My wife and I 'pulled up stakes' and departed Miramar Beach, Florida this morning after a ten weeks winter stay. It was our second year in the gulf side palm tree lined cottages. The thirty-some dwellings, which form a cozy culdesac find dog-loving retirees seeking sun, relaxation and social exchanges in these (our) dwindling sunset years.
My wife attended a tea & lemonade gathering where the ladies wrote upon their respective name tags their name and in parentheses their dog's name...my kinda people! This gathering of old timers get exercise walking dogs and bending to bag poop!
Our time was shared with several new friends and reunions with long ago and long time friends. Buzz and Mary Ann Shaw were staying one week at a nearby resort and we were able to spend three evenings together. Buzz and I were roommates during undergraduate years at Illinois State University and I had the honor to be 'Best Man' at their wedding. Evan and Kay Jackson were neighbors in Washington, Illinois in the late 1960's, we have never lost that contact and find times to rekindle those memories. The Jackson's spent four days with us. Ken and Sharon Hickman have been friends for some 42 years. Ken was a long time assistant coach of mine in Edwardsville and Jacksonville. We enjoyed sharing some Florida time with the Hickman's.
The weather warmed these old bones and the friendships warmed the spirit. We are blessed to have our past experiences and most fortunate to embrace friends who shared many of those experiences.
I will hope we can ALL return next winter; both 'poopers' and 'pooper-picker uppers.'
No comments:
Post a Comment