I awoke this Saturday Morning realizing I hadn’t prepared a post for today. The onset of the Holiday Season, my Mom’s health issues in New York State that took me away for days and of course the moving process of the past few weeks has taken much of my time and energy.

Last week I wrote about adapting to new situations and making new holiday traditions while honoring the past. It is often easier said than done and this year was no exception. As many of you know, in the past five years I’ve lost my only sister, her son who I helped raise, my husband and recently my dad. In 2005 I lost my youngest brother. I don’t mention this to get sympathy, but just to “certify” myself as someone who knows a few things about loss and forced change. In essence, I have lost the foundation of my family and there is nothing that can be done about that.

Everyday brings a reminder of all of them and I spend some time remembering each of them depending on what happens to cross my path each day. I invite them to share my new life and include them in this beautiful place I now call home. For me, it is the “best way” to handle the inevitable feelings of grief that are everpresent in the shadows lurking in the light. You can run, but you can not hide. But you can be aware and take measures to cope no matter how small.

I am grateful that I am of sound mind and good health and I can keep looking forward most days. I want for nothing and I’m surrounded by remaining family, a good man and some loving dogs and lots of loyal friends, “old” and new, some that I’ve never even met in person!

I will leave you all here with some images of a place that is called “Olde Florida”. Places that don’t draw the hordes of tourists that gravitate to the coastal areas, I have been there and done that myself for many decades. This is a rural area with wild peacocks, roosters, Sandhill cranes, woodlands, horse and cow farms and dirt roads to “nowhere”. I look forward to taking one of those roads each new day. But this town is growing and there is a new local art gallery opening here soon and even a yoga and zumba studio downtown near a cool bar and restaurant. I hope to make some new friends here, too.

Have a good weekend and I’m sending warm thoughts to those in colder regions. It is inevitable that I will be packing some coats and gloves in the near future. Stay safe out there.