What a difference a year makes...

This last year has been topsy-turvey with a multitude of positive and yes, some negative events. But David and I have come through the year stronger. Stronger together and always appreciative, maybe moreso, of the blessings in our lives.

Children, grandchildren, health and lifestyle. Even as Seniors (yes, it's official!) we learned alot this year about Life, about ourselves and what is truly important and necesssary. We're better people as a result.

Compassion is a keyword for 2010. My work with the free medical clinic has exposed me to a segment of society that needs our compassion and help desperately. For themselves and for their children. It's a daily reminder of the blessings I enjoy each and every day - and the importance of giving back something to the world, that in reality, has treated me very well.

Looking forward to a family visit this Thanksgiving - and enjoying the things in life that no amount of money can buy....

Pumpkin-Picking in Massachusetts...

Make a Smilebox slideshow

It's The Season...

Victoria, Laughing at the American Girl Store in Boston

Well, here we are, right around the corner from the holidays. The holidays, by definition, are hectic. So I'm trying to think about preparation now, in all respects. The Boston kids, Sunni, Kevin and Baby Victoria, will be arriving soon. Their room needs to be ready, our calendars need to be cleared and all the preparations for a memorable Thanksgiving dinner need to be in place. The more I can do now, the less stress at the time. Organization is always the key!

What a difference a year makes. My mother passed away, Dad was diagnosed with cancer (surgery and chemo complete), Little Victoria was born with an initial blood disorder scare that eventually disappeared. I accepted a job doing community outreach for a free medical clinic. All major changes in our lives with the stress that change brings.

The family is healthy and we're all working hard to maintain our respective life styles. Maintaining health is paramount; all other concerns disappear in light of that. Several of our friends did not make it to see Thanksgiving this year.

So, with that perspective in hand, let the holidays commence! And the true meaning of Family supercedes even the best of tablesettings on Thanksgiving.

An iPhone for Seniors

Okay, so I'm as techie as the next sixty year old - maybe even a bit more, with a Facebook page and a home network. But having recently acquired an iPhone, I realize how truly removed I've been from today's technology.

The features on this phone boggle my mind. Wait, I can't call it a 'phone.' It's a 'wireless device' that has phone capability. Contacts, calendar, internet access, picking mail from several different email servers, taking pictures, texting with a QWERTY keyboard, posting pictures to Facebook, emailing pictures, iPod capability to view videos, listen to music, podcasts...on and on. I've only just scratched the surface and am told there are thousands of 'apps' for the iPhone.

Where have I been these last few years that all this technology has moved so quickly from conception to mass production? It's almost embarassing that I've been so out of it, that the capabilities of this device actually shock me! So, let's hear it for us Seniors, who remember the high tech days of the pager and the 'brick' mobile phone. And consider ourselves fortunate to partake and enjoy ~ even if it does take me five minutes to figure out how to answer a call!

Retirement, Redefined...

Everything 'they' said is true, I'm busier now, in 'retirement' than ever before. I counted five (seriously) efforts that take my time, and hopefully, use it well. Among them are charity work for a free medical clinic, therapeutic canine massage and maintaining an active Facebook page for my community. What do they all have in common? I guess I would say, for lack of a better word, 'helping.' Helping, assisting, instructing~ all things to improve Life. Life for those less fortunate, human & animal; and Life to improve communication that ultimately results in more joy for those in my community. So there you have it. Spending my career taking care of my family and using my retirement to help others. Not a bad legacy, all in all...

A Great Grandpa for Victoria

86 year old Dad has done amazingly well with his chemo treatments so far. His survival instincts have really kicked in. He maintains a vibrant mind, enjoys discussing business, family and his personal philosophies of Life. Today, Sunni, my daughter and great-granddaughter Victoria were joined by my son-in-law Kevin for their return trip to Boston tomorrow. I would say that in spite of everything, Jack, my Dad,is a lucky man!

'Family Guy' can be hypnotic!

Okay, so Little Victoria's dad Kevin is a big 'Family Guy' fan. I'm not much for cartoons, adult or not...but today in NY, Victoria was watching (what else) Family Guy. Her little eyes glzed over and she was channeling her Dad with that mesmerized FG look...what do you think?

