Memoirs

This year, I am enjoying two springtimes. First was in Florida with Deb and Wes and I enjoyed the beautiful flowers and birds in their garden. I especially love the Confederate Jasmine. When I returned home, the barren landscape had changed to one of green beauty. Flowers are blooming here as well.

It was hard to say goodbye, but Wes and Deb took me to the station around 6 on Tuesday evening. The train was about forty minutes late so we had an opportunity to spend a bit more time together.

The trip from Palatka, Fl. to Washington, DC. was very enjoyable as I sat beside a young man from the U.K. and we talked much of the time. He was very interesting. We did arrive in DC about two hours late and then the redcap managed to put one of my bags on the wrong train! I had to leave without it, but did receive it after I got home as the RR sent it by Fed Ex. The train from DC had an observation car and I sat up there and enjoyed the view for hours. Met another young man and we chatted part of the time.

We arrived in Cleveland at 5 AM on Thursday morning and I was delighted to see my dear son, Matt, waiting for me at the station. I enjoyed being with him again. He had to work that day and the next so this was really generous on his part to be up so much of the night just so I could be brought safely home. While I was away, Tina e mailed me often and it was so good to be in touch with her.

Needless to say that I was a zombie all day Thursday and part of Friday. I had a column due on Friday so I worked on it that day and finished it on Saturday. E mailed to the editor.

On Saturday, my sister, Cheryl gave me a tour of the house she is having built. It is large and beautiful and has a wonderful view of her lake. I know she will be very happy there.

Was good to be back at 10 AM Mass on Sunday and happy people missed me. It was Donut Sunday so Cheryl, Gerry and I had tea and donuts after Mass. Went to a wake for the husband of a dear friend of mine. Merce and I went to a workshop for religious educators several years ago at Kent College and we have been good friends every since. Her daughter, JoEllen, teaches Art at Newbury High School and I worked in the public library which is in that building. So I got to know JoEllen. Hope to keep in touch with both of them. Fromn Solon, went to North Royalton to visit with my sister Laurie and her husband, Ron and enjoyed being with them for couple hours. From there to Broadview Heights to visit my cousin, Audrey, who is like a sister to me. We went out for a bite to eat, but also laughed and chatted at her house till around 9; I got home at 10 PM. Hope to see her more often this summer.

On Monday, went to the funeral and visited with so many wonderful friends from Resurrection. Sad occasion but so glad I could see so many wonderful people I do not see as often since I joined Holy Angels. Several of the women belong to Holy Ground, a book club at Karen’s house in Hudson and I have such wonderful memories of our times together there. Women I worked with when I taught PSR for 16 years, came up and talked. So nice! By the time the reception was over, it was too late to come home before going to work so just shopped a bit in Solon and went to Kumon. So happy that people there greeted me so warmly and the boss said she is glad I am back. My cousin, Nancy, pinch hit for me and she did a great job. I enjoy working with the kids so very much. Will work tomorrow and then have Monday off for Memorial Day.

This morning had some things to do before going to Karen’s house for a special luncheon to celebrate the birthdays of four of the women who are now 60. Karen is a great hostess; the women are a delight to be with; food is always so plentiful and so delicious. I had a wonderful time being with the dozen or so women who were there.

God is good. All the time.

This is a bittersweet day — sweet because of all of the memories I am taking home with me; bitter because it is so hard to say goodbye. It is cooler today but getting warmer. Repairmen finally came to fix the air conditioning unit and are in the attic now. When I awoke, Deb and Wes had had their breakfast, she left for work and he was relaxing before starting his day. So, I took my camera and took a walk all around the back yard and the lot behind it. I listened to the waterfall and the singing of the birds. I took a picture of a little blue flower. I sat by the waterfall and pond and thought of what a wonderful five weeks these have been. I have gathered a lot of little things like place mats, menus, cards, to put in my journal. Wes gave me the beautiful butterfly bookmark to remind me of the butterfly museum. Shaheed will bring the children after school to say goodbye. I feel like crying when I think of leaving. Claire tells me that when she told Leila I am leaving, Leila crawled under the couch. Claire asked her if she thought that would keep me here looking for her. Deb expects to be home early which is around four and we should leave soon after as the ride to Palatka takes about an hour and Amtrak recommends getting to the station an hour early. I have checked the status and my train, which I think is coming from Miami, is 7 minutes late so will probably be pretty close to the 6:30 estimated time of departure. This is truly an adventure!

This is the beginning of an exciting adventure in cyberspace. After five wonderful weeks with son, Wes and daughter in love, Deb I am returning to Ohio. But, first, Wes got me my first dot com. In mid April, I took the longest train ride of my life when I left Cleveland, Ohio and headed to Washington, D.C. on Amtrak. Found a guardian angel on the train – a woman who had made several trips from Cleveland to Palatka, Florida in the last three years. She showed me the ropes at Union Station in Washington, and the five hour layover was pleasant. We will keep in touch.

On the train to Washington, there was an observation section and I spent a lot of time up there watching the beautiful scenery including a mountain range in Pennsylvania upon which were fifteen wind generators! We also went through several tunnels.

