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I spent most of my life adjusting to the changing seasons of the midwest; but, three years ago Hubby and I retired and moved to sunny Florida.  The days are growing shorter, but the “hot,” and at most, “warm” days are year-round, the:

• grass stays green,
• flowers continue to bloom, and
• leaves are not falling to the ground

So, I rely on visual images from memory of fall days in the midwest:

1. What book do you never tire of reading?  I first read, “Simple Abundance:  A Daybook of Comfort and Joy,” by Sarah Ban Breathnach in the mid-1990s.  I have read and re-read the daily essays in this book which focuses on the importance and benefits of living an authentic life.  It is my go-to inspirational  uplift when adversity and negativity creeps into my space.  I admit to being a work-in-progress on the path to leading an authentic life.  But,“Today is Better Than Yesterday.”

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• What song do you never tire of hearing?  “I Believe I Can Fly,” song by Yolanda Adams and featuring Gerald Levert.  The first two verses resonate with me:  “I used to think that I could not go on.  And life was nothing but an awful song.  But now I know the meaning of true love.  I’m leaning on the ever lasting arms.  If I can see it.  Then I can do it.  If I just believe it there’s nothing to it.  I believe I can fly.  I believe I can touch the sky…….”   Whether it is morning, noon, or night listening to the lyrics of this song can change my “mind set” from pessimistic to optimistic.
• What Movie Do You Never Tire of Watching?  “Imitation of Life,”  I first viewed this movie shortly after its release in 1959.  It was a very, very sad movie about a daughter who terminated her relationship with her mother to pass for white.  Despite the mother’s efforts to reunite, the daughter continued to reject her.  Ending with the daughter begging forgiveness over her mother’s casket; the carriage drawn funeral processional; and, the beautiful voice of Mahalia Jackson brought tears to the eyes of everyone in the movie theater that day.

On one hand, I was very sad.  But on the other, as a 15-year-old young girl, I was happy.  After all, this was my first “grown up.” movie.  Periodically, I dig through the videos and return to memories of this season of my young life.

So happy to share “memories” on Friendship Friday.

There will be times when our  “wishes” will not “come true.”  Though, I wished for things to happen, I “failed” to even “try.”  Of the five (5) Wishes, I planned last week; I was able to fulfill two (2):

Wish #1 – Perform Small Acts of Kindness

As I sit in front of my laptop with hands resting on chin, I am trying to remember how many times last week did I Perform an Act of Kindness?  It took a little time for the “senior moment” to pass, but I finally remembered signing an on-line petition before breakfast.

The petition was requesting two pharmaceutical companies to release the drug PD-1, now in clinical trials, to treat cancer patients.   The cancer patient in this particular instance is a 40-year-old husband, father of three, diagnosed  with Stage 4 cancer.  Given six months to live, this “wonder drug” could possibly save his life.

After signing the petition, I forwarded it to my e-mail friends and posted on Facebook page.  I am praying daily for this young man and his family.

When I signed the petition, I did not view it as a “Small Act of Kindness,” in relation to my Weekly Wishes.  I just signed because it was the right thing to do.  Empathy, compassion, and support for those in need “happen naturally” without most of us even realizing it.

Wish #5 – Read Daily Passages from “Simple Abundance:  A Daybook of Comfort and Joy,” by Sarah Ban Breathnach

Immediately following my 5:00 a.m. “One-Hour Quiet Time,” I would read a daily essay from this book.  The following snippets resonated with me:

Monday, September 9 – The Courage to Answer the Call

“You gain strength, courage and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face . . . . You must do the thing you cannot do. (Eleanor Roosevelt)

“Powers that gifted you with your dream knows how to help you make it come true. (Breathnach)

Tuesday, September 10 – Setting Your Own Pace

“A lot of people – including your partner and children – might wonder aloud for years if you’re ever going to become sensible again.” (Breathnach)

“The bottom line is not how fast you make your dream come true, but how steadily you pursue it.” (Breathnach)

Wednesday, September 11 – A Psalm of Life

“Let us, then, be up and doing . . . With a heart for any fate . . . Still achieving, still pursuing, Learn to labor and to wait. (Henry Wadsworth Longfellow)

