OHWHATASCHMUCKIAM!!!!!

Dear readers, I am so sorry to say that I woke up about 3:30 this morning and realized that I was so excited about heading to the Keys, that I very, very selfishly left out a very important part of the trip.  The week before Gretchen flew in, I spent the week with another very dear friend, whom I have known for over 30 years.  We have been through many things together and still have a wonderful time.  We spent the week playing golf, playing the Wii and Scrabble.  Eileen always wins on the Wii and mostly I win at scrabble.  Golf is for fun, but her game is ever improving and my has definitely gone down the tubes!  Anyway, Eileen was gracious enough to put me up between the time I left my condo and the time I left Florida, and again last week.  Although it is not an excuse, I guess she is like a sibling in that we sometimes take them for granted and forget to single them out for thank yous!  Therefore, I humbly apologize for being so self-centered that I got caught up in my own adventure.  And I sincerely hope Eileen will forgive me - and I will make a sincere effort to be more thoughtful.  Thanks for reading.  Ricci 

KEY WEST HERE WE COME!!

Last night Gretchen flew in from Canyon Lake, TX, we drove to Parrish, FL, drank wine and spent the night with my friend, Barb.  This morning, after much lolly gagging, we moved on to Cracker Barrel for breakfast.  While chatting, we discovered that Gretchen had never been to downtown Naples - and since that is where the "other half" lives and shops, we decided she definitely needed to see it.  Besides, we can't get into our hotel in Key West until tomorrow, so we have plenty of time.  The sun was shining, the temperature was perfect, so we went window shopping.  Of course, we entered many of the shops, but did not buy anything!  However, we came to this little funky shop and they had a long shirt hanging on the door that I just HAD to try on.  It was perfect, because it could be a bathing suit cover up, or a long shirt with skinny jeans!  Very, very cute.  Anyway, it was also way, way over budget.  After much consternation, though, I decided I was worth every penny so I bought it.  This, my friends, is where Providence stepped in!!  The salesgirl took my debit card, but her paper in the machine got jammed.  After repairing that, she went to run my card, but could not find it!  At first, she thought she had returned it to me, but she had not.  After 20 minutes, the poor girl was about to collapse in panic.  We knew the card had to be there because she had not moved.  Many, many apologizes later, I assured her I knew she had not stolen it and it would turn up.  Gretchen and I repeated the St. Anthony prayer at least ten times!!  About another 15 minutes and I spotted the card.  When the salesgirl threw the shirt over her shoulder to fix the credit card machine, the card flew onto other shirts hanging behind her. Everybody was happy!!  It took a lot of courage, but I did ask if the wait entitled me to a 20% discount.  No, the manager said, we are giving it to you for half price because you were so nice about the whole thing!  So thank you Providence, I love the shirt - and if this is how fun the trip is starting, I can't wait to see what happens next.  (And, yes, I have thought maybe Mike as helping it go in my direction.)  Thanks for checking in.  Ricci

Jersey Boys!!!

If you haven't seen it, be sure to see Jersey Boys!  What a fun, fun musical.  It takes you right down memory lane!  I really believe that even 30 year olds would have to enjoy this.  The performers are having such a good time doing it, that you surely have to get involved.  However, I had a bit of a setback in the second half because it took me back to so many times Mike and I had such a great time dancing to that music that I spent much of the second half with tears rolling down my face.  It was definitely a "yea/boo"  time.  Yea because the music was so good and boo because it made me miss Mike more than ever - and that is pretty difficult because I miss him so much naturally.  Anyway, I digress!  See Jersey Boys if you possibly can - I assure you you will not be disappointed - and that goes for my own children who were avid fans of The Who and Pink Floyd!!  Thanks, Ricci

Weari' o' the Green

We didn't wear much green, but Barb and I played 36 holes of golf on St. Patrick's Day - like we were in our twenties.  Sun, golf, plenty of beer - and we were ready to crash by 8:30 p.m.!  Would we do it again?  In a heartbeat.!!  The window treatments were finished and installed, so we had plenty of time to play!  We even saw our friends, Lynn and Al in Siesta Key.  That is always a pleasure since they are such nice people.  Speaking of friends, remember Janet and the broken ankle?  Well, happily I can tell you all that she is out of her cast altogether, walking, driving and back to the human race.  HOORAY!

