Been a long time since I made an entry in to my running saga. While on an outing in December, with my sons and a pal, I fell and injured my right hand and was really unable to type for some time. It was another case of "pick up your feet Dad" and I went done in the middle of a crowd on uneven sidewalk. So as a consequence and nearly fully repaired, writing re-commences today. Word of advice: don't shuffle.
After over 40 years, and endless complaints and ill feelings about February winter in Michigan, we left the cold and dreary and went to Pompano Beach FL for the month. Moving from below freezing temperatures to 70 degrees and above is a shocking. Initially and for some time after, it was fantasy land. I really felt like I shouldn't be there and should be suffering thru the winter like everyone else.
But that wore off soon. Long pants were gone, sunscreen was fully applied and we were outside as much as possible.
Our rental was one block from the Atlantic Ocean. I am still amazed at the size and scope of what I saw. The magnitude of the sea is breathtaking. Sitting beside it is very contemplative and calming, waves crashing and receding, completely outside of my experience. One could be happy just being there doing nothing but watching and listening. I wrote to my minister friend on about the first day about my thoughts at the sunrise over the sea. This has occurred for thousand of years. I felt great comfort at that point.
One of my goals was to pick up a book and read it from beginning to end. My ability to concentrate on anything more than my IPhone was waning. Well I read 3 in the month I was there. Not War and Peace but stirring novels by John Grisham. I am a morning reader. At bedtime the book falls on my head. I'm asleep. Also in a moment of fancy, started pencil drawing of the palm trees, of which there are many varieties in FL only 2 are native. Their shapes are fascinating to me because of the symmetry and their foreign nature.
I did a lengthy morning walk solo each day. Watched and listened to the very vocal birds and watched the sun come up. Judy and I would walk on the hard sand after the water receded, gathering shells and coral pieces for the grand kids. I spent more time barefoot there than when I was a kid. We would revisit the beach in the after noon lowering ourselves on beach chairs, reading and napping. My attempts to rise up afterward should have been filmed. It was so funny, I had to laugh at myself. Great fun watching the small kids frolicking amazed at the treasures they found.
In fact we walked a lot, to most everyplace, great exercise and an excuse to be out doors. Had a visit from a female iguana on the storage box for beach stuff right outside of our door. Saw alligators in the everglades. Was amazed by brown pelicans that are native to the area. They had the smoothest flight I've ever seen and are great divers and fishers.
Its fun to write again.
all for now
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