THE GOOD, THE BAD, THE UGLY

Here is THE GOOD:

This is the scene from the deck of the home in Sanibel Island where I was lucky enough to be all of last week.  My brother and his wife bid on the week there at a charity auction and they won ~ and then invited the Brower family to join them! Sadly Pat was at an FDIC training conference in D.C. and couldn't go but I sucked it up and joined the gang in Florida. I hated to go without him but I had a wonderful time with my family.  We don't get to see each other often so it was a treat to talk, laugh, eat and drink with them for a week! I got to goo-goo and enjoy baby Riley Grace which was so much fun, to get to know my niece and her husband better, and to spend time with my great brother and sister-in-law.  Florida was chilly but the ambiance of Sanibel is pretty wonderful no matter what the temperature!  The beach was strewn with so many shells. The sunsets were gorgeous. The restaurants are yummy and fun. I even had a facial!  (SHE:"Ewww...what HAVE you been using on your face - it is sooo dry! You need some of this cream with crushed diamonds!"  ME: Yeah, right, that is JUST what I need).  It was a week without the news, with lots of books to read, and lots of laughing. In short- WONDERFUL!

THE BAD:

When I got home there were emails telling me of the death of the wife of my first boyfriend - they had been married 50 years. When I called, the pain in his voice was palpable. I cannot imagine the sadness after sharing so much together.  This sad news served as a reminder of both how lucky I am and also of the inevitable that we all face. May we all find the strength. Godspeed Kitty.

THE UGLY:

Insignificant after the above, but the snow has melted here in the North Country.

As it disappeared, it left behind a brown-gray landscape...muddy and mucky. It is almost as if we are to accept the ugly before we get to experience once more the rebirth of Spring followed by glorious Summer...and we are waiting anxiously for it's arrival! I am staring at the dirt looking for daffodil and tulip shoots. Patience.

That's the name of the game.