Thursday, September 12 – Uncommon Women and Others

“One of the most wonderful truths you will discover on the path to authenticity is that your aspirations are your possibilities.” (Breathnach)

Friday, September 13 – Thoughts on Success

“But Simple Abundance has taught me, as I know it will teach you, that authentic success is living by your own lights, not the glare of popping flashbulbs.  And they can’t take that away from us.” (Breathnach)

Saturday, September 14  – Giving Yourself Credit

“Although it may crown you Queen for a Day, the world cannot confer the recognition that will make you feel fulfilled.” (Breathnach)

Sunday, September 15 – Authentic Success

“Authentic Success is knowing how simply abundant your life is exactly as it is today…. Being grateful for the many blessings bestowed on you and yours that you can share your portion with others.” (Breathnach)

I first read this book in the mid-1990s.  Back then, I failed to recognize, accept and embrace the concept.  It was just a “popular read”  within my “circle of friends.”  Eighteen years later, after a “re-read.” I FINALLY GOT IT!!!!

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Even though readily accessible, I did not fulfill the following Wishes last week:

Wish #2 – Exercise in the Pool

I can walk out the rear patio door of our house to Exercise in the Pool; but I failed to make it a priority.  So, I have no excuse other than “poor time management.”

Wish #3 – Learn About My New Digital Camera

Opened the box, took a quick look; and I immediately put it back in the box.  No excuse, other than the instructions seemed a “bit intimidating.”  

Wish #4 – Prepare Healthy Meal from a Recipe

I prepared healthy meals everyday  – lunch and dinner – but not from a recipe; and, Hubby prepared the healthy breakfast (bran cereal, almond milk, fruit, and decaf coffee)  The resources at my fingertips – a wide range of healthy recipes on the Internet as well as my own extensive collection of healthy nutrition cookbooks.   Again, I failed to plan.

So, my Wishes for Week #5 are to fulfill my three Wishes from last week.

Blogs I Luv

http://www.livinginanotherlanguage.com

http://www.lauralynnblog.wordpress.com

http://www.furiouscuriouscancersurvivor.wordpress.com

http://www.remixhomestyling.wordpress.com

http://www.oldgirlnewtricks.wordpress.com

http://www.thenectarcollective.com

I am a SeasonedSistah with more “years of past memories” than “years of future living,” valuing and cherishing every moment I am with family and friends.

For the past four summers, my daughters have gifted ME with a one-week “Mother-Daughter Vacation ” in Martha’s Vineyard.  The grands will join us if they have no summer program scheduling conflicts.  Two of my grandsons, CJE (13 years) and GPK (17 years) tagged along.  During this vacation, I am comforted, spoiled, loved, and treated like a SeasonedSistah Queen.

This summer, I stepped out of my “comfort zone” and tried the camera functions on my IPAD and IPHONE.  The quality is not the best, but I really enjoyed taking the pictures.  So much so, I plan to purchase a camera and look into a photography class this fall.

I love spending  “quiet time” with my “visual memories”

Rental Abode

 

They rent the same house every year.  It is spacious, comfortable, and the kitchen is well-equipped with cooking utensils and small kitchen appliances for both “simple” and “gourmet” meal preparations. 

Three  Special Eateries

First Night “Must Have”

 

 Mid-Week Lunch – Seafood Lunch

(Sidebar – Our POTUS arrived the day after we left the Vineyards)

Transportation

I luv riding around the Island in the open top jeep.

The Daily Roundup – Rocking Chair Haven

 Daytime Views from Front Porch

 

 

 

Sunset View from Front Porch

 

Views from  Oak Bluff’s Dock

 

Daughters

 

Grands

 

Other Daughter from Another Mother

 

The Other Daughter was  “on-the-go” for the entire week.    After biking or running every day, she willingly transported and chaperoned the grands along with her son for trips to the beach and other Island activities.  Daughters and I relaxed on the porch, read our IPADS and rocked in our chairs for most of the day.  Thank You Other Daughter.

