Wonderful Friends, Good Food and Great Times

No matter where you are in life, time with friends is good for the soul. This becomes even more apparent as we age and see the changes that can occur in our health and even the way we view life.

We recently returned from a vacation in Florida which was a treat to our winter weary bones. The sun's rays seeping into our bodies, and the southern breeze gently blowing away the cold northern wind we had endured. It seemed to melt away all of the winter stress.

We were fortunate to stay with friends in Cape Coral, Naples and Gulfport (just outside of St. Petersburg). Being able to spend time with dear friends we had not seen in a long while was such a joy. It's amazing how time just falls away when you have a bond from years of knowing one another. As if no time has passed, you pick up your conversation like it was only yesterday when you were last together. Laughing over old stories and catching up on each other's lives; the hours pass by as if they are minutes. Never lacking for things to share with one another. Lots of good food, wine and cocktails make these visits like a warm blanket wrapped around your soul.


We are very fortunate to have such wonderful, welcoming friends to share our lives with. We were so excited to be able to spend time with them all, and saddened when the visits ended. As I said, with age you realize how important these bonds are, and how fragile life can be. In youth we feel invincible - as years pass we know we are not.


We will carry these memories with us and think of them often. The visions are sure to bring a smile to our face and warmth to our heart. And when our southern friends come north for the summer or to visit, we will once gain pick up where we left off. Sharing good food, wine and laughter.


Thank you all for welcoming us into your homes.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The Rock of Gibraltar

Image
On our way to El Puerto De Santa Maria, we made a detour to see the Rock of Gibraltar. If you have ever seen a Prudential Financial advertisement, you will recognize the Rock of Gibraltar which is their logo. The Rock of Gibraltar is a single large block of stone 426 m (1,398 ft) high. It is a limestone peninsula and mountainous rock that jets out of the end of the British territory at the southwestern tip of Europe. It is home to a network of caves, including the famous St. Michael’s Cave, which is open to the public. At the top of the Rock, visitors can enjoy amazing panoramic views of the surrounding area, including Morocco on a clear day. Seeing the Rock from below is quite a sight, however, taking a tour to the top tells a much bigger story of how impressive it truly is. We headed out in a small 6-passenger van to make the climb up to the top of the Rock. The road is quite narrow and winds back and forth along the edge of the Rock. For someone like me who is afraid o...
Read more

What Others Cannot See

Image
Early on one would never know, that memories are fading away. A tiny slip up here and there, normal forgetfulness they say. Time goes by with subtle changes, friends and family do not seem aware. If they only see them now and then, what is missing is not clear. As time passes the ones at home, will notice what others do not. They see more things forgotten, bringing sadness and concern. Many may notice a repeated story, from memories of long ago. Not aware that these old tales, are the ones that remain crystal clear. In time the recent memories, become more elusive as days pass by. Questions that are asked and answered, will be asked again and again. What we can see in our loved one, is what others cannot see. New memories will not remain with them, so, each day will bring something new.
Read more

Underneath It All We Are the Same

Image
Seven years ago, I wrote this blog with great hopes that society would take steps forward in the years to come, recognizing that we are all in this together and unity is the only way to a better world. Unfortunately, as witnessed by world events over the last several years, that is not the case. Sadly, things are worse so once again I will share this with a hopeful heart that three years from now our world will look a little brighter. "If you prick us, do we not bleed? if you tickle us, do we not laugh? If you poison us, do we not die?" ~ William Shakespeare - The Merchant of Venice Strip away race, color, religion, politics, gender, etc., and underneath it all we are the same. We are human beings. We have the same needs, wants and desires. We want a good life for our families; a good community to live in; friends and neighbors we can trust. We want to be treated with dignity and respect, and to feel comfortable voicing an opinion, without the threat of being attacked by some...
Read more