Pride in My Daughter

Today I'm feeling great pride for my daughter Sunni. She felt it important to care for her grandfather, my Dad, during and after his second round of chemo, following his colon cancer surgery. Sunni and new daughter Victoria, have been staying at Dad's in New York for the last week. She'll remain there for another week. I'll arrive on Tuesday, Aug. 11 in time for Dad's third round of a three month ordeal. Sunni's sacrifice, compassion and sense of duty have not only made me proud, but inspires me as well. The love of family is a beautiful thing...
Sunni shown above with Baby Victoria during her recent trip to Florida.

Never let it be said that retirees are passive! In my new role as Community Outreach Coordinator for the Lazarus Free Medical Clinic in Wildwood, Florida, it's my mantra to grow the clinic with both new volunteers and increased funding!! I'm having a very interesting time achieving these goals, meeting new, young and inspired doctors and support personnel. It's truly a re-introduction to Life outside of my immediate community. It's challenging work, creative work and best of all, beneficial work to patients who have no medical alternative. Check out our facebook page at: http://tinyurl.com/ldqm6l and become a fan!

My First Canine Massage Seminar!

This Thursday, May 28, I've been asked by a local pet supply store, to give a talk on Canine Massage. http://www.wholeearthpetsupply.com/ .

The shop is billing the evening as a 'Pet Wellness' event and has also invited a raw food manufacturer to speak about raw food diets for dogs. http://www.rawhealthpetfood.com/

The shop has 'sold out' all available tickets . Twenty-five guests/customers will attend. I've really enjoyed creating the presentation and demonstration of my massage techniques and have been thinking about other venues for my talks. Hmmm...living in a retirement area as I do, there are countless opportunities to improve pets' lives and spread the word about holistic healing and the power of touch.

For more posts on my Canine Massage journey, click here~ http://17fairway.blogspot.com/search/label/Canine%20Massage

Family ~ The Way They Were...

That skinny tall kid on the right? My Dad, circa 1935.

It's been a roller coaster these past few months. Stresses galore. Heavy Life stress. My mother passed away two months ago. My daughter's new baby was (mis) diagnosed with a possible blood disorder (thank goodness it was a mis-diagnosis). And last week, my father was diagnosed with colon cancer. And I thought these years were going to be a cakewalk! Balancing these stresses with my own health as a cancer survivor has been nothing short of a daily commitment to living and being joyous regardless of what's going on 'out there.'

But during my father's diagnosis, his siblings bonded together in a way unknown to me in my immediate family. His sister, the family's matriarch, was front and center. His youngest brother also called me with great concern. When I think of my Dad's childhood, the difficulty of raising five children during the depression years, I think they share a 'survival' bond unbeknownst to me and my modern-day sisters. In times of stress and actually, in holiday times as well, Dad's siblings rally 'round with a strength, resiliance, compassion and love that supercedes all my sibling squabbles. Something great has been instilled in this family raised in the '20's and '30's. Something strong, forged in bygone but difficult times, that has emerged as a model for those of us a generation away.

My prayers and love are with you, Dad, and all your wonderful brothers and sisters!

Miss Victoria Ann Fleming

Our precious Victoria Ann Fleming has arrived! We are blessed and grateful for her health and robustness. This beautiful 8 lb. 7 oz child arrived the evening of February 21, 2009 to the delight of her mother, Sunni; dad Kevin and Aunt Lisa. This is our very first grandDAUGHTER, and I'm so delighted. I'm predicting yoga classes together, shopping trips, craft days and lots of bonding between Grandma and Granddaughter. Welcome to our world, Miss Victoria Ann!

Our Daughter's Birthday...

Lisa is pictured on the right at five years old!

Tomorrow is my oldest daughter's birthday. Lisa will be 36 years young. I really can't believe that thirty-six years have gone by since that Groundhog Day in '73. A lifetime has passed in the interim. She has grown into a caring person, the 'glue' of the family, always reaching out to include everyone. She's a born teacher. The Montessori children she cares for, have the precious gift of her extensive knowledge and love.
Lisa is capable of exceling in anything she chooses. College, real estate, advanced Montessori studies...She's quite amazing. She's raising our twelve year old grandson and is doing a beautiful job.
So somehow, someway, that little newborn with the head of jet black hair (Oh, the indigestion!) has evolved into a beautiful woman, making her own way in this world. Lucky World!

Lisa is on the left at her sister's wedding last year.

The Map on the Wall, A Family Travelogue...

Last night I happened to see a travel show about China and the Great Wall. It brought back vivid memories of my two trips to mainland China. My career afforded me unique opportunities to travel the world. So much so, that I started a wall map to mark my venues. My youngest daughter was entering the business world, as I was ending my career. It became a bit of an international contest, with Mom marking red flags, and daughter marking blue flags. Sunni actually did business in Brazil long before I did the same. She, however, got to enjoy Rio, which I missed.

