Well all, I missed ya and just wanted to let you know I am back after a much needed and deserved weekend away.
I went down south west to spend the weekend with my hubby Eugene where he is currently working in the Ft. Myers/Naples area of Florida so got the chance to see the sun rise in the east and set in the west without jet lag!
I was not sure I was going to make it at one point of the 4 hour trip as I went straight into a wonderful lightning storm that wound up being the worst thing I ever drove into in my entire life! I knew I was driving into a doozy of a storm for I was watching Mother Nature's fireworks display for a while and feeling super charged and energized. At the north central to western edge of Lake Okeechobee the skies fell in torrents with rain, hail and lightning all over and visibility was horrendous but I felt so "electrified" that I just trudged on and when it cleared up and I stopped to re-fuel, found out I drove through tornado warnings unscathed. Talk about a "cleansing"! I guess it was what I needed.
We spent the weekend exploring the area with a visit to the South West Florida Historical Museum in Downtown Ft. Myers (*note to any potential visitors - the Downtown area of Ft. Myers is under major construction and not all that much to see) , Matlacha and the Randall Research Center on Pine Island following the Calusa Heritage Trail where this ancient civilization thrived for more than 15 centuries (more info to come for those interested) LOL! By the Way - the Tarpon Lodge has a delightful menu and superb service as well as great views of the bay and there are many gifted local artists whose eclectic shops just needed a visit from one such as myself *wink*. I just wish we had more time to go to Sanibel and Captiva to kayak the waterways of the many little islands surrounding the bay and gulf. *Another trip perhaps???
Spending time on the "west coast" and watching the sunset, collecting sea shells with the love of my life made me appreciate the many simple pleasures in life all the more. We even had our first evening out for dinner since we wed and enjoyed an out side bistro called "Grapes" complete with wine and live entertainment and ate, drank, sang and danced under the stars as young newlyweds normally do.
Enjoying the local history and charm of the west coast of Florida with my soul mate truly was a blessing and late honey moon but alas, the trip "home" had to be made and I must have needed another "cleansing" cause on I95 North around Ft. Pierce, the rain decided to make visibility zero and this time I did not chance it and decided to pull over. Thankfully I did because a tractor trailer had to hit the brakes and almost jackknifed on the road right before my eyes. I'm not quite sure how to take that sign upon my return but am thankful that no harm came to anyone at that point.
I made it home at last and my well tended to extended family of critters welcomed me home in such fashion that I simply beamed and still am! It's great to be loved and greater sharing that with those you do. Goddess it's wonderful to be alive and I hope each of you who read this take the time to enjoy life and live, love and laugh - each and every day!
Brightest Blessings one and all!
