Meditation

I was quite pleased with myself for having focused my mind on just my breathing for two breaths at mindful meditation practice this morning, which meant I immediately lost focus and wandered off into thinking how I would compose this post. I've not meditated since my fall. Too painful to sit up straight even with pillows. I solved that today by slumping. No more excuses to skip meditating.

Small Croc at Fob Beach 

My sisters left early today after spending the weekend here. We had such fun going to the beach which was absolutely clear of Sargasso seaweed. I could not believe it. When I had gone before, the sand was covered with it, and the water was filled with it. It was yucky to walk in and creepy to swim in. I mostly passed. (In late June, a small crocodile enjoyed blending in with it and wasn't visible unless it came ashore. American crocs aren't aggressive, but no one seemed to want to swim with it.)
Now the beach could not be better. We floated and floated at what we call the fob beach (one has to have a fob from the community center to open the gates.) Another day we drove down to the state park and walked in the water against the current. I guess Hurricane Dorian blew away the sargassum as it went up the Atlantic. I plan to go to the beach as much as possible before more floats back in.

Having all three of us together meant we could go through the four boxes of family photos and mementos I brought to the apartment. I have to admire our mother' and grandmothers' commitment to making scrapbooks. However, do we want them? We decided that Mother's diaries would be kept. We wept a little and reminisced about old family friends while going through all the sympathy cards and notes from flowers we got when she died, then recycled the lot. I still have a big box of photo albums and scrapbooks to look at, but now I know what my sisters want and what I can toss.




One find was a scrapbook and keepsakes from the Coe (paternal grandparents) and Spaulding (maternal grandparents) memberships in the Tin Can Tourists, a group of campers that began coming to Florida each winter in the 1920's. I think Grandpa Coe built their trailer, although my sisters aren't sure. The Spauldings had a tent then later bought a trailer. The TCT would make arrangements with different cities for the group to spend the winter in a local park, although they were not universally welcomed since TCT members tended to be frugal (cheap) and not spend much money in the communities.

Betsy searched the Web and found the TCT has been revived with all the hipsters' interest in vintage trailers. The president responded to her inquiry immediately. They would love to have our memorabilia and would pay postage to have it shipped. By the time I was back from my orthopedist appointment Monday morning, the scrapbooks, et al, were on their way. At first I was a little sad I hadn't had a chance to look at them more (like I didn't do for the 40 years it all sat in my garage), but that thought passed quickly and was replaced by the relief that it was gone.

The less I have, the lighter I feel. Occasionally I think of something I vaguely wish I had not gotten rid of, like the little wooden desk that I used to display books on. Mostly I remember that I really don't miss it. I have more than I need. This weekend was wonderful.

Plus, Peg has six more boxes of family photos in the eaves of her barn. Perhaps I should offer to come up so we could do the same triage on them. I will meditate on that.

Hurricane Party

We, or some of us, are all a dither about Hurricane Dorian, which is currently in the Atlantic just north of Puerto Rico. My sisters have gone to the grocery store to stock up. When they return, we will drive south and meet my brother-in-law at Wildwood to transfer them and their groceries to his truck. I'll head for Key B, and they will go to Plant City to pick up the yard and secure whatever needs securing.

I, on the other hand, hope to go to the Marlins game scheduled for 7:00 tonight. Ah, the luxury of living in our little condo. Originally, Dorian was aimed at lower Florida, so Grant tested the shutters. They slide close and latch. That means we would just move the plants, two chairs, an ottoman, and three little tables in from the balcony; put William in a box and Annie in her crate for traveling; pack some clothes; get important papers; close the shutters; and leave.

That is certainly better than putting shutters on 70' of porch and all the windows at our old house. Even aluminum shutters get heavy if you have to install that many. And people get cranky.

If we do have to leave Key B, we will pick up our grandson (University of Miami sophomore) at the Viscaya Metrorail station and head north on I-95. We figure it would take, at most, three hours to get to our son's house in Fort Lauderdale. The house that we installed hurricane windows on last year, so no shutters to put up there. Good decision. BTW, I predict landfall will be North Carolina. What do the professionals know?

Sweetwater Preserve

Before all this hullabaloo, we were in Gainsville and birded at Sweetwater Preserve seeing the usual suspects for this time of year: gallinule (purple and common), osprey eating a fish, herons and egrets. Meager picking, but it is August. There was a garter snake crossing the boardwalk.

Victoria Water Lilies  

We went to Kanapaha Gardens to see the potential world record Giant Victoria Water Lily. The staff is measuring every day and hope for a Guinness Book of Records award. Since they had not marked which leaf was the one being measured, I can't point out the record winner, but I assume I saw it. I'll claim to if ever asked.

We also attended a Dining for Women potluck at an absolutely lovely townhouse which gave me another chance to interview potential apartments. It had a lot more living space than our condo, which we want in the next home. I decided a north-facing balcony is too dark. I would like a screened-in porch rather than a glassed-in sun room. Most of all, I need some sun rather than dark woods so that we have flowering plants and shrubs nearby. I really enjoy watching the butterflies and humming birds that come to the salvias around my friend's porch. Just trees is too sterile.

No First Floor Apartment in a Flood Zone 

The townhouse is in a group of maybe 50 homes in either duplex or quadraplex groups that back up on Hog Creek in Gainesville. Perhaps if we could find a south facing one this would be a good place to land. Near my best friend, biking close by, lots of activities and art in the area. The killer would be making one of these apartments ADA compliant. Four steps down from the driveway or two steps down from the garage is not acceptable. Maybe an architect could design a ramp. I'll check prices next week. May be cheaper after Hurricane Dorian.


Update: the Marlins beat the Reds 4 - 3, all home runs. Plus I bought a VIP parking pass on StubHub for $6 ($9.50 including charges) which beats $15 on the Marlins' site for a regular pass. Definitely doing that again.