And she traveled to Australia, a place I would have loved to experience. But I sure had her beat with my extensive Asian travels. We called it even in Europe, but Central America was mine!

Now that she's looking forward to Motherhood, and I'm not traveling for business, we're both content to stay put for awhile. But you never know when that old Mother-Daughter travel competition may start up again - or maybe in time, it will become a Grandmother-Grandchild trip...Actually, I can't wait for that!

Sunday, Sunday...

I really love Sunday mornings. It's a chance to choose my own time to rise and enjoy the day. Just knowing I have no appointments or 'have-to's' always make it special.

The dogs know it's Sunday, too. Just today, Brandee~Cherie put her little paws on the side of the bed, wanting to get cozy on this quiet morning.
After grabbing a cup of coffee, I always head out to the patio, clad in my bathrobe. Our patio is perched high on a hill, overlooking the tree-lined 17th fairway. The view is unobstructed and expansive. I breathe deeply of the crisp, clean air and immediately relax.

Often, there will be wildlife preparing for their day of foraging. Shadows of large birds lazily intersect on the fairway below. Sandhill cranes and countless squirrels abound. Because our backyard is up so high, we have the illusion of being up in the trees. Often, the birds are parallel to our line of sight. There are always treats from Nature to be experienced and enjoyed.

There's a calm here, a stillness that I've felt from the first day we visited this community. For me, it becomes easier to regain perspective when Nature is so close. Maybe my next move will be a log cabin in the woods!

Dog Day Afternoon...

Once a month, David and I enjoy the luxury of having our home professionally cleaned. All the *heavy* stuff gets the professional touch. On that day, our two pekingese get treated to a day on the town! There's plenty to do 'downtown.' Our community is dog-friendly. There are restaurants with outside tables that allow dogs. Several shops cater to dogs and of course dog parks and dog 'supermarkets' are on the list.'
It's kind of surprising, but our aggressive black and white peke has a complete personality transformation once he gets away from the house. He's well-behaved, calm & tolerate of strangers. Bailey lets me try countless doggie jackets on him, and is more than happy go down any aisle we find interesting. He's actually a great shopping partner and a bit of a fashionista!
Brandee~Cherie, our classic parti-peke, is Miss Congeniality. She greets everyone in her path by popping up half out of her doggie stroller. Dogs and people alike are captured by her happy peke face that is in a perpetual smile.
Today was overcast and rainy in spots. Bailey donned his purple raincoat with the fleece lining. Brandee took refuge under her stroller's protective roof. After our usual visit around town, we returned to an immaculately cleaned home. What a treat for dogs and humans alike!

It's All About the Girls!

Tuesday's are very special to me. That's the day I play golf with a wonderfully supportive group of women who have become role models in addition to friends. Tuesday golf is unlike the structured women's golf that is played here every Thursday. Tuesday's are for fun, sharing and connecting. Yes, scores do count. Rules are followed. Every putt is counted. And wagers are made before the round. But this group is special. We talk about politics, health and grandchildren. Our previous lives, too, including career, childraising and charity work. Most importantly, many of these women have already been where I am first going. They are steps in front of me on the path of Life and are generous in sharing their experiences. For this, I am very grateful. It helps me feel less alone in growing old and more appreciative of Life in general. So, I celebrate the Tuesday Sisterhood and their winning ways - both on and off the course! Pictured above, two comely golfers ready to play in last year's member-guest tourney.

QiGong for Natural Healing

I've been fortunate to have traveled quite a bit in my life. Asia was a frequent destination during my career. Once retired, I still gravitated towards many things Asian. This led me to my studies in Chinese Veterinary Medicine in Reddick Florida, associated with the University of Florida in Gainesville.
It was there that I was first introduced to QiGong. We practiced several movements as a break from learning our canine and equine massage techniques.
Our community is offering a six week course in QiGong. I hope to take the Spring class. Until then, I've ordered a DVD and hope to learn alot more about this ancient Chinese healing art. It is much needed, physically and spiritually!

It's Delicioso, Once Again!

