Florida - March to May

Following our Chilean Summer, we returned to Florida on March 11th to start over with a USA Spring! Bibba had been at our house about a week, and she picked us up at the Jacksonville FL airport. What a great "welcome home!" We loaded her VW bug and went straight home. Within two days she bought a new Toyota Yaris, working the deal while our car was being serviced!

We had the friendliest, non-pushy saleslady, Debi. By that evening Bibba drove her new car to our home, ready for the two-car road-trip to South Carolina (and her return to New York State). Saturday through Tuesday we attended a sisters reunion in Myrtle Beach SC, followed by a second reunion back in Fernandina Beach FL on Wednesday, March 18th.

Kathy and Bob had rented a beautiful ocean-side condo with room for all of us. The tall white building can be seen in the beach photo, to the left of Bibba. The days we were there were foggy, but that did not stop walks on the beach and fun in the apartment.

We surprised Pat with an early birthday party. We held the event a week early, since we'd not all be there on her birthday.

Many wishes came true when 4 of the 5 sisters were able to be together at one time and place. Pat came from Montana, Bibba and Kathy from New York, and Margy from Florida.

The fog allowed us to enjoy lots of indoor time together, sharing photos from cameras and computers, as well as making contact with friends like Mónica in Chile, and the "missing sister," Anne Fay, who we saw a few days later in Florida.

		We drove back to Florida, crossing this beautiful bridge in Charleston SC (left), with Pat and Dave following in their rental car. Back home we showed them our neighborhood with walking tours, enjoying the spring blossoms, azaleas, and budding trees.

Reunion "phase two" continued at our house. Anne Fay and Peter drove up from Melbourne FL to join Pat and Dave, completing the sisters reunion. Now all five were seen by us in a week, between South Carolina and Florida.

		Just before Pat and Dave left Florida we took them to our favorite drive-on beach, about a half hour south of our home. We had the coast almost all to ourselves, plus a few birds.

What a great place to walk, look for sea shells, enjoy the sun, wade in the waves, and just "hang out" together.

The slope of the beach is so shallow that the waves glide in like smooth syrup sliding across a glass plate. Reflections across the gentle water make for beautiful views and photographic inspiration.

A nice way for Margy and Pat to end a week of sister reunions, together on the beach, sharing moments and memories.

By the end of March, we returned to the same beach (it really is our favorite!), this time with Ray and Shelley. Directly from the Jacksonville airport, we had lunch and then headed straight for this beach. The place was deserted. We had time to walk, relax, talk, and enjoy the sea breezes and fresh air.

		We even got to watch a student learn how to kite surf (practice on land).

With birds everywhere, we had fun capturing photos of them in their habitat, individually or in large groups.

Ray and Shelley enjoyed the wide-open beach. We enjoyed their company. In addition to seeing our new area, they were here to provide support for us while Artie went in for prostate surgery, April 2, 2009.

The pre-surgery event became a family reunion. Selma and Noel arranged to meet at the same motel where Ray, Shelley and we were registered, the night before surgery. We had a good time together, and the support was great. They accompanied Margy through the next day of surgery. After they departed, we stayed a couple more nights before returning home (Artie at the hospital, Margy at the motel). The hospital was in Gainesville FL, about two hours south of our house.

Artie was in good spirits before surgery, all prepped and dressed for the robotic laparoscopy. By the next day he was already up and walking the hospital halls, talking on his cell phone to well-wishers. Two nights of rest, and he checked out for home.

Therapy at home was mostly walking and resting. During the first week, Artie still had a catheter, so he hid it in the shopping bag for his neighborhood walks. After a week the catheter was removed, and the walks increased in speed and energy level.

During this same time, Artie decided to let his beard grow, from stubble (above) to a full beard. The photo at left was one month after surgery, and Artie felt very well. You can barely see the stitches in his belly from the five holes that were created for the surgical tools. He kept up his daily exercises, and within six weeks Artie was back at the YMCA doing his Aikido martial arts workouts.

		While Artie recuperated at home, one day we enjoyed watching our neighbors, Mark and Katie, entertain their little Ellie with soap bubbles. Such fun to see Ellie's delight with the colors, movement and magic.

April 25, 2009 we celebrated "World Tai Chi Day" at Fernandina Beach with our YMCA teacher, Larry, and his students.

		With cameras always on the ready, Margy and I were asked to take a few group photos (some which were submitted to the local paper).

The advanced students demonstrated a 104 position sequence with the staff, while the rest of us watched.

Larry, with additional special instructor Jim.		After Tai Chi: social time, sharing home-made and other treats.

The next time we were at the Y, we showed Larry and Louise (one of Larry's assistants, who helps those of us who are beginners) the video that Margy made of the 104 posture staff exercise. The DVD in Louise's hand was a copy of all our photos and the video for their interest.

From Larry's window seat on Jet Blue, leaving Boston, he photographed this great shot of the plane's wing and runway. A few hours later he was viewing and photographing the wings of gulls at, of course, our favorite drive-on beach.

Unlike our visits in March, with Pat and Dave and then Ray and Shelley, this time, May 9th (a sunny Saturday afternoon), the beach was crowded with hundreds of cars (6 rows deep) and many people.

The crowd didn't bother us or the birds!

Larry visited with us for four days, taking in the Florida sun (instead of Boston cold) with walks through the neighborhood.

We explored a new house under construction, having fun studying the nuts and bolts of its design.

Along the way we saw Pamela, spruced up in her Mother's Day dress, walking the dog. She agreed to pose for us with her elegant outfit and "doggy poop bag!" More typical walking wear is what Donna had on that day, while walking Karma.

We spent a lot of time just relaxing at home, reading, talking and napping. The perfect vacation recipe.

Larry helped Artie with an electrical project, thus the trip to get parts, and Cristián did a concert for us on Skype, from Spain!

One evening when we went downtown for dinner, we saw the fire department at the marina. Sadly, flames were consuming a boat docked there. We watched the fire fighters for a while, hoping that the owners were unharmed and OK.

By the time we finished dinner that night, the flames were out. Enough excitement for one vacation. The rest of our time was laid-back, enjoying sun, family time and peaceful days. Larry and we had a very nice time together.

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