Friday, I drove back up to Palm Harbor to spend a week with Eileen and get everything checked out from head to toe for the trek out west!  Saturday, Jim and Judy had friends over for drinks (of course) and dinner.  They are all lovely people and we had a delightful time.  However, driving back into Briar Patch (yes, it is where Brer Rabbit lives!!) was very sad since it was the first time I had driven into there since Mike died!  WOW!  It is rolling into 10 months and it seems like a minute ago.  I miss that boy like crazy, but I remind myself everyday how lucky I was to have him for 27 years!!  He was always fun to have around!

Monday, a new adventure will begin as Gretchen flies into Tampa and we will depart for the Keys, Orlando, Navarre and Argyle, Texas.  This should certainly be a fun trip.  We spent most of our high school years laughing like fools, and, perhaps, if we continue the tradition, our face muscles will actually "snap back" a little!  I know, wishful thinking on my part!

Meanwhile, Eileen and I have played golf twice so far and are planning two more outings - in addition to seeing Jersey Boys Wednesday night.  What fun!

Gina seems to be doing quite well in North Carolina, but I miss her quite a bit.  Hopefully, when I get back, she will be as happy to see me as I will be to see her!

You know, this gypsy life is quite cathartic and I would wish everyone the chance to just drive around, see people you like and enjoy seeing, with no time restraints or agenda.  I just wish for it to occur in a much more pleasant way.  Thanks for visiting my blog and I will let you know how it is in the Keys!  Ricci

P.S.  Amy and Auri put me on facebook, but I have no idea how to use it!

Did He Or Didn't He??

Well, here I am in lovely Parrish, Florida.  It is sunny, but not quite warm enough.  However, that is not the point of this post.  In the nine months since Mike died, I have not had a dream about him, nor have I thought there was any indication of a visit from "beyond", that is, until last Thursday.  Sound asleep, I dreamed I was in bed with Mike.  I rolled over onto my side away from him because he was asleep.  Later, I felt his arm rub my back as he kissed the back of my neck and said "I owe you an apology".  It was so real, and I felt the kiss and the chill down my spine from the kiss, that I immediately woke up (at 4:45 a.m.) and stayed awake for the rest of the morning.  So, I don't know - was it a dream - or was it a visit.  Either one is okay because it put me in touch with the best of him. And, I have to say, whatever it was, it was definitely a lovely reminder of how good it felt to have him that close to me.  What lovely tricks nature plays on us.  Just had to share this with you all.  Thanks for reading.  Ricci  

9 MONTHS LATER AND A YEAR OLDER!!!!

So, Monday it will be nine months since I lost Mike and I am another year older.  You know, I never thought about missing the flowers, wine and hang dog look because he could not think of what to get me for my birthday - yes, hang dog!!  Mike was the best for day to day living; however, he could not even come close to figuringg out what to do for me for a present!!  Every year it was flowers, wine and an apology for not knowing what to buy me!  Now, you must understand that he did not care if I spent everything we had on whatever I wanted, he just could not do it!!Sometimes it seems like it was only yesterday that I went out into that garage and other times it seems like years ago!!  Either way, it is still the greatest loss of my life!!  So tomorrow I will be leaving North Carolina for Florida, the Keys, Texas and other places west.  It has been a great time in NC.  You know, it is said there is something good in everything.  Well, that is very true.  I always knew I had good and nice sons, but this year has proven what good men they have become and the best is that I got my greatest wish granted - and that is that my sons are now my very, very good friends!!  What a lovely prize to having been the parent!!!  So now I am looking forward to visiting friends in Florida, playing some golf and moving on to satisfying the gypsy in my soul.  While Monday is a sad day, I had a wonderful 69th birthday - and all parts are still working.  Will keep you up on the future travels because I will not be in one place anymore as long as I have been in the places where my children and sisters live.  Thanks for checking.  Ricci