Our friend from Port St. Lucie, Yolanda Hoffmann, introduced us to her daughter back in 2005. Ingrid Hoffmann spent the evening with us and our kids Thanksgiving of that year. Imagine our delight when we saw Ingrid and our friend Yolanda on a Martha Stewart segment!
Since that time, Ingrid has published a cookbook that I recently saw on display at Dillards, a local department store.
Although not a big Oprah fan, you can imagine my surprise when I turned the TV on today, and there was Ingrid once again! She was in a 'sandwich contest' with two other chefs. Padma Lakshmi, from Top Chef was Oprah's guest judge for the segment. And alhough Ingrid didn't win Padma's vote, she certainly has ours. Congrats, Ingrid, and here's hoping to see you (entertaining or not) in 2009!

Holiday Lights Par Excellence!!

In our town, the 'Cottom Farm' is well-known. That's 'Cottom' with an 'm', not an 'n'. The family has been here for ages and owns several successful businesses (as evidenced by their large home and plentiful acreage). Each year more and more lights are added to the already stupendous light show! This year, the drummers and angels were new. The Cottoms have areas set aside where you can park your car for a longer view. My photographer friend Dave Elle snapped this shot, which includes the reflection from the lake in front of the home. We know the holiday season has truly begun once the Cottom lights have been lit!

Where the Buffalo Roam?

Okay, I agree. It sounds a bit bizarre to get attached to these big hairy creatures. But for me, it's a reminder of what the Americas once were. These creatures stir up images of cowboys, the wide open range, and maybe even The Ponderosa, for us who still remember TV in the sixties.
Strangely enough, for decades, small herds still grazed in several areas adjacent to my community. Hence, the high school football team (what else) 'the Buffalos', a nearby plaza called Buffalo Ridge and many other local 'buffalo' references. But after several injuries (people don't always believe the warnings to stay away from bison), the owner moved the animals out of sight. Now there is a movement to get the animals back into view.
Those reckless individuals who did not heed the cautionary signs, proceeded at their own risk. And no one else is responsible.
Bring back those furry giants! They added a unique flair to our community and are beloved by many. And I really miss seeing them in all their massive beauty.

The Holidays Mark Another Milestone...

This time of year always makes me stop. Stop and think. Stop and compare. Then and now. And the promise of an even better future with the start of a brand-new year.
I'm always surprised at where Life takes me. Somehow, it's never where I thought I'd be! And always without exception, I'm surprised and grateful. Grateful for my loving family and all the beauty around me. Grateful for the health and strength that carries me throughout the day. Grateful for my friends, who are my best teachers, purely by their example.
The news events make me think the world has gone crazy. I struggle to make sense of the senseless. Senseless greed, senseless cruelty. And each day that I can reclaim my humanity, my spirit and my sense of appreciation, is a day well spent.
With a new grandchild soon to make her appearance on the world stage, and a loving, sweet grandson of twelve wise years, this grandmother looks to the future with anticipation and wonder. Still here, still enjoying Life's surprises. Laughing, loving and always grateful for the chance to appreciate the small miracles that bless and grace my life. Happy Holidays!

I Fought the Drapes and the Drapes Won!

I Fought the Drapes & the Drapes Won!!
Yes, it's sad but true. We've been in our new home for two and a half years now. Before we moved in, I ordered these gorgeous 'waterfall' Roman shades from a local drapery store. They were handmade with custom fabric that matched my bedspread and carpeting beautifully. Thinking that this particular style would compliment the three bay windows, we splurged to include the continuous loop chains et al.
It soon became apparent that the centre window shade was heavy and hard to pull up on a daily basis. But I tolerated it as other Life Priorities presented themselves. Fast forward two and a half years. Now it is a constant struggle with the center window that culminated in an out and out battle last night.
Clearly, the drapes won. I was SO frustrated that I yanked the chain, continuous loop and all, until it finally broke. I then staged an out and out assault on the drapes in a complete show of two years of accumulated frustration. Oh, by the way, did I tell you the drapery shop went out of business??
So now the large middle window remains covered in a sad and asymmetrical tribute to last night's meltdown. I'm conflicted on what path to take next. My sense is to go for the wood shutters that I should have purchased initially, but didn't. It certainly would have been more cost effective. And for those of you considering a 'waterfall' Roman shade over a frequently used oversized window..Don't and Save Yourselves Now!!

Sports Gene Testing

Yeah, what will they think of next....to part parents from their money??? With a new grandchild on the way, and one approaching his thirteenth (and very athletic) year, testing for the sports gene seems a bit 'over the top' even for sports-minded grandparents like us! Thoughts? Check out the original article from the NY Times.