Life is Good.....

Here I am, again, on the way to Curaçao. This is the trip I wasn't sure I could take, wasn't sure I wanted to take. This is the trip I am taking and will enjoy! What has happened to change my mind, you are wondering...because changed my mind I have! There are several reasons, I think, but only ONE that counts.

In the last couple of months two of my friends have lost their husbands, I knew them well and liked them very much. Their wives are just struggling to make sense of being alone and starting over. For what they tell me, it's not easy; they remind me that I should be grateful for what I have, enjoy what life offers me. They point out that things can change in a second, situations present themselves that we cannot control. It is not as if I didn't know this...I just have been too busy seeing the small things, the things that bother me and make my life complicated. Instead, they tell me, I should open my eyes to the bigger picture. To what I have that is so precious and I should take care of. Frankie bought the ticket, and rented a car. Then he got me ask a friend if I could stay with her. He is always there, trying hard to help, he is one wonderful reason to see the bigger picture!

So today, I am getting the house in order, packing and getting ready for this trip. Never mind that the realtor is coming again with a stream of potential buyers for this apartment. If she sells it, I might have to go through the packing again, looking for a place we would like, unpack once we get there, hoping it will be in the area of the city we so enjoy. So stressful, isn't it? Well, they tell me that is only in my mind. I should see the good side of this, try really hard, so I am. I am focusing on fact that I had a wonderful time in this place, the views are amazing, the building is beautiful and it is safe on the island. My family has loved it when they visited. What else can I ask for, as my friends would tell me. So...life is good!

Comments and Other Strange Things

I have been writing this blog, on and off, for a few years. It was an idea after I published my book....more like a recommendation from the publishers. It gave me an outlet for my nostalgia, my missing the island where I had lived for so long, the people, the beach, the sunsets. It was also a way to put my work out there, so I went for it.

After a few months, I was hooked...in a small way I now know, since I needed to be constant, right? No use having a blog if you don't keep up and you abandon it for weeks at a time. I digress, as I have been known to do, but you get the point. Still, I kept hoping people would flock to my blog, make it a huge success and my book would sell in the thousands ...or hundreds? Never mind that, it was necessary to keep up, make it interesting and attract people with similar interests or that wanted to see themselves in the places I wrote about....I do not think I got the memo on that. I just plowed along and things just moved very slowly.

In the last few months, though, there has been a tiny ray of interest! I have some followers and people are leaving comments. Some by dear friends that read this blog regularly, some by people that genuinely have some interest in what I write or have bought my book. Then there is a group of comments that are just in a category by themselves: the advertising kind and the ridiculous kind. Those you expect, I have been told. Now I have learned of a new kind: the religious zealots.

On my last post, someone anonymously posted a really strange comment about television programs, the Bible and other things. It really blew my mind. How do these people find blogs like mine? or do they just go down the list of all blogs on the internet? A daunting task, if I ever heard of one! I firmly believe in Freedom of Expression, after all, I am exercising mine! Now, what I do not understand is using this freedom, to put out hate there or to judge people.

So in the interest of my sanity and my (few) followers and readers I exercised another right. The right we have all learned from out dealing with social media, especially Facebook: delete, ignore, remove and unsubscribe. Felt great!!!

Things close to our hearts....

Just something short.....when I was in Curaçcao, went to see Marja. She is battling a very aggressive type of breast cancer. I have wanted to see her since I was there in March; somehow I missed her at that time, haven't been back. So I was not going to miss her this time.

Found her at her home, looking thin, short salt-and-pepper hair, cheerful as always, positive as I have never seen her, ready to talk about what is coming and not a tear in sight! I am so proud to be her friend. Marja has always have this sunny disposition. She can see the good in everyone and everything, she is never judgmental, never critical, never hurtful. She is generally happy and cheerful, ready to make your day brighter with her attitude. You just can't help loving Marja!

She'll be 70 on the 27th and s celebrating, as she has celebrated other birthday: 40, 50, 60.....This time her daughter is giving a cocktail party at her home on the Friday night. I am expecting to get my passport in time to fly back. This is a celebration I would not want to miss.

New Year......

Cannot believe I have been away for a month and change! Oh, well, it's the way it works. The Holidays came and went. Camille and Tim came to spend time with us, it was wonderful! Then I was surprised with a trip to Curaçao...YES, Frankie and I spent a week on the island. Batteries charged and head clear. Needed that, and I got to spend more time with Camille.

Christmas was hectic, but great. Time to see family and sharing time with my children. Everyone came to the house for Christmas Day dinner: my sisters, my niece and nephew, significant others. After Christmas Eve with around 80 relatives on Frankie's side, my small family group was blissful! Good company, good times, gift exchange, fabulous view from our balcony, pictures and fun, couldn't have asked for anything better. Perfect!

On Boxing Day (to celebrate the Brit part of the group), a trip to the Upper Keys...not a great success because we didn't get to the beach, but definitely a good time with our children, Tim and Veronica.....By the way, if you need a good relaxing day, just head down and stop somewhere for good food and drinks, watch the sunset and head back. You do not have to make it to Key West!!! I will do that this year, though.

The days were warm and lazy, most of them spent by the pool, drinks and dinner with friends, Camille's birthday and more drinks. It was just right. Then, early flight to the island and the beach! Of course, welcoming the New Year at Tony and Valerie's, it was just like old times. The fireworks, the smoke and the noise, all welcoming the New Year, felt familiar and comfortable. The beach was relaxing and cleansing, need to get back more often. Saw almost everyone. Loved it.

A beach wedding at sunset, with superb dinner and dancing was an added bonus. Totally enjoyed the ceremony in the late afternoon, under white umbrellas and straw hats! Too soon we headed back and got into the routine of Miami. Hoping this year will bring Health, Wealth and Happiness in huge quantities. Started too good to be otherwise. So to all of you, hang in there.....ignore the ghastly Mayan predictions and concentrate on all the good things you want for this year. Just picture them, and they will come true!!! HAPPY 2012!!!!