I have had the opportunity to learn from so many diverse viewpoints.

Last night I met some of the TradeWinds Team at the local Bennigans for what I thought was the opportunity to join in on their weekly get together. Instead I was surprised by a birthday celebration for me. It knocked my socks off. I was, and still am touched by their kindness. These people have made a wonderful difference in my life during the past years. They were there as teachers, sounding boards, and a loving support system. They definitely make up my FRAMILY (combination of friends and family). Even those members of reservations that were unable to attend took time to write special notes of good wishes for me on a birthday card.

Today I am battling a sore throat and achey all over feeling but I am so joyous from the inside out because of my wonderful day yesterday that I feel terrific and definitely blessed. When you have a new beginning in your life it means there is an ending. It is wonderful when the people you met during your life adventure join you as you move on to the next chapter. Lucky me!

I wish each of you a terrific, Thursday filled with unexpected happiness like my wonderful Wednesday was for me. Enjoy!

I suspect that the moment people are waiting for, doesn't require waiting.

And the things we'll remember most won't be things at all.

I know that "they" say spring arrived yesterday, however I always celebrate the first day of spring on the 21st. It is, afterall, the first complete day of spring.

It sounds like many parts of the country are having a cold, white spring. Happily here in Florida it is 85 degrees and delightfully sunshining. It is the kind of day that inspires birds to sing new songs, long walks on the beach and giving thanks.

If I was able to share this day with my sons someplace, I think I would choose an old hamburger joint out towards Watauga Lake. We would have burgers and fries and play name that tune as songs played on the juke box. If we were lucky my Sheila, Carol, Noah, Hope and Jake would join us. I am sure that would add to the fun and competition.

Where ever you are, I wish you a very happy spring.

I am the happy recipent of words of wisdom on this most terrific Tuesday. In addition to the messages I shared earlier, my sister Wendy Gilliland has just shared a quote with me. I like it not only because of what it says, but also because it reminds me of the lyrics of one of my newly favorite songs by Bon Jovi.

Here is the thought provoking, feel better about your choices, quote:

Employ the power of positive quitting. Most of us view quitting as something negative, but it's not. 'Winners never quit,' we're told, when, in reality, winners quit all the time: choosing to stop doing things that aren't creating the results they desire. When you quit all the things that aren't working for you, when you quit tolerating all the negative things that hold you back, you'll create a positive 'charge' in your life as well as create the space in your life for more positive experiences.

Jim Allen
Inspirational Speaker, Author and Life Coach

Here is the song:

WELCOME TO WHEREVER YOU ARE

Maybe we're all different but we're still the same
We all got the blood of Eden running through our veins
I know sometimes it's hard for you to see
You're caught between just who you are and who you want to be

If you feel alone and lost and need a friend
Remember every new beginning is some beginning's end

Welcome to wherever you are
This is your life; you made it this far
Welcome, you got to believe
That right here, right now
You're exactly where you're supposed to be
Welcome to wherever you are

When everybody's in and you're left out
And you feel you're drowning in the shadow of a doubt
Everyone's a miracle in their own way
Just listen to yourself, not what other people say

When it's seems you're lost, alone and feeling down
Remember everybody's different; just take a look around

Welcome to wherever you are
This is your life; you made it this far
Welcome, you got to believe
Right here, right now
You're exactly where you're supposed to be

Be who you want to be
Be who you are
Everyone's a hero
Everyone's a star

When you want to give up and your heart's about to break
Remember that you're perfect; God makes no mistakes

Welcome to wherever you are
This is your life; you made it this far
Welcome, you got to believe
Right here, right now
You're exactly where you're supposed to be
And I say welcome…
I say welcome…
Welcome…

This morning I recieved two e-mails that made me smile, stop and think. I thought I would take a moment and share them with you. The first was sent from Paul Rucker.

IF MY BODY WERE A CAR

If my body were a car, this is the time I would be thinking about
trading it in for a newer model. I've got bumps and dents and
scratches in my finish and my paint job is getting a little dull, but
that's not the worst of it.

My fenders are too wide to be considered stylish. They were once
as sleek as a little MG; now they look more like an old Buick.

My seat cushions have split open at the seams. My seats are sagging.

Seat belts? I gave up all belts when Krispy Cremes opened a shop in my
neighborhood.!

Air bag's? Forget it. The only bags I! ! have these days are
under my eyes. Not counting the saddlebags, of course.

I have soooooo many miles on my odometer. Sure, I've been many
places and seen many things, but when's the last time an appraiser
factored life experiences against depreciation?

My headlights are out of focus and it's especially hard to see
things up close.

My traction is not as graceful as it once was. I slip and slide
and skid and bump into things even in the best of weather.

My whitewalls are stained with varicose veins.

It takes me hours to reach my maximum speed.

My fuel rate burns inefficiently.

But here's the worst of it -almost every time I sneeze, cough or
sputter..... either my radiator leaks or my exhaust backfires!

And then I recieved this one from Gloria Nelson:

The road to success is not straight.

There is a curve called Failure, a loop called Confusion, speed bumps
called Friends, red lights called Enemies, caution lights called Family.
You will have flats called
Jobs.

But, if you have a spare called Determination, an engine called
Perseverance, insurance called Faith, a driver called Jesus, you will
make it to a place called Success.

Hmm, after some thought, they are both right.

My body definitely has things in common with a used car. No doubt about it, I should have taken care better care of my body through the years then I wouldn't show so much wear and tear now. Afterall, no matter how it looks it is a classic, a one of a kind.

As for the road to success not being straight, my life journey has certainly taken lots of twists and turns and detours but happily I have experienced lots of successes along the way.

The last part of Gloria's e-mail is the most true:

Philippians 4:13--- I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me

Now that is absolutely true! I hope you have a terrific Tuesday.