As we left DC, the sun was setting as we crossed the Potomac River and I could see the Washington Monument and Lincoln Memorial. The seat was very comfortable and I slept well much of the night. It was interesting to see the other passengers and to chat with some. The second train did not have the observation area but it did have a lounge and my “angel” and I were able to chat a lot. Plus, I was able to sleep. Her son was meeting her in Palatka and Wes met me there. Lovely little station.
I could fill a book with all of the wonderful experiences during my five weeks in Gainesville, but briefly, it was a wonderful mixture of solitude (which I really needed after my hectic schedule at home) and activity. This house is filled with so much love and laughter. A bonus is that I could spend time with my granddaughter, Claire, her husband, Shaheed and dear Malik who is eight and Leila who is six. Claire took me to a pork roast at her office; Shaheed took me to Mass one Sunday, often we (Wes and I) picked the children up after school and they would spend the time here until Mom finished work or we would go to the library with Shaheed where the children would do homework followed by reading. Leila loves to read pop up books to me. One day, Shaheed and I went to the school and ate with Leila and Malik on their separate lunch hours. On day, Claire and I were at a Mother’s Day program at Leila’s school. I got to see a couple of Malik’s baseball games and stop at a restaurant on the way home.

Wes, Deb and I spent an overnight at Flagler Beach on Deb’s birthday which was also Earth Day. We walked the beach, ate at restaurants overlooking the ocean, browsed through book store and shops, ate at Blue Topaz, a wonderful restaurant in the inn where we stayed. Deb and Wes had the honeymoon suite and I had an adjoining room. Both were filled with antiques and quite beautiful as well as comfortable. They had a balcony and we enjoyed relaxing there as well. On our way back, we stopped at an Earth Day celebration at a park and enjoyed walking around the various booths and were able to sit along the Matanzas River. Deb bought some lovely plants and herbs and a book. It was another wonderful day. We had walked to a restaurant along the beach for breakfast and back to the inn. We walked a lot through the park and I felt it was really good for me.

When I had been here a week, a huge fire broke out in Georgia and the newspapers have been filled with stories and pictures every since. Bold three inch headlines tell of the progress of the fire and of the effort to put it out. I was not really worried even though Wes said it is 120 miles to the Bugaboo Swamp where the fire is raging. Smaller fires broke out much nearer and the smoke got heavier; plus tiny flakes of ash landed on the cars. Family back home concerned but I have been calm. We were able to visit friends who have a second home along the Suwanne River — always wanted to see it and loved the song by Stephen Foster. Coincidence — the neighborhood where Wes and Deb live is called Stephen Foster. A wonderful experience.

Wes and Deb surprised me with a wonderful digital camera for Mother’s Day, and I was able to take pictures of the Suwannee River. We had a relaxed day visiting with their friends, and that evening a friend of Deb’s hosted a birthday party dinner for Deb and another friend — both had birthdays earlier but could not get together. Her friends are a lot of fun and the five of us had a really enjoyable evening.

Many evenings we have watched a movie either while eating dinner or with a glass or two of wine. Such a neat way to wind down before bed.

Mother’s Day was special. Wes and Deb made sure that I enjoyed it thoroughly. It began with a lovely breakfast made by Wes. He makes a special eggs in basket he calls hearts in a basket. He uses a small heart shaped cutter to cut the center out of toast; break an egg in that center and grill the whole thing. He knows I enjoy that so he fixed it and tofu sausage for breakfast. His friend, John Mark, picked me up to go to Mass at Queen of Peace Catholic Community way across town. Lovely large church, very spirited and lovely choir. He took me there when I first arrived. When we got home, Wes made tempe’ sandwiches and we took off to see the butterfly museum. Only the museum in London is larger. So many butterflies in all stages (in the lab are the eggs and the cocoons); one butterfly actually landed in my hair! Wish I had a picture of that but we did not get one. However, Wes bought me a lovely animated book mark at the gift shop, and he and I took lots of pictures of various butterflies. It was quite warm in there as it is called the butterfly rain forest. We walked through some of the rest of the museum and then to the art museum next door and walked around there. Picked up a roasted chicken on the way home and had a salad and wine with it for dinner. Had a wonderful day of calls, too. Beth called early and we had quite a talk; Chris, Matt and Yvonne called in the evening while Wes, Deb and I watched a movie and had wine. While talking with Matt checked my train ticket and was saddened to find I leave tomorrow instead of Wednesday as I thought! Each phone call was special as are each of my children. Wes and Deb have told me how much they enjoy my visit and encourage me to stay; Leila devasted to learn I am leaving so soon. Claire says I should stay longer. It is wonderful to be with all of them and lots more we could do but temperatures are in the high eighties and will go to 90 and beyond and become humid so this is a good time for me to head north.

When I had been here about a week, a friend – Nancy – invited me to lunch along with another friend of hers. Nancy is older than Wes and Deb but younger than I am. We usually get together at least once while I am here. Had a lovely lunch on her back porch and then sat in her peaceful yard to chat a bit. Deb has invited Nancy to dinner tonight and know that will be enjoyable.

I have rambled on and on. Wes said I should just write a bit to get the blog started and before I knew it had written a lot. Even then, there are so many wonderful experiences I have not included.