When Rich and I first moved to our home in St. Marys, GA in January 2020, the first movie that we watched together was Back to the Future. I was so surprised when it was revealed that Doc Brown’s numerical address was the exact same as our’s – 1640! What were the chances of that?
Fast forward – October 2021. The last movie we watched together in Rich’s hospital room is, you guessed it, Back to the Future and I reminisced with him about that time back in January.
I have had a week filled with nostaligic stops that began with my flight from Daytona on Wednesday. I dont usually seek out conversations with strangers, but they often happen organically. Waiting for my flight the woman next to me apologized for her lengthy phone call as she sat next to me. I told her I’d enjoyed it because much of her chat reminded me of my own talks with my own family once-upon-a-time. Turns out she rescues German Shepherds. When I gave her my card with the image of my book, Dogs Best Friend she said she knew of it and was pleased to meet me.
That made this author’s heart smile.
In flight, I sat next to a woman who struck up a conversation with me. She told me her husband had passed three years ago, just two months before Rich, under very similar circumstances and timeline. We had an interesting talk about what it means to be widowed and it struck me that while we have gone through similar “fates” our circumstances are very different, but we are united in our unique loss. She was headed to Vermont to visit her son and I told her my trip would end in New Hampshire and that I was listing a property in Vermont as well. We both agreed that we couldn’t “do” winter anymore and enjoyed our warm weather visits to those regions.
I began my trip to the Northeast with a quick stop at the Jersey Shore, staying with some close friends in their beautiful home on the ‘cric on the same road where Rich and I lived in our first log home. It was nice to see what its new residents have done and congratulate them on the birth of their adorable one-month old son.
Next stop will find me in North Jersey later today where I’ll list a condo for sale as part of my mother’s estate. I purchased that condo with her many years ago and all of my siblings and myself lived there. It is where I welcomed my first date with Rich. It will be sad to say farewell to that building, it has served us well and its last tenant has successfully moved out after her own good memories made in that space.
Later that day, I’ll attend my Hackensack High School Reunion. We don’t wait for “round off years” and they are held casually now in a local tavern/restaurant. My best friend from High School and her husband (we all met in Middle School) will join me after which I’ll head up to New Hampshire for a couple of days to spend with them before heading home.
What’s special about the reunion’s venue is that it’s held in the same place where my parents had their first date, and it is also the same place where Rich and I dined for our final anniversary dinner before he’d pass three weeks later. I also lived on that avenue in a garden apartment for my first year of life.
That’s “alot”, but the memories are all so special. It’s sort of like a movie titled “Forward to the Past” as it’s helpful to appreciate so many good things as one continues to move forward.
Yesterday I met with a very good friend who’d lost her husband a couple of years ago. She’d known my entire family and it was good to reminisce about the good old art show days that filled so many of our years and about the circumstances surrounding her own widowed circumstances and altered life.
And of course, spring is in full bloom at the Jersey Shore and I’m drinking up every moment. But, it has grown so here and is so busy, especially compared to my new bucolic landscape. The Art of Driving in Jersey is once again being tweaked. It is a special skill, but once mastered, always comes back. The pups are in great hands with David, but I miss them all and it is true, although I love being here again, I truly appreciate the peace and tranquility of life in rural Central Florida.
Have a memory-making weekend!