I  really enjoyed my “Mother-Daughter” vacation; and, the “visual memories” will carry me through until the family comes together for the Thanksgiving Holiday.  

Retirement with Hubby in Florida these past three years opened up time for us to reflect  on our lives as well as pursue new adventures.  But, I do miss the regular face-to-face contact with my children and grands.  

 

Earlier this year, I wrote a blog post about childhood summer vacations with my grandparents who lived in a small rural town in the Mississippi Delta. “Black Travelers” is a sad but true recollection of the “special accommodations” we had to make as Black people when traveling by car and vacationing during the Jim Crow and Pre-Civil Rights eras.

“Old Travelers” is my story today about Hubby and ME traveling in our seventies.

Since moving to Florida more than three years ago, we have flown back to our former home in Milwaukee, Wisconsin at least two-three times per year without a problem.

This year, we just couldn’t get it right. Nothing catastrophic, but enough to make us realize we needed a “special accommodation” travel plan to avoid things like —

• Mistake #1 – Departing to Milwaukee – Orlando International Airport
Everything was going smoothly. There were no long lines at either the airline’s check in or security points.

Hubby and I: (1) boarded the Air Rail to our concourse; (2) walked the entire concourse looking for our departure gate number without success; and (3) finally decided to check with an airline attendant, who politely said, “your flight is leaving from our other concourse.”

Oh Heck No!!! We had only thirty minutes to (1) reverse our long walk; (2) re- board the Air Rail; (3) board the correct Air Rail; and (4) walk the concourse in search of our departure gate, of course, it was at the end. But, we made it. Thank You Father for leading us to exercise at the YMCA 16 years ago.

• Mistake #2 – Oh, No You Didn’t
Finally, I am sitting comfortably on the plane, totally exhausted, and looking forward to this three-hour early morning flight as a well deserved “rest period”. The announcement came over the intercom, “turn off all-electronic equipment in preparation for takeoff. “ Out of the blue Hubby asked, “Did I close the garage door?” Since, I had no idea; he telephoned the taxi driver who always transports us to the airport. He didn’t know. But, kindly volunteered to go and check. Fortunately, Hubby had just enough time to give him our garage keypad code before the flight attendant’s final walk-through.

I slept through the entire flight. Sadly, Hubby worried about whether he had left the garage door open.

We landed in Milwaukee. And, when the announcement came on that it was okay to turn on cell phones, Hubby telephoned the transportation service driver.

The bad news, Hubby did not close the garage door.

The good news, the transportation driver with the assistance of an unknown neighbor successfully entered the security code and closed the garage door.

The best news, there are honest people in this world.

Everything was in its place. Nothing was missing. Believe it or not, Hubby and I never expected anything different. Why? We believed in the trustworthiness of our unknown neighbor and transportation driver.

• Mistake #3 – Returning to Orlando – Mitchell Airport, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Hubby printed out our boarding passes the evening before. The airline transit service picked us up from our son’s home at 6:00 a.m. for a flight departure time of 8:50 a.m.

Arrived at airport within 30 minutes. We found the right concourse this time (hurrah!!). There was plenty of time to have coffee and a bagel before we walked the short, short distance to our departure gate.

When we reached the departure gate at 8:25 a.m. the airline attendant said, “your flight departed at 8:20 a.m. – we paged you on the intercom.” No, we didn’t. Why, we had no idea?

Convinced there was no way he could have gotten the time wrong, Hubby checked our boarding pass. To his dismay, the departure time on the boarding pass was 8:20 a.m.

The only option left was a 3:45 p.m. direct flight to Orlando. Hubby spent most of this wait time questioning how he could have made such a mistake and repeatedly asking whether I was upset with him.

Frankly, it was a fun day for me – IPAD reading time, relaxing time, sleeping time, people watching time, and margarita time along with a great lunch. Saved the best for last — an Auntie Annie’s pretzel, to eat on the flight.

Our vacation this year, confirmed the need for Hubby and Me to develop a “special accommodation” plan. After all, we are “Old Travelers”. 

Impressive writing on what chronic pain patients might encounter on any given day. Having lived with chronic pain since 1993, I can relate.