Today I was struggling with a "should I, shouldn't I" question. As I took my daily walk I kept repeating a silent prayer for guidance. Four little words popped into my head: "If not now, when?"

How about you? Are you struggling with "should I, shouldn't I" questions? If so maybe those 4 little words will help you. "If not now, when?"

It was windy today as I walked on the beach. It added a new dimension to my workout. Unfortunately, the sandblasting didn't remove years from me like the process does to aging buildings.



Kite surfers and wind surfers were taking advantage of the conditions to have fun. Usually the Gulf is calm along this part of the coastline but on windy days the waves arrive.

Watching them reminded me of a vacation I had in the Caymans. My son, Tom, and our friends, Kevin and David, had gone diving early in the day. Invariably whatever fish they saw during the dive influenced Tom's choice for dinner. I guess it was the ultimate pick out your fresh fish experience.

Later in the day David and my son, Jim, decided to go windsurfing. This left Tom with the challenging task of making me feel secure as we snorkeled off Seven Mile Beach. The wide variety of colors and species of fish that can be found just a short distance from the shore is amazing. I loved it.

It should be noted here that David is an extra large man. He is over 6' 2" and is "big boned." In order to accommodate him, the beach rental staff brought out a "special" board. To say it looked like a slab of sidewalk wouldn't be far off. It was oversized and grey like concrete.

Amazingly, both Jim and David learned quickly how to right their sails and maneuver their boards. Soon they were wind surfing.

As time passed Tom and I finished snorkeling and noticed that Jim and David had sailed far out from shore. I was concerned but Tom soothed my fears.

More time passed and Tom and I noticed the hut where the boards were rented was starting to close. We made our way over there and asked about Jim and David. It turned out that the staff had forgotten about them. They rarely rent the board David was using and had failed to notice Jim's hadn't been returned when they did their count.

The men got into their motorized rubber raft and headed out to Jim and David. As it turns out Jim and David had mastered the art of sailing from shore but weren't able to return. They had dropped their sails and were getting ready to paddle back when they were rescued.

Rescued is the right word because as it turned out they had made their way all the way out to the famous wall, the edge of the continental shelf. The sun was setting. If they tried to paddle back, the men told them, they may have become shark bait. Happily they made it back to the shore safely thanks to their rescuers and except for a mighty crimson sunburn they survived.

After showers we met Kevin for dinner. Tom enjoyed grouper having seen a huge one that morning diving and Jim and David had an adventure to tell about.

It is fun to have memories surface.

It is impossible to understand why young children suffer through illness and harm. It is impossible to understand why bad things happen to good people or why some people can seemingly get away with having done bad, maybe even horrific things.

Such an "impossible to understand thing" has sadly happened this morning. Dana Reeves passed away last night at 44 years old from lung cancer. After caring for her husband for so long and taking care of her son it seems unfair that now she is gone and their 13 year old son is left without his loving parents. My prayer is that he will find strength and courage from the example of the way his parents lived their lives and will go forward embracing each precious day.

In my life I have come to believe that the reason it is impossible to understand these things, is because we are merely human beings and we don't have the capacity that belongs to our loving God.

It is a perfect day to celebrate life and for me to send out loving thoughts and wishes to my family and friends and to all the people whose lives have added colors and textures to the tapestry that makes up my life. I love you and wish you fun and joy as you enjoy the present, the gift of this day.

The sand is a pristine white at Pass-A-Grille. They clean the seaweed and debris daily; leaving sugary white sand glistening in the sunshine.

Today the Gulf is a beautiful turquoise, almost green. I love the way the depth, weather conditions, and time of the day can change the water from various pale shades of green to the deepest, darkest shade of blue. When the Gulf kisses the coast it almost looks like the edges are made of whipped cream or foamy shaving cream.

There are lots of people at the beach today. Tourist Season has begun. People watching is at a premium. I wish I had the positive sense of self that some people have. Dunlop disease (when the belly done lops over the belt) doesn't prevent them from wearing skimpy suits. Ages range from infant to spry with a little of everything in-between. Lots of people are pink to purple. Others are nearly translucent(they are so pale), to bronze, to leather and once again every shade of skin in-between.

Thanks to more people heeding the cautions of the adverse effects from too much sun, there is an ever growing number of colorful beach umbrellas and cabanas dotting the beach. It makes for a fantastic kaleidoscope of color against the clear blue sky.


For me, one of the most invigorating things about coming to the beach is enjoying the assortment of colors. That combined with the scent of tropical sunscreens floating through the air, the warmth of the sun on my shoulders and the feel of soft sand between my toes is definitely a combination resulting in HAPPY

I had a gloriously fun day yesterday. I went to the Strawberry Festival to induldge in some strawberries and country fun. By the end of my time at the fair I was covered in more chocolate, whipped cream and strawberry juices than probably made it down my throat. It was messy but succulent!

Afterwards, I went on a lost driving aimlessly down roads and choosing to turn a random left or right at the intersections. It was fun. I saw "Old Florida", I saw phosphate plants, Mexican Country Stores, and various towns and communities I had never visited before. It was fun to explore.

I ended up at the beach in time to view a spectacular sunset and have a delicious dinner at the Beach House Restaurant on Bradenton Beach.

As I drove home, my top down under the starlit sky, I knew that this had been a most extraordinary day. We get 365 brand new days each year and I know that this day of 2006 will be remembered with a smile and happy heart. It was great fun!

Did it come in like a Lion so it will go out like a Lamb OR did it come in like a Lamb so you need to anticipate a Lion?

March 1, 2006 was a glorious day for me. I finally unpacked the kitchen. Then went for a ride with the top down and enjoyed the sunshine on my shoulders.

It was the first time in awhile when I felt like my own self.

I hope you enjoyed your day too.